May 8, 2007

FRISCO - Texas State pitcher Ragan Blake was named both the Southland Conference's Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in addition to garnering All-SLC First Team honors on Tuesday, as league offices announced the 2007 All-Southland Conference Softball Awards and Teams.

Blake, a transfer from Mississippi State, led all SLC pitchers in wins, ERA, strikeouts and shutouts. She went 23-13 for the regular season while posting a 1.61 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 226.2 innings, including 10 shutouts.

It marks the second consecutive SLC Pitcher of the Year award for the Bobcats and fourth overall. Katie Ann Trahan won the award last season, while Jessica Chase in 2001 and Nicole Neuerburg in 2002 also captured the honor.

Blake also became the second Bobcat to win SLC Newcomer of the Year, joining 2003 winner Ryan Stukel.

Texas-Arlington won a host of awards after winning the SLC regular season title. UTA's Katie Jones was named both SLC Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year after hitting .442 with 13 home runs and leading the conference with 65 hits., while the Mavs' Heather Fortenberry won Freshman of the Year after going 13-3 as a pitcher and also batting .303. Coach of the Year also went to UTA's Debbie Hedrick, who led the Mavs to a 34-14 overall record and 19-5 mark in conference play.

McNeese State's Jenny Clay was named Utility Player of the Year to round out the individual honors after hitting .322 with 33 RBIs.

Blake also was the only Bobcat voted to one of the three All-Conference teams, earning first team honors at pitcher along with Southeastern Louisiana's Rachel Ray. Overall, Sam Houston State placed a league-high seven players on All-SLC teams, while Texas-Arlington and Nicholls State each placed six. McNeese State placed five, UTSA and Southeastern Louisiana each had three, and Northwestern State had two.

The SLC Softball Tournament begins Thursday, where Texas State will be the No. 3 seed. No. 1 seed UTA will face No. 6 seed Nicholls State in the opening game of the tournament. No. 2 seed and tournament host Sam Houston State opens against No. 5 seed McNeese State in game two, while the Bobcats meet No. 4 seed UTSA, the defending tournament champions, in game three. The losers of game one and two will meet in game four, in the first elimination game of the tournament.

FIRST TEAM
Name, University (Position)
Dee Jay Nelson, Texas-Arlington (1B)
Brooke Broadhead, McNeese State (2B)
Jessica Rogers, UTSA (3B)
Kat Harrell, Nicholls State (SS)
Casie Everitt, Sam Houston State (C)
Katie Jones, Texas-Arlington (OF)
Kodi Butler, Nicholls State (OF)
Leanne Risberg, UTSA (OF)
Mandy Collier, Sam Houston State (DP)
Ragan Blake, Texas State (P)
Rachel Ray, Southeastern Louisiana (P)

SECOND TEAM
Name, University (Position)
Amy Thibodeaux, Nicholls State (1B)
Arica Rodriguez, Southeastern La. (2B)
Leah Peterson, Nicholls State (3B)
Tanya Hooser, Sam Houston State (SS)
Jenny Clay, McNeese State (C)
Stephanie Mosley, Sam Houston State (OF)
Kristin Moore, Texas-Arlington (OF)
Lauren Burns, Sam Houston State (OF)
Rachel King, McNeese State (DP)
Brandi Crnkovic, Sam Houston State (P)
Morgan Mikulin, Sam Houston State (P)

THIRD TEAM
Name, University (Position)
Amanda Jameson, Northwestern State (1B)
Danielle Clayton, Nicholls State (2B)
Heather Sherrill, Southeastern La. (3B)
Amanda Swofford, Texas-Arlington (SS)
Jacqueline Pacheco, Nicholls State (C)
Rudi Cantu, UTSA (OF)
Meghan Beard, McNeese State (OF)
April Clougherty, Texas-Arlington (OF)
Amanda Glenn, Northwestern State (DP)
Laura Jones, Texas-Arlington (P)
Jana Jones, McNeese State (P)