Southland Announces Preseason All-Conference Softball Teams
FRISCO, Texas - Stephen F. Austin sophomore first baseman Kayla Gutowski, the 2009 Southland Conference Hitter of the Year, highlights a talented list of players on the 2010 preseason all-conference teams, the league office announced Monday in conjunction with the release of the preseason polls.
A native of Tomball, Texas, Gutowski returns as the league's best hitter with rankings in the top seven in eight of the league's offensive statistical categories. A first-team all-conference selection in 2009, Gutowski led the league in on-base percentage (.427) and runs batted in (41). Her .348 batting average ranked second and .565 slugging percentage ranked third. One of four players with 90-plus total bases in 2009, Gutowski ranked fourth with 91 bags. She ranked fifth in hits (56) and tied for seventh in homeruns (seven) a year ago.
Other award winners returning for the 2010 season are Texas State sophomore Chandler Hall and Central Arkansas senior pitcher Holli Hill. Hall won dual honors in 2009 as pitcher and freshman of the year and Hill received newcomer of the year honors.
The top Southland pitcher in 2009, Hall returns with the credentials to reclaim that honor in 2010. A native of Baytown, Texas, Hall led the league in wins (25), earned run average (1.17) and opposing batting average (.169). In 36 starts, Hall recorded 202 strikeouts, which ranked fourth, and caught 59 looking at strike three, which ranked third in the league.
A native of Boaz, Ala., Hill ranked fifth in ERA (2.10) and strikeouts (167). In an eighth-ranked 176.2 innings pitched, Hill held batters to a .248 opposing batting average while recording 14 wins.
Stephen F. Austin leads all teams with five preseason selections. All five Ladyjacks boast first-team honors. Joining Gutowski on the first-team is junior second baseman Ashley Struchtemeyer and senior third baseman Briana Bishop giving SFA three of the four base positions on the first-team. Senior outfielder Kendal Harper and junior pitcher Monika Covington round out SFA's preseason members.
Texas State, the two-time defending champion is second behind SFA with four preseason selections. Joining Hall on the first team is junior designated player McKenzie Baack and senior utility player Leah Boatright. Representing the Bobcats on the second team is junior third baseman Jenna Emery.
UTSA received three selections and Central Arkansas, McNeese State, Sam Houston State, UT Arlington and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi have two each. Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana each landed one selection.
Players who earned first- and second-team all-conference honors following the 2009 season automatically receive preseason honors. Third-team postseason selections move into vacated positions on the first and second preseason teams. The remaining spots are voted on by the league's head coaches.
2010 Southland Preseason Softball Teams
|
First Team
|
|
Pos.
|
Name
|
University
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
|
|
1B
|
Kayla Gutowski*
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
So.
|
Tomball, Texas
|
|
|
2B
|
Ashley Struchtemeyer*
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
Jr.
|
Plano, Texas
|
|
|
3B
|
Briana Bishop*
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
Sr.
|
College Station, Texas
|
|
|
SS
|
Hailey Wiginton*
|
Sam Houston State
|
Jr.
|
Friendswood, Texas
|
|
|
C
|
Samantha Chumchal*
|
UT Arlington
|
Sr.
|
Richwood, Texas
|
|
|
OF
|
Kendal Harper*
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
Sr.
|
Palmer, Texas
|
|
|
OF
|
Heather Fortenberry*
|
UT Arlington
|
Sr.
|
Mesquite, Texas
|
|
|
OF
|
Rudi Cantu*
|
UTSA
|
Sr.
|
Alvin, Texas
|
|
|
DP
|
McKenzie Baack*
|
Texas State
|
Jr.
|
Round Rock, Texas
|
|
|
UT
|
Leah Boatright
|
Texas State
|
Sr.
|
Baytown, Texas
|
|
|
P
|
Chandler Hall*
|
Texas State
|
So.
|
Baytown, Texas
|
|
|
P
|
Monika Covington*
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
Jr.
|
Huffman, Texas
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team
|
|
Pos.
|
Name
|
University
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
|
|
1B
|
Krista Sitka*
|
UTSA
|
Sr.
|
Houston, Texas
|
|
|
2B
|
Ashley Kappler
|
UTSA
|
So.
|
Lake Jackson, Texas
|
|
|
3B
|
Jenna Emery*
|
Texas State
|
Jr.
|
Sugar Land, Texas
|
|
|
SS
|
Molly Guidry*
|
McNeese State
|
Jr.
|
Arnaudville, La.
|
|
|
C
|
Alaina Byars*
|
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
|
So.
|
Deer Park, Texas
|
|
|
OF
|
Lindsey Langner*
|
McNeese State
|
Jr.
|
Pearland, Texas
|
|
|
OF
|
Sarah Garcia*
|
Central Arkansas
|
Sr.
|
Sylmar, Calif.
|
|
|
OF
|
Cassie Redman
|
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
|
So.
|
New Lennox, Texas
|
|
|
DP
|
Morgan Mikulin*
|
Sam Houston State
|
Sr.
|
Huntsville, Texas
|
|
|
UT
|
Katie Duhe
|
Southeastern Louisiana
|
Jr.
|
Lutcher, La.
|
|
|
P
|
Lacey Gros*
|
Nicholls
|
Sr.
|
Schriever, La.
|
|
|
P
|
Holli Hill*
|
Central Arkansas
|
Sr.
|
Boaz, Ala.
|
|
*2009 All-Conference Selection - Automatic Preseason Selection