May 12, 2004

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – South Carolina centerfielder Nancy Crane was named second team All-SEC and catcher Ashley Smith was named SEC Co-Scholar of the Year at the SEC Softball Tournament Banquet Wednesday evening. This marks the 15th All-SEC honor that the Gamecocks have earned since 1997.

Crane, which earns her first postseason honor, leads the Gamecocks in hitting with a .335 average and in SEC games she is second with a .324 average. The Stuart, Fla. native led the team in hits in SEC play with 33 and runs scored with 16. In stolen base attempts, Crane went 7-for-8. The senior has started every game in centerfield this year and has served as the lead-off batter in all 47 games that USC has played.

Smith, a sophomore from Portage, Mich., recorded a .366 average in SEC games and posted a perfect 4.0 in civil engineering. Smith drove in 15 runs for the Gamecocks in SEC play and led the team in doubles with six. For all games, the catcher is hitting .320 and has six home runs and 12 doubles. Smith will share the honor with Mississippi State’s Kate Jaspers.

This marks the seventh time a USC player has earned second team honors and for the second year in a row, the starting centerfielder has earned second team honors.

The tournament, which is being hosted by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, begins Thursday and will conclude Sunday. USC will play LSU at 6 p.m. (EST).

ALL-SEC
Kristin Schmidt, LSU
Monica Abbott, Tennessee
Sara Dean, Auburn
Jackie McClain, Alabama
Kim Wendland, Georgia
Kate Jaspers, Mississippi State
Kristi Durant, Tennessee
Nicole Barber, Georgia
LaDonia Hughes LSU
Leslie Klein, LSU
Iyhia McMichael, Mississippi State
Stephanie Van Brakle, Alabama

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Kristin Keyes, Auburn
Jenny Gladding, Florida
Leigh Ann Danos, LSU
Staci Ramsey, Alabama
Mylin Prieto, Florida
Melissa Zick, Florida
Lauren Delahoussaue, LSU
Julie Wiese, LSU
Angela Brewer, Tennessee
Capper Reed, Alabama
Shannon Anderson, Auburn
Nancy Crane, South Carolina
Lauren Castle, LSU
DeDe Justice, Ole Miss

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Emily Turner, LSU
Monica Abbott, Tennessee
Michelle Diaz, Florida
Kristina McCain, Auburn
Lauren Roussell, Florida
Melissa Zick, Florida
Megan McAllister, Georgia
Sara Ghezzi, Auburn
Amber Janneck, Kentucky
Leslie Klein, LSU
Hayle Guess, Mississippi State
Kasi Carroll, Georgia

Player of the Year: Iyhia McMichael, Mississippi State

Pitcher of the Year: Monica Abbott, Tennessee

Freshman of the Year: Monica Abbott, Tennessee

Co-Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Ashley Smith, South Carolina AND Kate Jaspers, Mississippi State

Coaches of the Year: Ralph and Karen Weekly, Tennessee