PBC Softball Players Dominate NFCA, Daktronics All-Region Teams

PBC Softball Players Dominate NFCA, Daktronics All-Region Teams

AUGUSTA, GA -- A season of Peach Belt domination in the southeast region has begun to bear fruit as league players overwhelmed the selections of both the NFCA and Daktronics All-Region teams.  PBC players captured 20 of the 25 spots available on the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) team, including 12 of the 13 first-team spots, while also taking 18 of the 26 spots on the Daktronics squad, including eight of 13 first-team selections.  For Daktronics, Armstrong's April Jowers was named the region Player of the Year while North Georgia's Melissa Dickie was chosen as the Pitcher of the Year.

Jowers, the nation's leading hitter in 2012, repeats as the region Player of the Year after also earning the honor in 2011 and she was one of three Pirates represented on the All-Region team by Daktronics and CoSIDA. Junior pitcher Megan Barnwell was named a first-team pitcher while senior Heather Walker was named to the second team as a designated player. Jowers and Barnwell will advance to national balloting for a chance at Daktronics/CoSIDA All-American softball honors.

For the fourth straight season, the Saints have had the Southeast Region's best pitcher. Dickie earns the honor after receiving Peach Belt Freshman of the Year honors a few weeks ago. The native of Buford, Georgia, is currently 20-0 on the season with a team-best 1.18 ERA. She has thrown six shutouts and gone the distance 13 times. In her last outing against Columbus State in the NCAA Regionals, she threw a complete game two-hitter against the Cougars potent offense.

All players named First-Team by both organizations are now eligible for All-America consideration.  Both Daktronics and the NFCA will release their All-America teams the week of the national championships.

2012 NFCA All-Southeast Region Team

First Team
P - Jessica Coan, North Georgia
P - Donna Munafo, Flagler
C - Hillary Cox, North Georgia
1B - Breezy Collings, Flagler
2B - April Jowers, Armstrong
3B - Haily Jarman, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS - Kacee Camp, Augusta St.
OF - Shelby Duff, Armstrong
OF - Whitney Okvist, Georgia College
OF - Pilar Harden, North Georgia
DP - Hayley Burnett, Georgia College
U-P - Taylor Turner, Columbus St.
U-NP - Casey Googe, Columbus St.

Second Team
P - Mollie Russell, Columbus St.
P - Megan Barnwell, Armstrong
C - Sarah Atkins, Lenoir-Rhyne
1B - Jessica Fellmeth, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B - Alona Personius, Flagler
3B - Karlie Gillam, North Georgia
SS - Lauren Bessent, Flagler
OF - Baillie Temples, Armstrong
OF - Morgan Knight, Columbus St.
OF - Brianna Mulkey, Lincoln Memorial
DP - Heather Walker, Armstrong
U-NP - Larissa Shannon, Erskine

2012 Daktronics Softball All-Southeast Region

Second Team
P: Donna Munafo, Flagler
P: Mollie Russell, Columbus St.
P: Dawon Millwood, Lenoir-Rhyne
C: Hilary Cox, North Georgia
1B: Jessica Fellmeth, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B: Alona Personius, Flagler
3B: Karlie Gillam, North Georgia
SS: Abby Child, Anderson (S.C.)
OF: Cassidy Skeen, Carson-Newman
OF: Morgan Knight, Columbus St.
OF: Brianna Mulkey, Lincoln Memorial
DP: Heather Walker, Armstrong
UT: Kelsea Martin, Georgia College

First Team
P: Jessica Coan, North Georgia
P: Melissa Dickie, North Georgia
P: Megan Barnwell, Armstrong
C: Sarah Atkins, Lenoir-Rhyne
1B: Breezy Collings, Flagler
2B: April Jowers, Armstrong
3B: Natalie Haithcox, Mars Hill
SS: Kacee Camp, Augusta St.
OF: Whitney Okvist, Georgia College
OF: Pilar Harden, North Georgia
OF: Kayla Voorhees, Mount Olive
DP: Haley Burnett, Georgia College
UT: Casey Googe, Columbus St.

Pitcher of the Year: Melissa Dickie, North Georgia
Player of the Year: April Jowers, Armstrong