April 16, 2008
USA South Announces Softball Awards
Three Monarchs earn First Team recognition

FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for softball. A total of 47 student-athletes have been named to the teams for softball. Methodist University's Rebekah Kelly has been named the Player of the Year for the second consecutive year while her teammate, Hannah Stutts, has earned Rookie Pitcher of the Year honors.

Kelly, a senior outfielder from Fayetteville, North Carolina, earns her second consecutive player of the year honor. She led the USA South with 55 hits and ten triples while recording a Monarch-best 39 runs scored and 82 total bases. Kelly also contributed a .444 batting average, 25 RBI and a .661 slugging percentage. In Conference games alone, Kelly led the league with a .527 batting average, 29 hits, 48 total bases and six triples. This is Kelly's fourth appearance on the All-Conference Team as she has now earned first-team honors the past three seasons to go along with her honorable-mention accolades in 2005.

A freshman from Statesville, North Carolina, Stutts appeared in 17 games, starting six of them. She compiled an 8-0 record with 36 strikeouts and a USA South-best 1.26 ERA. Stutts tossed 61.0 innings with three complete-games and two saves. This spring, Stutts was named USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week twice.

Joining Kelly on the USA South First Team were junior third baseman Kayla Talbert and junior pitcher Lesley Hewitt. Talbert led the Monarchs at the plate with a .468 batting average while also pacing the team with nine doubles, four home runs and 42 RBI. Hewitt finished the regular season with 24 appearances and 19 starts to go 15-5 in the circle. She carried a 1.87 ERA and added three saves while striking out 79. Sophomore second baseman Megan Hutson, senior designated player Billye Rivas and sophomore outfielder Tabatha Stephenson were Honorable Mention selections.

The USA South has also recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team including a member from each conference school who has demonstrated integrity and honor during the season. Junior Caline Daun has been chosen to represent Methodist.

The 2008 USA South Softball All-Conference Teams follow:

Player of the Year
Rebekah Kelly - Methodist

Pitcher of the Year
Katie Haskins - Shenandoah

Rookie of the Year
Cat Pruiett - Shenandoah

Rookie Pitcher of the Year
Hannah Stutts - Methodist

Coach of the Year
Marlena Kotynski - Shenandoah

First Team
1B - Lauren Wall - Shenandoah
2B - Katie Moyers - Chris. Newport
3B - Kayla Talbert - Methodist
SS - Ashlee Bass - N.C. Wesleyan
C - Cat Beuerle - Shenandoah
DP - Libby Fulford - N.C. Wesleyan
Util - Ashley Stansbury - Peace
OF - Rebekah Kelly - Methodist
OF - Jenee Johnson - Greensboro
OF - Cat Pruiett - Shenandoah
P - Katie Haskins - Shenandoah
P - Lesley Hewitt - Methodist

Second Team
1B - Lauren Rizzo - Ferrum
2B - Kendra Leghart - Greensboro
3B - Ashley Plaugher - Shenandoah
SS - Jolisa Jones - Shenandoah
C - Margit Severin - Chris. Newport
DP - Kristen Nickloy - Chris. Newport
Util - Arielle Stout - Meredith
OF - Katie Haskins - Shenandoah
OF - Whitney Moshier - N.C. Wesleyan
OF - Britney Smith - Greensboro
P - Libby Fulford - N.C. Wesleyan
P - Lindsay Kelly - Chris. Newport

Honorable Mention
1B - Becki Roebock - Meredith
2B - Megan Hutson - Methodist
3B - Jessie Atkinson - Chris. Newport
SS - Mary Kennedy - Chris. Newport
C - Amy Green - Averett
C - Nina Chiaruttini - Greensboro
DP - Billye Rivas, Methodist
Util - Denise Pope - N.C. Wesleyan
OF - Tabatha Stephenson - Methodist
OF - Ryeleigh Loftin - Greensboro
OF - Megan Morris - Chris. Newport
P - Erica Brown - Greensboro
P - Janet Fairchild - Chris. Newport

All-Sportsmanship Team
Heather Trainum - Averett
Hannah Brown - Chris. Newport
Lauren Thurman - Ferrum
Meagan Knight - Greensboro
Karen Potter - Mary Baldwin
Toni Tricarico - Meredith
Caline Daun - Methodist
Katie Dunavant - N.C. Wesleyan
Morgan Weathington - Peace
Shaquanda Johnson - Shenandoah