Aubree Munro was named to the Preseason All-SEC Team.
Merritt, Munro and Stewart Named Preseason All-SEC
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference has released its preseason All-SEC team and the University of Florida softball team is well-represented with seniors Kirsti Merritt, Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart all making the list.
Stewart is making her third consecutive appearance on the preseason team, while Merritt and Munro are making their debut.
Florida and Auburn led all schools with three selections each. Alabama and LSU have two representatives apiece on the squad, while Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee each had one player named to the team. The list is comprised of two sophomores, one junior and 11 seniors.
The Preseason All-SEC Softball Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and consists of a minimum of 14 players. Each SEC head coach voted for five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, one catcher and one designated player/utility.
Meet the Gators
In addition to being named the 2015 SEC Player of the Year and an NFCA First Team All-American, Stewart was named to the All-SEC First Team, SEC All-Defensive Team and the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team. Statistically last season, the Wichita, Kan. native led the Gators in hitting (.435), runs scored (71), hits (101), doubles (19), triples (11), total bases (148), and stolen bases (26).
Stewart, the four-time member of Team USA, holds the highest career batting average (.417) and on-base percentage (.476) in program history and also stands first in Gator annals for hits (293), triples (27) and steals (98) after three seasons. Entering her senior season, Stewart is just 113 hits shy of NCAA career hits record of 405, which belongs to former Arizona Wildcat Alison McCutcheon.
Merritt started and played in all 67 contests in center field last season and responded with career highs across the board in batting average (.325), doubles (12), slugging percentage (.568), on-base percentage (.498), putouts (72) and fielding percentage (.987). For her accomplishments on the field, the Lake Panasoffkee, Fla. product was tabbed as an NFCA All-Southeast Region First Team member and an All-SEC First Team performer.
Munro, who was recently named to the U.S. Women's National Team for its 2016 season, started 51 of the Gators' 67 contests at catcher. The Gators were 45-6 in those games, raising her three-year record to 108-19. Defensively last season, the two-time WCWS All-Tournament team performer caught 8-of-18 potential base-stealers and did not make an error in 354 chances. She became just the ninth Gator to record a perfect fielding percentage in a season. At the plate, Munro finished the 2015 season with her best month of the year, posting a .310 batting average with one double, one home run and a .444 on base percentage.
Munro enters the 2016 season tied for second all-time in program history in fielding percentage (859-70-3) and fourth in stolen base against percentage (53.2% - 33-62).
Looking Ahead
Last season, UF went 60-7 and won its second-straight NCAA Championship. Florida reached the 60-win plateau for just the third time in school history and posted its third-highest win percentage (.895).
Florida begins its season on Feb. 12 at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, and the home opener is slated for Feb. 17 against Jacksonville. Conference play starts at Auburn on March 12 and the SEC Tournament will be held at Mississippi State from May 11-14.
UF's full 2016 schedule is available on FloridaGators.com.
2016 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team
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Stewart is making her third consecutive appearance on the preseason team, while Merritt and Munro are making their debut.
Florida and Auburn led all schools with three selections each. Alabama and LSU have two representatives apiece on the squad, while Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee each had one player named to the team. The list is comprised of two sophomores, one junior and 11 seniors.
The Preseason All-SEC Softball Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and consists of a minimum of 14 players. Each SEC head coach voted for five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, one catcher and one designated player/utility.
Meet the Gators
In addition to being named the 2015 SEC Player of the Year and an NFCA First Team All-American, Stewart was named to the All-SEC First Team, SEC All-Defensive Team and the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team. Statistically last season, the Wichita, Kan. native led the Gators in hitting (.435), runs scored (71), hits (101), doubles (19), triples (11), total bases (148), and stolen bases (26).
Stewart, the four-time member of Team USA, holds the highest career batting average (.417) and on-base percentage (.476) in program history and also stands first in Gator annals for hits (293), triples (27) and steals (98) after three seasons. Entering her senior season, Stewart is just 113 hits shy of NCAA career hits record of 405, which belongs to former Arizona Wildcat Alison McCutcheon.
Merritt started and played in all 67 contests in center field last season and responded with career highs across the board in batting average (.325), doubles (12), slugging percentage (.568), on-base percentage (.498), putouts (72) and fielding percentage (.987). For her accomplishments on the field, the Lake Panasoffkee, Fla. product was tabbed as an NFCA All-Southeast Region First Team member and an All-SEC First Team performer.
Munro, who was recently named to the U.S. Women's National Team for its 2016 season, started 51 of the Gators' 67 contests at catcher. The Gators were 45-6 in those games, raising her three-year record to 108-19. Defensively last season, the two-time WCWS All-Tournament team performer caught 8-of-18 potential base-stealers and did not make an error in 354 chances. She became just the ninth Gator to record a perfect fielding percentage in a season. At the plate, Munro finished the 2015 season with her best month of the year, posting a .310 batting average with one double, one home run and a .444 on base percentage.
Munro enters the 2016 season tied for second all-time in program history in fielding percentage (859-70-3) and fourth in stolen base against percentage (53.2% - 33-62).
Looking Ahead
Last season, UF went 60-7 and won its second-straight NCAA Championship. Florida reached the 60-win plateau for just the third time in school history and posted its third-highest win percentage (.895).
Florida begins its season on Feb. 12 at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, and the home opener is slated for Feb. 17 against Jacksonville. Conference play starts at Auburn on March 12 and the SEC Tournament will be held at Mississippi State from May 11-14.
UF's full 2016 schedule is available on FloridaGators.com.
2016 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team
| Name, School | Position | Cl. | Ht. | Hometown |
| Emily Carosone, Auburn | IF | Sr. | 5-4 | Orlando, Fla. |
| Kasey Cooper, Auburn | IF | Jr. | 5-4 | Dothan, Ala. |
| Kelsey Stewart, Florida | IF | Sr. | 5-6 | Wichita, Kan. |
| Alex Hugo, Georgia | IF | Sr. | 5-8 | Olathe, Kan. |
| Bianka Bell, LSU | IF | Sr. | 5-5 | Tampa, Fla. |
| Haylie McCleney, Alabama | OF | Sr. | 5-4 | Morris, Ala. |
| Tiffany Howard, Auburn | OF | Sr. | 5-5 | Pembroke, Ga. |
| Kirsti Merritt, Florida | OF | Sr. | 5-4 | Lake Panasoffkee, Fla. |
| Alaynie Page, South Carolina | OF | Sr. | 5-6 | Boiling Springs, S.C. |
| Alexis Osorio, Alabama | P | So. | 5-8 | Riverside, Calif. |
| Kelsey Nunley, Kentucky | P | Sr. | 5-10 | Soddy Daisy, Tenn. |
| Carley Hoover, LSU | P | So. | 6-2 | Clemson, S.C. |
| Aubree Munro, Florida | C | Sr. | 5-10 | Brea, Calif. |
| Rainey Gaffin, Tennessee | DP/UT | Sr. | 5-10 | Thornton, Calif. |
| Emily Carosone, Auburn | IF | Sr. | 5-4 | Orlando, Fla. |
| Kasey Cooper, Auburn | IF | Jr. | 5-4 | Dothan, Ala. |
FOLLOW THE GATORS
In the Polls: NFCA | USA Softball
Preseason SEC Favorites
FloridaGators.com
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
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