SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- After yet another championship season for the Chattanooga softball team, several members of the squad were prominently featured when the Southern Conference released its postseason awards on Tuesday.
Six members of the team were named to various all-conference teams, while head coach Frank Reed earned his third Southern Conference Coach of the Year honor. It’s the second straight season Reed has been named the conference’s top coach. He also won the award back in 2004.
This season the skipper added 26 wins to his resume and eclipsed the 300-win mark at UTC, more than any other manager in the program.
Michelle Fuzzard, Tiffany Baker and Lyndsey Stiles were named first team all-conference. Fuzzard made the team as a first baseman and was also selected to the second team as a pitcher. This is the second straight season she has been named to the first team, while Baker (2B) and Stiles (OF) made it for the first time in their brief careers.
This season all three are hitting over .300 with Baker leading the team at .366. Fuzzard is a close second with a .361 average, while Stiles is hitting at a .313 clip. Baker also leads the team in home runs with 11, while Fuzzard paces the squad with 36 RBIs. Stiles has been the spark on the basepaths for Chattanooga, stealing 18 of the team’s 29 bases in 2009.
Joining Fuzzard on the second team were juniors Brittany Eason and Kaiti Kelley. Eason earned the honors as a catcher for the Lady Mocs, while Kelley claimed one of the team’s three outfield spots.
In the circle Fuzzard tied for the team lead with eight wins and leads the pitching staff with 99 strikeouts. Eason had a strong 2009 campaign behind the plate, hitting .290 with four home runs, while Kaiti Kelley was a fixture at the top of the UTC lineup with her .310 batting average.
Freshman Jenni Martin was also recognized for her accomplishments as the Ringgold, Ga. native was placed on the all-freshman team. This season the designated player hit .295 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in.
Next up for the Lady Mocs is the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament. UTC is the top seed and will begin the tourney on May 6 at 7 p.m. from Jim Frost Stadium. The team will play the winner of No. 8 Western Carolina and No. 9 Elon in the tournament’s single elimination play-in game.
All-Conference
First Team
P: Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern
P: Kayla Richardson, Appalachian State
C: Abby Robertson, Furman
1B: Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
2B: Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga
SS: Nina Iduate, Georgia Southern
3B: Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston
OF: Lyndsey Stiles, Chattanooga
OF: Katie Forbes, College of Charleston
OF: Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern
DP: Mollie Fowler, Western Carolina
UT: Megen Smith, Georgia Southern
Second Team
P: Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
P: Lana Mackey, Furman
C: Michelle Lighton, Appalachian State
C: Brittany Eason, Chattanooga
1B: Sam Russo, Georgia Southern
2B: Amber Shifflett, College of Charleston
SS: Kaitlin Merkt, UNC Greensboro
3B: Katie Boyd, Appalachian State
OF: Kaiti Kelley, Chattanooga
OF: Amanda Hall, Georgia Southern
OF: Stephanie Field, Furman
DP: Shannon Howard, College of Charleston
UT: Robyn Harmon, Samford
All-Freshman
Megan Rembielak, Appalachian State
Katie Forbes, College of Charleston
Stephanie Field, Furman
Hanna Ennis, Georgia Southern
Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern
Alex Emeterio, UNC Greensboro
Robyn Harmon, Samford
Amy Gonzalez, Samford
Jenni Martin, Chattanooga
Chelsea Schaffer, Western Carolina
Player of the Year
Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston
Pitcher of the Year
Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern
Freshman of the Year
Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern
Coach of the Year
Frank Reed, Chattanooga
