May 15, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina saw two of its softball student-athletes on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-Southeast Region squads, as senior Ashlyn Masters made the second team and freshman Kaylea Snaer landed on the third team.

Masters, who made the second team in the utility/non-pitcher spot, leads the Gamecocks in 10 offensive categories and has six marks in the single-season top-15 at South Carolina. The Evans, Ga., native is tied for the SEC lead with 19 doubles, two shy of matching South Carolina’s school record.

Snaer, who garnered the first base spot on the third team, ranks second on the team with eight homers while leading the way with 35 RBI despite missing the past nine games with an arm injury. The Rowland Heights, Calif., product had nine of her 13 hits in 20 SEC games go for extra bases. She also made the SEC All-Freshman Team in the infield.

It’s the third time since 2000 that the Gamecocks landed two student-athletes on the NFCA All-Region squads, matching 2012’s pair of second-team selections (Lauren Lackey and Chelsea Hawkins) and 2000’s first-team honorees (Megan Matthews and Joyce McMillian).

The coaches in the respective regions vote on the NFCA squads, 10 in all, with student-athletes nominated by specific infield positions, honored 392 individuals representing 158 different programs.

South Carolina (35-20) faces USF (41-15) in the first game of the 2014 Tallahassee Regional, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m. Friday at JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex. ESPN2 is televising Friday’s games from Tallahassee.

2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Region
Southeast Region

First Team
P – Lacey Waldrop, Florida State
P – Chelsea Wilkinson, Georgia
C – Annie Aldrete, Tennessee
1B – Jenna Kelly, North Carolina
2B – Alex Hugo, Georgia
3B – Kasey Cooper, Auburn
SS – Maddie O’Brien, Florida State
OF – Branndi Melero, Auburn
OF – Courtney Senas, Florida State
OF – Shellie Robinson, USC Upstate
UT/P – Lauren Haeger, Florida
UT/Non-P – Tina Iosefa, Georgia

Second Team
P – Hannah Rogers, Florida
P – Tori Finucane, Missouri
P – Anna Miller, USC Upstate
C – Megan Baltzell, Longwood
1B – Taylor Schwarz, Florida
2B – Kelsey Stewart, Florida
3B – Stephanie Toftt, Florida
SS – Madison Shipman, Tennessee
OF – Taylor Gadbois, Missouri
OF – Emily Crane, Missouri
OF – Melissa Davin, Tennessee
UT/P – Geri Ann Glasco, Georgia
UT/P – Kiana Quolas, Coastal Carolina
UT/Non-P – Ashlyn Masters, South Carolina

Third Team
P – Ellen Renfroe, Tennessee
P – Kelsey Nunley, Kentucky
C – Griffin Joiner, Kentucky
1B – Kaylea Snaer, South Carolina
2B – Emily Carosone, Auburn
3B – Nikki Sagermann, Kentucky
SS – Paige Wilson, Georgia
OF – Kirsti Merritt, Florida
OF – Samantha LaZear, Georgia
OF – Anna Swafford, Georgia
UT/P – Lauren Cumbess, Kentucky
UT/Non-P – Angela Randazzo, Missouri