SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga dominated the All-SoCon honors with three First-Team selections, three All-Freshman selections and one Second-Team selection, while head coach Frank Reed was honored as the 2015 SoCon Coach of the Year as announced by the league on Tuesday.
Receiving the honor for the eighth time in his career, Reed led Chattanooga to a 32-13 overall record, including a 12-5 SoCon record, and its 14th SoCon regular season title.
On April 11, Reed earned his 1,000th career win with a 7-5 victory over Furman. He is currently the active winningest coach in the Southern Conference with a 530-312 record at Chattanooga.
Highlighting Chattanooga with First-Team honors were Criket Blanco at second, Sarah Beth at third and Nicole Osterman in the outfield.
This year, Blanco registered a .366 batting average, 38 runs, 45 hits and 29 RBI. The second baseman led the team and the SoCon with four SAC flies this year. Roberts topped the Mocs with a .383 batting average and recorded 35 runs, 49 hits and 27 RBI. The senior’s performance has ranked her in the SoCon’s top 10 in eight categories, and honored her as the SoCon Player of the Week on April 13. Osterman added in a team-best 38 runs and a SoCo-best 12 homeruns and a .706 slugging percentage for the Mocs this season. The Florida native also topped Chattanooga with 41 RBI. This season she was honored as the ESPN Player of the Week (2/23) and was a two-time SoCon Player of the Week.
J.J. Hamill saw recogntition on both the Second-Team and the All-freshman Team. The rookie started at shortstop in 33 games for the Mocs. She registered 19 putouts and 39 assists for a .906 fielding percentage. Offensively, Hamill gave 21 runs, 23 hits, 14 RBI and led the freshmen on Chattanooga’s roster with four homeruns.
Rounding out the honors for UTC were Cori Jennings and Kailey Palazzolo , who were selected to the All-Freshman team. Leading Chattanooga’s pitching staff with 13 wins; Jennings has pitched 119.2 innings with 76 strikeouts. The freshman has only relinquished three homeruns this season and holds a 2.75 ERA.
Used as a utility player and pitcher, Palazzolo played and started 39 games for the Mocs this season. On the mound she holds a 6-1 record and leads the staff with three saves. She played a major role in securing the regular season title for the Mocs as she tossed 8.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with six walks against eight strikeouts in the 4-3 UTC victory over Samford.
At bat, the California native registered 21 runs, 23 hits and 14 RBI. She is third on the team in putouts with 111, recording a .977 fielding percentage.
The 2014 Southern Conference Softball Championship begins Wednesday at the Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Mocs will take to the field on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. while the championship game is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
2015 Southern Conference Softball Awards
Player of the Year
Sieara Bishop, Jr., SS, Furman
Pitcher of the Year
Kirsten Stevens, So., Mercer
Freshman of the Year
Shelby Maze, OF, Samford
Coach of the Year
Frank Reed, Chattanooga
First Team All-Conference
P – Lindsey Bert, Furman
P – Kirsten Stevens, Mercer
C – Lindsay Thomas, UNCG
1B – Tory Wright, UNCG
2B – Cricket Blanco, Chattanooga
3B – Sarah Beth Roberts, Chattanooga
SS – Sieara Bishop, Furman
OF – Taylor Miller, Mercer
OF – Megan Dowdy, Samford
OF – Nicole Osterman, Chattanooga
DP – Caroline Wilder, Samford
UT – Nicole Thomas, UNCG
Second Team All-Conference
P – Mollie Hanson, Samford
P – Jordan Garrett, Western Carolina
C – Abby Sweeney, Samford
1B – Caroline Taylor, Mercer
2B – Taylor Jenkins, Furman
3B – Danielle Vega, UNCG
SS – Abby Adams, Samford
SS – J.J. Hamill, Chattanooga
OF – Ambree Muller, Furman
OF – Riley Carter, Mercer
OF – Allison Geiner, UNCG
DP – Elise Smith, Furman
UT – Lindsey Bert, Furman
All-Freshman Team
Cassi Pickett, ETSU
Kelsey Smith, ETSU
Lindsey Bert, Furman
Meghan Rud, Mercer
Shelby Maze, Samford
Karsin Spinks, Samford
Cori Jennings, Chattanooga
J.J. Hamill, Chattanooga
Kailey Palazzolo, Chattanooga
Emily Helton, Western Carolina