May 8, 2003

Plant City, Fla. – The Southeastern Conference announced the 2003 SEC Softball Honors Thursday and two South Carolina players were named to the teams. Senior third baseman Danielle Quinones was named first team, while senior centerfielder Jodi Fittro was named second team. Both athletes are first time recipients of this honor.

Quinones leads Carolina in hitting with a .349 average and posted a .341 average for SEC games only. The La Puente, Calif. native finished first among the conference’s third basemen in defensive stats (.969). She also led the SEC in doubles (10) and had a team leading 16 doubles for the season. Quinones also led Carolina with 30 RBI’s in SEC play. Second on the team in home runs with seven, four of those long balls came against SEC teams, the most by any Gamecock player this year.

Fittro finished second on the team in hitting in SEC play with a .295 average. The Riverside, Calif. native finished SEC play with 26 RBI’s, good enough for the third most on the team. With 40 career sacrifice hits, Fittro ranks sixth among Carolina’s all-time leaders. Defensively, Fittro ranks among the conference’s top outfielders with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

This marks the first time since 1999 that Carolina has had a player named First Team All-SEC. Kim Pietro, an outfielder from ’96-’99, was a unanimous selection. Including Quinones, Carolina has had five different players earn first team honors. USC has had seven first team honors total. For both teams, the Gamecocks have earned 14 All-SEC honors.

First Team All-SEC
P- Jenny Gladding, Florida
P- Michelle Green, Georgia
C- Lacy Prejean, Alabama
INF- Jackie McClain, Alabama
INF- Mylin Prieto, Florida
INF- Kim Wendland, Georgia
INF Danielle Quinones, South Carolina
DP/UTL- Krisit Durant, Tennessee
OF- Ashley Courtney, Alabama
OF- Lindsey Cameron, Florida
OF- Nicole Barber, Georgia
OF- Iyhia McMichael, Mississippi State

Second Team All-SEC
P-Stephanie VanBrakle, Alabama
P- Kristin Schmidt, LSU
C- Lyndsey Angus, Kentucky
INF- Ashley Godfrey, Georgia
INF- Nikki Jones, Kentucky
INF- Christy Connor, LSU
INF- Amber Rhinehart, Tennessee
DP/UTL- Tessa Lynam, LSU
DP/UTL- DeDe Justice, Ole Miss
OF- Camille Harris, LSU
OF- Jodi Fittro, South Carolina
OF- Jennifer Nelson, Mississippi State

Pitcher of the Year
Michelle Green, Georgia

Athlete of the Year
Iyhia McMichael, Mississippi State

Coach of the Year
Lu Harris-Champer, Georgia

Freshman of the Year
Stephanie VanBrakle, Alabama