Troy University Athletics
Five Trojans Earn All-Sun Belt Honors
5/8/2012 6:00:00 PM | Softball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – On the eve of the Sun Belt Conference Championships, the league announced the 2012 version of the All-Sun Belt team, with five different Trojans being honored for their efforts.
The five selections are the second most in the league, behind only regular season champion Louisiana-Lafayette. Troy grabbed one first team selection and four second team selections as the Trojans prepare to open their tournament tomorrow against FIU at 10:00 a.m. CST.
Freshman pitcher Ashley Rainey was named to the first team as an at-large selection. Junior catcher Hannah Renn, senior first baseman Hayden Gann, senior second baseman Sarah Shields and senior outfielder Michelle Hewett were all named to the second team.
The at-large selection goes to the player, regardless of position, that received the most votes but wasn't name to the first or second team. Rainey has defeated No.8 Louisiana-Lafayette, No.21 Auburn and No.22 Florida State this season. She fifth in the league with 17 wins and has a very misleading 17-11 record. The Troy offense has scored three runs or fewer in 10 of her 11 losses, including being shutout in five of them.
The true freshman ace has been mature beyond her years in 2012, posting a 2.69 ERA over a Sun Belt high 198.0 innings of work. She has walked just 34 batters over that span, ranking her 20th in the nation with 1.20 walks per seven innings. Without five intentional walks, Rainey would rank 11th in the NCAA at 1.05 BB per seven.
Renn, a truly versatile catcher, is second among all Su Belt catchers with a .289 batting aver this season. She is second on the team with seven home runs while also swiping 12 of 13 bags. Renn has hit in every spot in the Troy lineup, except for seventh and eighth, showing the junior's versatility.
Gann, an All-Sun Belt performer a season ago, is hitting a career best .335 with starts in 52 of Troy's 53 games. She leads the Sun Belt with 13 doubles while her .581 slugging percentage in all games is fifth in the league. Her .386 batting average in Sun Belt games is the highest among non-slappers in the league.
Shields is having a career year in her senior campaign, hitting a team high .351, a mark that ranks her seventh in the Sun Belt. She has struck out just eight times in 148 at bats, making her second toughest batter in the Sun Belt to strike out. In fact, Shields has struck out just once in 63 at bats in Sun Belt play.
Hewett has been consistent at the top of the Troy lineup, hitting .308 while placing third in the Sun Belt with 19 stolen bases on 22 attempts. Hewett is not just a speed threat as she has hit three home runs on the season. She is one of 10 qualifying players in the Sun Belt that can claim a 1.000 fielding percentage, with her 75 chances leading all 10 by far.
After Tuesday's Family Night at the FAU Softball Stadium that included a home run derby, autograph session and firework show, the Trojans turn their attention to their first round match-up with FIU. Troy took two of three at home against FIU earlier this season, and also defeated the Panthers in the first round of last year's tournament.
For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics. For in-game updates from the softball diamond, be sure to follow Troy Softball on Twitter at @TroySBall.
All-Sun Belt First Team
Ashley Brignac (Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior, Pitcher)
Jordan Wallace (Louisiana-Lafayette, Freshman, Pitcher)
Karavin Dew (Western Kentucky, Junior, Catcher)
Matte Haack (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, First Base)
Kayla Toney (Middle Tennessee, Sophomore, Second Base)
Nerissa Myers (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, Shortstop)
Natalie Fernandez (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sophomore, Third Base)
Ashley McClain (FIU, Senior, Outfield)
Christi Orgeron (Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior, Outfield)
Katie Smith (Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior, Outfield)
Maddelyn Fraley (North Texas, Senior, Utility)
At-Large: Ashley Rainey (Troy, Freshman, Pitcher)
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Mariah Dawson (FIU, Sophomore, Pitcher)
Hannah Campbell (South Alabama, Sophomore, Pitcher)
Hannah Renn (Troy, Junior, Catcher)
Hayden Gann (Troy, Senior, First Base)
Sarah Shields (Troy, Senior, Second Base)
Brittany Fowler (South Alabama, Junior, Shortstop)
Preslie Cruce (Western Kentucky, Freshman, Third Base)
Blair Johnson (South Alabama, Freshman, Outfield)
Michelle Hewett (Troy, Senior, Outfield)
Kelsie Mattox (Western Kentucky, Sophomore, Outfield)
Taylor Fawbush (Florida Atlantic, Junior, Utility)
At-Large: Sarah Draheim (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, Catcher)
Player of the Year: Christi Orgeron, Louisiana-Lafayette
Pitcher of the Year: Ashley Brignac, Louisiana-Lafayette
Freshman of the Year: Jordan Wallace, Louisiana-Lafayette
Coach of the Year: Stefni and Michael Lotief, Louisiana-Lafayette
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