May 7, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Georgia Tech senior shortstop Aileen Morales and junior first baseman Whitney Haller were each named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team it was announced this evening at the league’s annual postseason awards banquet in voting conducted by the coaches. Morales earned first-team honors for the second time in her career and it marked the third time overall she has been an All-ACC selection. Haller, meanwhile, was selected to the second-team and joins Laura Williams as the only players in Tech history to earn All-Conference honors in each of their first three seasons.
Next season, Haller will have a chance to join Williams as the only four-time All-ACC members in school history. She and Morales are the fifth and sixth, three-time All-ACC honorees in school history as they join a select group that includes Tara Knudsen (2002-2004), Caitlin Lever (2005-2007), Jessica Sallinger (2003-2005) and Williams (1994-1997).
Morales will leave Georgia Tech with her name all over the school and ACC record books. This season, the Columbus, Ga., native leads the team with a .347 batting average (eighth in the ACC), .555 slugging percentage (seventh), .427 on-base percentage (eighth), 45 runs scored (third), 60 hits (tied for fourth), eight doubles, five triples (first), 21 walks (tied for ninth) and 44 stolen bases (first). She is also among the team leaders with 28 RBI and six home runs.
Morales has already broken the all-time Georgia Tech stolen base record this season and needs one more to break her own single-season record (44 in 2005). Morales is second all-time in ACC history and first at Tech with 213 runs scored and needs just 11 more for the league record. She is fourth in the ACC annals in stolen bases and had a stretch of 31 consecutive thefts this year at one point. Morales has made dazzling plays from her shortstop position and not committed an error since April 3, a span of 19 games. She has 16 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games this season.
Haller has been white hot at the plate heading into the ACC Tournament as she has hit in 10 straight games to conclude the regular season. The Marietta, Ga., native is hitting .593 over the last 10 games with four home runs and 15 RBI. She recently broke the all-time Georgia Tech career home run record and is now tied for tops in ACC history.
For the season, Haller is hitting .259 with 20 runs scored, 42 hits, eight doubles, 10 home runs, 38 RBI, a .494 slugging percentage and a .348 on-base percentage. She is first on the team and fifth in the ACC in RBI, while her home runs tally is good for a second-place tie on the team and third-place tie in the league. Haller has not committed an error all season
North Carolina’s Danielle Spaulding was tabbed the ACC Player of the Year after helping to lead the Tar Heels to a regular season championship. Angela Tincher of Virginia Tech earned Pitcher of the Year honors, while NC State’s Alyssa Allbritten earned Freshman of the Year accolades. Donna Papa of UNC was named Coach of the Year and the Tar Heels led the way with six All-Conference selections, including four first-teamers.
Georgia Tech (30-28) is in College Park, Md., for the 2008 ACC Tournament, May 8-11. The Yellow Jackets are the fourth seed and will play fifth-seeded NC State (29-26) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 in the opening round. The first three days of the tournament can be seen on ACC Select (http://acc.playonsports.tv/gatech) and then Sunday’s championship game will be televised live on the Regional Sports Networks, including FSN South in Atlanta. Live stats for every game of the championship can be found on www.ramblinwreck.com.
