RICHARDSON, Texas – University of Texas at Tyler senior utility player Megan “Roo” Richardson, East Texas Baptist University junior right-handed pitcher Ayrika Henderson, Hardin-Simmons University junior shortstop Courtney Clark and Howard Payne University senior right-handed pitcher Jenna Middleton all earned top individual honors to highlight the 2009 American Southwest Conference softball awards following a division-only vote by head coaches, the conference office announced on Tuesday (May 5).
Richardson (Platteville, CO / Metro State) was named East Division Player of the Year after batting .420 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs from the leadoff spot. She led the conference in on base percentage (.567), runs scored (55) and walks (34). Richardson did not make an error in the field in 132 chances and also helped the Patriots to their first ASC title.
Henderson (Woden, TX / Northeast TX CC) was voted East Division Pitcher of the Year after going 17-3 and winning the league ERA title (0.37). Her victory total was tops in the ASC and she also led the league in strikeouts (161) and lowest opponents batting average (.147). Henderson logged 114 2/3 innings and also helped pitch the Lady Tigers to the East Division title.
Clark (Eula, TX / EHS) was named West Division Player of the Year after batting .444 with eight home runs, 12 doubles, five triples, 32 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. She led the ASC with 67 hits and 102 assists in the field. Clark’s triple total tied her for the league lead and she crossed the plate 49 times, which tied her for tops in the West Division. She also helped the Cowgirls to the West title.
Middleton (Katy, TX / KHS) was voted West Divison Pitcher of the Year after going 16-5 with two saves and a 2.28 ERA. She had the most wins of any hurler in the West and fanned 35 of 94 batters looking, which was also a West-Divison high mark. Middleton helped the Lady Jackets to a runner-up finish in the West and a berth in the ASC tournament.
All four were first team selections in their respective divisions.
Other East Division award winners were Texas-Tyler sophomore outfielder Whitney Wyly (Hardin, TX / Texas-San Antonio), who was named newcomer of the year after breaking ASC records for home runs (16) and RBIs (70) in a single season. Her teammate, catcher Ashley Klores (Franklin, TX / FHS), was named freshman of the year. She batted .422 and did not make an error. LeTourneau University sophomore catcher Kylie Packard (Lindale, TX / LHS) was named sportsmanship athlete of the year. ETBU’s Janae Shirley took home coach of the year honors after guiding the Lady Tigers to their first division crown and No. 1 national ranking since 2004.
Other West Division award winners were Howard Payne junior third baseman Becca McDaniel (Mineral Wells, TX / MWHS), who was dubbed as newcomer of the year after batting .374 with five homers and four triples. Hardin-Simmons catcher Taylor Namey (Fort Worth, TX / Justin Northwest HS) earned freshman of the year honors. She batted .380 and led the West in home runs (14), slugging percentage (.759) and RBIs (59). Howard Payne senior outfielder Kate McLaughlin (Brock, TX / BHS) was earned the honor of sportsmanship athlete of the year. Schreiner’s Don Green and Hardin-Simmons’ Rita Jordan shared coach of the year honors. Green led the Mountaineers to their first ASC tournament appearance since 2003 and Jordan guided the Cowgirls to their third division title in the last five seasons.
[Note: ASC softball awards are given only at the division level.]
-ASC EAST DIVISION SOFTBALL AWARDS-
East Division Player of the Year: Megan “Roo” Richardson, UTL, Sr., University of Texas at Tyler
East Division Pitcher of the Year: Ayrika Henderson, Jr., East Texas Baptist University
East Division Newcomer of the Year: Whitney Wyly, OF, So., University of Texas at Tyler
East Division Freshman of the Year: Ashley Klores, C, University of Texas at Tyler
East Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: Kylie Packard, C, So., LeTourneau University
East Division Coach of the Year: Janae Shirley, East Texas Baptist University
(Listed in order of voting point totals; # indicates tie in voting at that position)
ALL-EAST DIVISION FIRST TEAM
1B Kate Bell# Sr. Texas-Tyler Forney, TX (Hardin-Simmons)
1B Brooke Martin# Fr. East Texas Baptist Lindale, TX (LHS)
2B Adrienne Meier Jr. East Texas Baptist Bellville, TX (BHS)
SS Mary Alice Roy Jr. Louisiana College Pride, LA (Hinds CC)
3B Sara DeStefano So. Texas-Tyler Franklin, TX (FHS)
C Ashley Klores Fr. Texas-Tyler Franklin, TX (FHS)
OF Whitney Wyly So. Texas-Tyler Hardin, TX (Texas-San Antonio)
OF Caitlin Bankston Fr. Louisiana College Winnfield, LA (WHS)
OF Julie Smith Jr. Texas-Tyler Houston, TX (Hargrove HS)
DP Whitney Haynes
Fr. Texas-Tyler Little Elm, TX ( Denton Ryan HS)
Erin Jones Fr. East Texas Baptist New Boston, TX (NBHS)
UTL Megan “Roo” Richardson Sr. Texas-Tyler Platteville, CO ( Metro State)
P Ayrika Henderson
Jr. East Texas Baptist Woden, TX (Northeast TX CC)
P Rene’ Schwartzenburg So. Louisiana College Marskville, LA (MHS)
P McCaslin Carson Sr. Louisiana College Monroe, LA (Neville HS)
ALL-EAST DIVISION SECOND TEAM
1B Caysie Norum Fr. Texas-Dallas Conroe, TX (CHS)
2B Ashleigh Clement Jr. Louisiana College Oak Grove, LA (OGHS)
SS Stacy Jordan Jr. East Texas Baptist Kirbyville, TX (KHS)
3B Meghan Fisher So. East Texas Baptist Cypress, TX (Cy Fair HS)
C Kylie Packard So. LeTourneau Lindale, TX (LHS)
OF Porscha Harrison Jr. East Texas Baptist Lufkin, TX (Lon Morris CC)
OF Morgan Harpole So. Mississippi College Lindale, TX (LHS)
OF Danielle Dirks Sr. Ozarks Farmington, AR (FHS)
DP Carter Ryan Sr. Texas-Dallas Frisco, TX (FHS)
UTL Julie Wilkinson So. Ozarks Unionville, MO (Putnam CC)
P Alicia Wright Fr. East Texas Baptist Wylie, TX (WHS)
P Stacy Shepherd So. Texas-Tyler Houston, TX (Cy Fair HS)
P Erin Garcia Fr. East Texas Baptist Navasota, TX (NHS)
ALL-EAST DIVISION HONORABLE MENTION
1B Lauren Coleman So. Mississippi College Sclater, MS ( Pillow Academy)
2B Jennifer Jones So. Mississippi College Pass Christian, MS (PCHS)
SS Lauren Goolsby Fr. Mississippi College Clinton, MS (CHS)
OF Kasey Bomar So. Mississippi College Millington, TN (MHS)
Allison Frye Jr. Louisiana College Pineville, LA (PHS)
DP Rachel Hurley Jr. Mississippi College Brandon, MS ( Miss. State)
P Kelsey Ainsworth So. Texas-Tyler Corsicana, TX (Mildred HS)
Whitney Warner Fr. Mississippi College Brandon, MS (BHS)
-ASC WEST DIVISION SOFTBALL AWARDS-
West Division Player of the Year: Courtney Clark, SS, Jr., Hardin-Simmons University
West Division Pitcher of the Year: Jenna Middleton, Sr., Howard Payne University
West Division Newcomer of the Year: Becca McDaniel, 3B, Jr., Howard Payne University
West Division Freshman of the Year: Taylor Namey, C, Hardin-Simmons University
West Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: Kate McLaughlin, OF, Sr., Howard Payne University
West Division Co-Coaches of the Year:
Don Green, Schreiner University; Rita Jordan, Hardin-Simmons University
(Listed in order of voting point totals; #, & indicates tie in voting at that position)
ALL-WEST DIVISION FIRST TEAM
1B Courtney Johnston Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Fort Worth, TX (McLennan CC)
2B Amy Meyer Fr. Hardin-Simmons Keller, TX (Fossil Ridge HS)
SS Courtney Clark Jr. Hardin-Simmons Eula, TX (EHS)
3B Tara Gonzalez Sr. Schreiner Natalia, TX (MHS)
C Taylor Namey Fr. Hardin-Simmons Fort Worth, TX (Justin Northwest)
OF Kate McLaughlin Sr. Howard Payne Brock, TX (BHS)
OF Cera Beasley So. Hardin-Simmons Arlington, TX (AHS)
OF Karen Smart Sr. Concordia Texas Maplewood, MN (St. Croix Lutheran HS)
DP Brigitte Neumann
Fr. Texas Lutheran San Antonio, TX (Incarnate Word HS)
DP Katie Shurbet Jr. Hardin-Simmons Pittsburg, TX (PHS)
UTL Kassie Fuller Jr. Sul Ross State Alpine, TX (AHS)
P Jenna Middleton Sr. Howard Payne Katy, TX (KHS)
P Sarah Shurbet Fr. Hardin-Simmons Pittsburg, TX (PHS)
P Kelsey Greeson
Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Belton, TX (Centenary)
P Mandy Staton Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Temple, TX (McLennan CC)
ALL-WEST DIVISION SECOND TEAM
1B Lyndsie Travis# Sr. Schreiner Helotes, TX (O’Conner HS)
1B Lauren Vansickle# Fr. Concordia Texas Victori, TX (St. Joseph HS)
2B Erica Salazar Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor San Antonio, TX (Churchill HS)
SS Jessica Rattan So. Concordia Texas Austin, TX ( Cedar Park HS)
3B Karen Fertitta Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Beaumont, TX (Westbrook HS)
3B Becca McDaniel Jr. Howard Payne Mineral Wells, TX (Hill JC)
C Carranda Goree Jr. Concordia Texas Marble Falls, TX (Western Texas CC)
OF Lauren Bollich
Sr. Howard Payne Angelton, TX (AHS)
OF Natalie Suciu Sr. Texas Lutheran San Antonio, TX ( Marshall)
OF Caitlin Wells Fr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Spring, TX (SHS)
DP Megan Bohne So. Mary Hardin-Baylor College Station, TX (A&M Consol HS)
UTL Lacie Cole So. Hardin-Simmons Pattonville, TX (Prairiland HS)
P Patsy Toman Sr. Schreiner Hockley, TX (Texas-Tyler)
P Lyssa Yates Fr. Concordia Texas Lake Travis, TX (LTHS)
P Laura Rawlings So. Hardin-Simmons Mt. Pleasant, TX (MPHS)
ALL-WEST DIVISION HONORABLE MENTION
1B Ashley Silva So. Howard Payne Angelton, TX (AHS)
2B Sarah Trevino Sr. Schreiner Alice, TX (Ben Bolt HS)
Mallory Wood Jr. Howard Payne Watauga, TX (Hill JC)
SS Nicole Hatley So. Texas Lutheran Katy, TX ( Taylor HS)
Delani Hurst Fr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Fort Worth, TX (L.D. Bell HS)
3B Amanda Edwards Fr. Texas Lutheran San Antonio, TX ( Madison HS)
C Marla Jendrusch So. Schreiner LaVernia, TX (LHS)
Kelley Wheeler Fr. Howard Payne Abilene, TX (Wylie HS)
OF Sara Roman So. Mary Hardin-Baylor Bryan, TX ( St. Joseph’s HS)
Callie Rice Jr. Hardin-Simmons North Richland Hills, TX (Birdville, HS)
Lindsay Rutkowski Jr. Schreiner Jourdanton, TX (JHS)
UTL Becca Hay
Fr. Schreiner Marion, TX (MHS)
Alison Organ Sr. Texas Lutheran Houston, TX ( Westfield HS)
P Kelsei Loewe Fr. Texas Lutheran Waller, TX (WHS)