April 17, 2008

ROCK HILL, SC – Lincoln Memorial third baseman Sara Henn, who led the league in five offensive categories, and Lenoir-Rhyne pitcher Meredith O’Connor were named Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year, the league announced today.

Henn, a sophomore from Kettering, OH, led the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, total bases and home runs per game. Her .500 batting average ranks second all-time in conference history.
O’Connor, a senior from Charlotte, N.C. (Appalachian St. University), went 28-7 on the mound with a 2.10 ERA and allowed opponents to hit just .105 against her. She led the conference in innings pitched and total strikeouts. She wins the Pitcher of the Year award for the second year in a row.

Mars Hill College freshman Natalie Haithcox (Asheboro, NC / Western Randolph High School) was named Freshman of the Year. She led the conference in RBIs per game and was second in the league in batting average and slugging percentage.

Lenoir-Rhyne coach Shena Hollar, who guided the Bears to their fourth conference title in the last five years, was named Coach of the Year.

Conference co-Champion Lenoir-Rhyne led the way with seven All-Conference selections, including six on the First Team. Joining O’Connor on the First Team from the Bears are Leah Krohn (first base), Noel Belk (second base), Kat Rivers (shortstop) and outfielders Taylor Queen and Brittany Cherry.

Co-Champion Carson-Newman had five All-Conference selections. Senior pitcher Zoe Heim was named to the First Team.
Wingate had four All-Conference selections, with Hallie Pettigrew a First Team selection at third base.

Mars Hill had three All-Conference players. Haithcox was joined by catcher Kristina Osborn on the First Team.

Lincoln Memorial also had three All-Conference selections, with Henn named to the First Team.

Newberry’s Sara Powell was a First Team choice at the utility position.

Tusculum had one All-Conference pick as shortstop Ashley Basilicato was named to the Second Team.

The SAC All-Conference teams are selected by the head coaches.
Mars Hill senior catcher Kristina Osborn was named SAC Scholar Athlete for softball.

Osborn is a two-time All-Conference selection. She ranked eighth in the league in batting average and led the conference in doubles in 2007.

In the classroom, Osborn has a 3.99 GPA as a biology major. She has been appointed valedictorian for the 2008 graduating class and was an ESPN The Magazine All-District selection in 2007.
On campus and in the community, she performs 35 hours of community service each semester. She is the captain of the Mars Hill softball team and serves as an assistant coach of a traveling under 16 softball team during the summer. 

Regular season statistical champions and senior awards were also announced.

2008 SAC SOFTBALL AWARD WINNERS

FIRST TEAM
Catcher - Kristina Osborn, Mars Hill
Pitcher - Meredith O’Connor, Lenoir-Rhyne
Pitcher - Zoe Heim, Carson-Newman
First Base - Leah Krohn, Lenoir-Rhyne
Second Base - Noel Belk, Lenoir-Rhyne
Shortstop - Kat Rivers, Lenoir-Rhyne
Third Base - Sara Henn, Lincoln Memorial *
Third Base, Hallie Pettigrew, Wingate *
Outfield - Natalie Haithcox, Mars Hill
Outfield - Taylor Queen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Outfield - Brittany Cherry, Lenoir-Rhyne
Utility - Sara Powell, Newberry
SECOND TEAM
Catcher - Karie Pushard, Lenoir-Rhyne
Pitcher - Brittany Blankenship, Wingate
Pitcher - Stephanie Templeton, Carson-Newman
First Base - Ashley Seawell, Mars Hill
Second Base - Whitney Hickam, Carson-Newman
Shortstop - Ashley Basilicato, Tusculum
Third Base - Mandy Stevens, Carson-Newman
Outfield - Jackie Adams, Lincoln Memorial *
Outfield - Whitney Kee, Carson-Newman *
Outfield - Heather Winchester, Wingate *
Outfield - LaRonda McClain, Wingate *
Utility - Mira McPeek, Lincoln Memorial
* tie

COACH OF THE YEAR – Shena Hollar, Lenoir-Rhyne
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Natalie Haithcox, Mars Hill
PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Meredith O’Connor, Lenoir-Rhyne
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Sara Henn, Lincoln Memorial
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE – Kristina Osborn, Mars Hill

SOFTBALL STAT CHAMPIONS
Sara Henn, Lincoln Memorial, Batting Average, .500; Slugging Percentage, .910; On-Base Percentage, .560; Home Runs Per Game, .290
Jackie Adams, Lincoln Memorial, Runs Scored Per Game, 1.09; Triples Per Game, .09
Alisa Burk, Lincoln Memorial, Doubles Per Game, .47
Natalie Haithcox, Mars Hill, RBIs Per Game, 1.24
Jessie Howard, Carson-Newman, Stolen Bases Per Game, .920
Zoe Heim, Carson-Newman, Earned Run Average, 1.01; Strikeouts Per Game, 9.53
Meredith O’Connor, Lenoir-Rhyne, Pitching Victories, 28
Lenoir-Rhyne, Batting Average, .334; Slugging Percentage, .508; Home Runs Per Game, .84
Carson-Newman, On-Base Percentage, .418; Runs Scored Per Game, 6.31; RBIs Per Game, 5.65; Stolen Bases Per Game, 2.1; Earned Run Average, 1.11; Strikeouts Per Game, 9.07

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SENIOR AWARDS
Carson-Newman
Zoe Heim
Whitney Hickam
Mandy Stevens
Catawba
Lizz Dunkman
Jacqueline White
Sarah VanBuskirk
Lenoir-Rhyne
Karie Pushard
Leah Krohn
Taylor Queen
Jessica Luper
Michelle Smith
Meredith O’Connor
Lincoln Memorial
Alisa Burk
Amanda Wampler
Mars Hill
Kristina Osborn
Newberry
Ashley Marine
Tusculum
Anna Johnson
Megan DuBois
Wingate
Courtney Wagner

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