May 8, 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior Ashton Payne and senior Melissa Hendon claimed spots on the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III squads released by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) today.
The Richmond, Va., native Payne garnered one of the outfield spots on the first team and moves onto the ballot for the Academic All-America, released on May 28. Hendon made the second team as a pitcher.
Payne led the Gamecocks in numerous offensive categories, including batting average, runs, doubles, triples and total bases. She had the third-longest documented hitting streak in South Carolina history of 18 games earlier this season. Her six triples stand 11th in the country this year and is tops in the Southeastern Conference. Payne also earned a spot on the SEC Community Service Team earlier this season.
Hendon wrapped up her career with a 1.98 earned run average with 145 strikeouts in 151.2 innings pitched. The Ringgold, Ga., product had 18 complete games and five shutouts in her senior season. Her four saves this season stand 21st in the NCAA. She earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time in her career on April 7 after winning the first game and saving the second in a doubleheader sweep of Auburn. Hendon closed her career at Carolina with 422 strikeouts, sixth all-time, 14 shutouts, 49 complete games (both rank ninth) and seven saves, third-most in the program’s annals.
This is the sixth year that the Gamecocks have had representation on the district squad. Last year, Payne made the second team, while McKenna Hughes earned a spot on the first team.
Florida State and Virginia Tech both had two first-team selections, tops in the region. Those two also had one second-team player as well to pace the district.
To qualify for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District teams, a student-athlete must be a sophomore in athletic and academic standing and have completed a full year at their current school The nominee must also have compiled a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and participated in 50 percent of the team’s games as a starter or an important reserve.
2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III Softball Teams
University Division
First Team
C Robin Ahrberg, Florida State
IF Whitney Haller, Georgia Tech
IF Andrea Migliori, Stetson
IF Brittany Birnbaum, Coastal Carolina
IF Karlie Love, Campbell
OF Lisa Kingsmore, Winthrop
OF Ashton Payne, South Carolina
OF Carly Wynn, Florida State
P Angela Tincher, Virginia Tech
P Stacey Nelson, Florida
DP Jenna Rhodes, Virginia Tech
Second Team
C Ashley Conway, Charleston Southern
C Cat Snapp, UCF
IF Aileen Morales, Georgia Tech
IF Blair Bodenmiller, Florida Atlantic
IF Erin Ota, Virginia Tech
IF Nina Iduate, Georgia Southern
OF Carmen Paez, Florida Gulf Coast
OF Tessa Thomas, Winthrop
OF Blair Shimandle, Georgia Tech
P Melissa Hendon, South Carolina
P Melissa May, Florida State
DP Vanesa Flores, USC Upstate
