May 7, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A pair of Gamecocks picked up accolades from the Southeastern Conference, as the league announced its awards on the eve of the conference tournament.

Redshirt senior Chrissy Schoonmaker earned a spot on the inaugural All-Defensive Team while Laura Mendes was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Schoonmaker played a majority of her 17 games in SEC play this season at second base and shares the honor with Florida’s Aja Paculba. The Sebastian, Fla., native Schoonmaker committed only one error at second in 28 chances, while she also logged time at each of the other three infield spots without a mark during the year. The senior battled back from a neck injury that caused her to miss the 2007 campaign to play in 32 games for Carolina in 2008.

Mendes ranked second among the Gamecocks with a .291 batting average, while her 14 walks tied for the team lead. She was also in the top three on the squad in on-base and slugging percentage, runs batted in, runs scored, hits, doubles, homers and stolen bases. In SEC play, she stood among the team leaders in batting average, doubles, RBI, runs and walks.

Alabama and Florida, two of the top three-ranked teams in the country, both claimed two of the league’s individual awards. The Gators’ Stacey Nelson was named the league’s Pitcher of the Year, while Tim Walton won the Coach of the Year award. Jordan Praytor of Alabama was chosen as the league’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Crimson Tide pitcher Kelsi Dunne picked up Freshman of the Year honors. Tennessee’s Tonya Callahan won the Player of the Year plaque. Alabama had four first-team All-SEC players, while Florida had three. Three more Tide players garnered second-team All-SEC honors, while Florida had one on the second team.

2008 Southeastern Conference Softball Awards

Player of the Year: Tonya Callahan, Tennessee
Pitcher of the Year: Stacey Nelson, Florida
Coach of the Year: Tim Walton, Florida
Freshman of the Year: Kelsi Dunne, Alabama
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Jordan Praytor, Alabama

All-SEC First Team
P Stacey Nelson, Florida
P Kelsi Dunne, Alabama
IF Tonya Callahan, Tennessee
IF Ali Gardiner, Florida
IF Courtney Bures, Mississippi State
IF Kelley Montalvo, Alabama
OF Brittany Rogers, Alabama
OF Rachel Mitchell, LSU
OF Kim Waleszonia, Florida
OF Megan Wiggins, Georgia
C Chelsea Bramlett, Mississippi State
DP/U Charlotte Morgan, Alabama

All-SEC Second Team
P Cody Trahan, LSU
P Anna Thompson, Auburn
IF Aja Paculba, Florida
IF Kenora Posey, Tennessee
IF Sojourner Moody, Georgia
IF Molly Johnson, Kentucky
OF Dani Woods, Alabama
OF Jordan Praytor, Alabama
OF Quinlan Duhon, LSU
OF Hayle Guess, Mississippi State
C Ashley Holcombe, Alabama
DP/U Lauren Grill, Mississippi

SEC All-Freshman Team
P Kelsi Dunne, Alabama
P Stephanie Brombacher, Florida
IF Aja Paculba, Florida
IF Jen Lapicki, Tennessee
IF Megan Bush, Florida
IF Ali Bainbridge, Mississippi State
OF Megan Wiggins, Georgia
OF Meagan Aull, Kentucky
OF Taylor Schlopy, Georgia
OF Laura Mendes, South Carolina
C Megan Yocke, Kentucky
DP/U Tiffany DeFelice, Florida

SEC All-Defensive Team
P Stacey Nelson, Florida
C Ashley Holcombe, Alabama
1B Ali Gardiner, Florida
2B Chrissy Schoonmaker, South Carolina
2B Aja Paculba, Florida
SS Kenora Posey, Tennessee
3B Kelley Montalvo, Alabama
OF Kim Waleszonia, Florida
OF Myesha Finney, Auburn
OF Brittany Rogers, Alabama