May 17, 2006
ATLANTA – Senior Amy Hosier, sophomore Savannah Brown and freshman Whitney Haller were named to the NFCA Southeast All-Region teams, announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Wednesday.
“All three had outstanding seasons and are very deserving of this award,” said Tech coach Ehren Earleywine. “We’ve had to rely on our offense most of the season and we could not have done it without these three.
“Not only did they hit for average, but also for power. We’re counting on them to have a strong postseason run and lead our team.”
Hosier, a native of Lakewood, Colo., was named to the NFCA Southeast All-Region first team for the first time in her career. The outfielder leads the Atlantic Coast Conference with a .522 on base percentage and broke the Tech single-season school record with 51 walks, also tops in the league. Hosier ranks third in the ACC with a .377 batting average and has a career-high nine home runs and 46 runs batted in. She was named to the All-ACC first team for the second consecutive season.
Brown, a native of El Cajon, Calif., was selected to the All-Region second team after hitting over .300 during the regular season with 10 home runs at the catcher position. She is third in the ACC with 11 home runs to date and has driven in 46 runs, sixth best in the league.
Haller, a native of Marietta, Ga., earned first team honors after setting new ACC single-season records in home runs (23), RBI (70), total bases (162) and saves (6). The ACC Freshman of the Year also leads the conference in batting average (.393) and slugging percentage (.806). She ranks second in the nation in total runs batted in and third in home runs. Her 23 bombs are tied for 13th best all-time for any single season in NCAA history.
The Yellow Jackets will be the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, May 19-21, and will face No. 3 seed Florida A&M (39-23) in the first game on Friday at 5 p.m. ET, followed by No. 1 seed Alabama (49-9) and No. 4 seed Mississippi Valley State (23-28) at 7:30 p.m. ET.
2006 Southeastern All-Region Softball Teams
First Team
Pitcher (2) – Crystal Cox – UNC, Kasi Carrol – Georgia
1st Base – Whitney Haller, Ga. Tech
2nd Base – Veronica Wootson – Florida State
3rd Base – Megan McAllister – Georgia
Shortstop – Yuruby Alicart – Florida State
Catcher – Kristen Butler, UF
Outfielders (3) – Kellie Middleton – Georgia, Amy Hosier – Ga. Tech, Natasha Jacobs – Florida State
Utility – (Tie) Meagen Johnson – Coastal Carolina, Jessica Doucette – Georgia
Designated Player – Tabitha Embry – FIU
Second Team
Pitcher (2) – Abbie Sims – NC State, Shaina Ervin – NC State
1st Base – Jennifer Jacobs – UNC
2nd Base – Cassie Palmer – UNC
3rd Base – Melissa Wiggins – Stetson
Shortstop – Ryan Washington – Longwood
Catcher – Savannah Brown – Ga. Tech
Outfielders – Ashley Adams – Western Carolina, Courtney Knight – Georgia, Caitlin Hooe – Longwood
Utility – Katie Rosentreter – Mercer
Designated Player – Casey Testa – UNC
Added – Big South Pitcher of the Year – Ashley Taylor – Radford Colonial Athletic Pitcher of the Year – Elizabeth Hyman – Ga. State
MEAC Player of the Year – Maggie Wolfe – Hampton Southern Conference Player of the Year – Shanita Black – Ga. Southern
Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year – Mendy McKenzie – Western Carolina
(Conference players of the year and Pitchers of the year are added to second team if they are not voted on to the first or second team)
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