Tori Benavidez Named Southland Softball Player of the Year
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Sam Houston State senior outfielder Tori Benavidez was named the 2013 Southland Conference Softball Player of the Year by vote of the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors, the league office announced Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference softball teams. She was also named the conference hitter of the year.
Pitcher of the year honors went to Central Arkansas senior Kelsie Armstrong. Houston Baptist junior outfielder Lauren Schwirtlich was selected newcomer of the year and sister teammate Kirsten Schwirtlich was tabbed freshman of the year. McNeese State coach Mike Smith received coach of the year honors.
Benavidez, a first-team all-conference selection, is the second Bearkat to earn player of the year honor since Jennifer Delcambre took the honor in 1993. A native of Midlothian, Texas, was led the league in Southland play in hits (41), runs scored (29), stolen bases (12), plate appearances (109) and at bats (99), she second in batting average (.414), third in triples (three), fifth in total bases (56), sixth in on-base percentage (.463), ninth in runs batted in (18) and 13th in slugging percentage (.566). She is the fifth Bearkat to be named hitter of the year and first to be named player and pitcher of the year in the same season. Benavidez became the 11th player in Southland history to be named player and hitter of the year in the same season and first since Texas-Arlington’s Katie Jones accomplished the feat in 2007.
Armstrong is the first Central Arkansas player to be tabbed the conference’s pitcher of the year. The senior from Hot Springs, Ark., continued to make her mark as one of the Southland’s most dominant pitchers. In conference play, Armstrong led the league with 176 strikeouts, including 47 batters looking. She pitched 138.0 innings in conference while making 20 starts and picking up 13 wins. Conference opponents could only manage a .221 average against the right-hander as she compiled an 1.88 earned run average. On the season, Armstrong was 28-12, completing 37 of the 40 games she started. She struck out 344 batters in 207.0 innings pitched, setting a school record for the fourth consecutive season with strikeouts in a season. Her 344 strikeouts more than double that of any Southland pitcher and she led the league in the category for the third consecutive season. Twice this season, Armstrong recorded a school-record 18 strikeouts and threw a no-hitter against Grambling State Feb. 26. Armstrong eclipsed the 1,000-strikeout mark for her career (1,018), becoming only the third pitcher in conference history to reach that milestone, joining Sarah Dawson (1,280 – Louisiana-Monroe, 1994-97) and Nicole Neuerburg (1,019 – Texas State, 2001-04).
Lauren Schwirtlich, a first-team all-conference selection, helped Houston Baptist make its mark in its first season in the Southland Conference. The junior Texas A&M transfer from Corpus Christi, Texas, led the Southland with a .418 batting average, which ranks 40th in the NCAA. Her conference-leading seven triples on the season is tied for third nationally and is just one shy of the national leader. Her batting average is the seventh-highest in a single season in program history and her seven triples are tied for the third-best in a single season in program history. Both marks are the best in HBU softball since the Huskies returned to Division I in 2008.
Kirsten Schwirtlich was tabbed as the league’s top freshman as she also earned second-team all-conference honors. On the season, the freshman from Corpus Christi, Texas, led the league with a .699 slugging percentage and was second with 47 RBI. She ranked first in the league in RBI per game (1.12) and fourth in runs score (40) and home runs (10). Her RBI mark is tied for third in school history for a single season while her 10 home runs is seventh most all-time in HBU history for a single season. Both marks are the highest for an HBU player since the school returned to Division I.
Smith received coach of the year honors after leading the Cowgirls to their third Southland regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Smith, in only his second year at the helm of McNeese, earns his first coach of the year honor and third overall for a McNeese coach. The Cowgirls posted a 19-5 mark in conference play, marking their highest conference winning percentage (.792) in program history. McNeese’s 38-13 overall record marks the fifth consecutive season the Cowgirls have reached the 30-win mark.
Fourteen players made a return appearance to the all-conference teams led by Central Arkansas senior catcher Melanie Bryant, who is making her fourth consecutive appearance. Benavidez is making her third appearance on the all-conference teams while 11 additional players make their second all-conference appearance led Armstrong, Sam Houston State seniors Shelbi Tucker, Kim Damian and Ashley Isbell and sophomore Hillary Adams, Stephen F. Austin junior Elizabeth Arana, Central Arkansas senior Melissa Bryant, McNeese State senior Meagan Bond, junior Alanna DiVittorio and sophomore Ashley Modzelewski, Nicholls State senior Ashley Bertot and Northwestern State junior Tara McKenney.
Sam Houston State led all teams with nine all-conference selections. Northwestern State had six selections while regular-season championship McNeese State had five. Central Arkansas and Houston Baptist each received four all-conference selections followed by Southeastern Louisiana with three. Nicholls State placed two players on the all-conference teams while Lamar, Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi had one all-conference selection apiece.
The 2013 Southland Conference Softball Tournament is slated to get underway Thursday at the Lady Demons Softball Complex in Natchitoches, La., with game one starting at 11 a.m. McNeese State won its third regular-season title and is the No. 1 seed. The tournament fields a six-team double elimination format with the winner punching its ticket to the NCAA tournament.
2013 All-Southland Conference Softball Teams
First Team
| Pos. |
Name |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| 1B |
Brianna Rodriguez |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Rowlett, Texas |
| 2B |
Melissa Bryant |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
Hernando, Miss. |
| 3B |
Shelbi Tucker |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
Montgomery, Texas |
| SS |
Elizabeth Arana |
Stephen F. Austin |
Jr. |
The Woodlands, Texas |
| C |
Ashley Modzelewski |
McNeese State |
So. |
Sour Lake, Texas |
| UT |
Victoria Granchelli |
Houston Baptist |
So. |
McAllen, Texas |
| DP |
Hillary Adams |
Sam Houston State |
So. |
Elgin, Texas |
| OF |
Tori Benavidez |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
Midlothian, Texas |
| OF |
Alanna DiVittorio |
McNeese State |
Jr. |
Harahan, La. |
| OF |
Lauren Schwirtlich |
Houston Baptist |
Jr. |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| P |
Kelsie Armstrong |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
Hot Springs, Ark. |
| P |
Meagan Bond |
McNeese State |
Sr. |
Lumberton, Miss. |
Second Team
| Pos. |
Name |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| 1B |
Kim Damian |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
Angleton, Texas |
| 2B |
Ashley Bertot |
Nicholls State |
Sr. |
League City, Texas |
| 3B |
Brittany Virgoe |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Anaheim, Calif. |
| SS |
Tara McKenney |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Red Oak, Texas |
| C |
Melanie Bryant |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
Hernando, Miss. |
| UT |
Lindsey Lyles |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
So. |
Lufkin, Texas |
| DP |
Emily Vincent |
McNeese State |
Fr. |
Sulphur, La. |
| OF |
Kirsten Schwirtlich |
Houston Baptist |
Fr. |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| OF |
Michelle Duhe |
Southeastern La. |
Sr. |
Lutcher, La. |
| OF |
Katie Lacour |
Southeastern La. |
Fr. |
Port St. Joe, Fla. |
| P |
Kylie Roos |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
Celina, Texas |
| P |
Kaylee Guidry |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Walker, La. |
Third Team
| Pos. |
Name |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| 1B |
Melissa Herman |
Houston Baptist |
So. |
Katy, Texas |
| 2B |
Alyssa Coggins |
Sam Houston State |
Jr. |
Sealy, Texas |
| 3B |
Megan Moore |
Southeastern La. |
So. |
Elgin, Texas |
| SS |
Tiffany Castillo |
Sam Houston State |
Fr. |
Port Lavaca, Texas |
| C |
Ashley Isbell |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
Katy, Texas |
| UT |
Sarah Bigej |
Central Arkansas |
Fr. |
Happy Valley, Ore. |
| DP |
Cassandra Barefield |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Houston, Texas |
| OF |
Danielle Phillips |
Nicholls State |
Fr. |
Resaca, Ga. |
| OF |
Jessica Slater |
Sam Houston State |
So. |
Katy, Texas |
| OF |
Candyce Carter |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Sweeny, Texas |
| P |
Jamie Allred |
McNeese State |
Fr. |
Hallsville, Texas |
| P |
Haley Baros |
Sam Houston State |
So. |
Bay City, Texas |
Honorable Mention – First Base: Ashley McDowell, Lamar; Second Base: Cali Burke, Northwestern State; Third Base: Alaina Guidry, Nicholls State; Tiffany Roby, Central Arkansas; Catcher: Brittany Marcet, Nicholls State; Beverly Corry, Lamar; Cheyenne DelaGarza, Northwestern State; Utility Player: Shalie Day, Stephen F. Austin; Designated Player: Amber Sather, Southeastern Louisiana; Outfield: Kelsey Nichols, Southeastern Louisiana; Cecillia Castillo, Sam Houston State; Haley Parkerson, Nicholls State; Jenna Holland, Lamar; Pitcher: Shannon Millman, Lamar; Hannah Haydel, Nicholls State; Ashton Bennett, Nicholls State.
Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Tori Benavidez, Sam Houston State
Hitter of the Year: Tori Benavidez, Sam Houston State
Pitcher of the Year: Kelsie Armstrong, Central Arkansas
Freshman of the Year: Kirsten Schwirtlich, Houston Baptist
Newcomer of the Year: Lauren Schwirtlich, Houston Baptist
Coach of the Year: Mike Smith, McNeese State