Five Gators Earn All-SEC Softball Accolades
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 | Softball
Five members of the University of Florida softball team received All-SEC awards, announced Tuesday (May 6) by the conference office. Sophomore infielder Kelsey Stewart was recognized as a First Team All-SEC honoree.
In addition to Stewart's First Team selection, pitcher Hannah Rogers and infielder Stephanie Tofft were named to the All-SEC Second Team, while outfielder Justine McLean earned a Freshman All-SEC designation. Florida was the conference's second-best fielding team, and Rogers, Stewart, Tofft and Taylor Schwarz all were named to the SEC All-Defensive Team.
Stewart ranks third in the conference in hitting at .427, including a league-best .464 average in SEC play. The sophomore also is among the league leaders in hits (first, 82), triples (T-2nd, 4), stolen base (third, 30), runs scored (fifth, 55), doubles (fifth, 13) and RBI (11th, 47). Defensively, the Wichita, Kan., native helped turn 12 double plays and posted a .961 fielding percentage.
A Senior CLASS Award finalist, Rogers garnered her fourth straight all-conference designation. The right-hander, was one of the league's top finishers in wins (third, 23), ERA (fourth, 1.85) and strikeouts (ninth, 137). In the field, Rogers made just two errors in 55 chances. The Lake Wales, Fla., native became the second pitcher in program history to win 100 career games (120), and has a chance to be UF's first-ever four-time All-American.
The National (NFCA) and SEC Player of the Week for the week ending April 20, Tofft is one of the SEC's best in RBI (T-6th, 54) and runs scored (15th, 46). The senior is one of four Gators with double-digit home runs (10), and ranks second on the team in RBI. The Lincoln, Calif., native posted a .961 fielding percentage and was a part of four double plays, including the game-ending DP in Sunday's regular-season finale at Arkansas.
One of three Gators with double-digit steals (10), McLean hit .292 in her first year at UF with three doubles, one triple and 28 runs scored. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native also excelled in the field, making just one error in 51 chances and recording two outfield assists.
As the SEC's best defensive first baseman, Schwarz made just two errors in 335 chances for a .994 fielding clip, including a clean slate in 147 chances during conference games. The second-year player helped Florida turn 16 double plays on the year.
The Gators will participate this week in the 2014 SEC Softball Tournament, hosted this year by South Carolina in Columbia; as the No. 4 seed, Florida will play No. 5 Georgia on Thursday, May 8 at 4 p.m. (ET) at Carolina Softball Stadium. The contest between the Gators and Bulldogs will be broadcast live on ESPNU, as the complete 2014 SEC Tournament will once again air on the ESPN family of networks. The Championship Game is slated to be broadcast on ESPN2 on Saturday, May 10 at 8 p.m. ESPN's softball crew of Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith, and Holly Rowe will handle coverage through the duration of the tournament.
2014 SEC SOFTBALL AWARDS
First Team All-SEC
P – Jaclyn Traina, Alabama
P – Tori Finucane, Missouri
P – Chelsea Wilkinson, Georgia
IF – Madison Shipman, Tennessee
IF – Kelsey Stewart, Florida
IF –Alex Hugo, Georgia
IF – Paige Wilson, Georgia
IF – Corrin Genovese, Missouri
OF – Haylie McCleney, Alabama
OF – Branndi Melero, Auburn
OF – Melissa Davin, Tennessee
OF – Taylor Gadbois, Missouri
C – Annie Aldrete, Tennessee
DP/U – Sahvanna Jaquish, LSU
Second Team All-SEC
P – Ellen Renfroe, Tennessee
P – Hannah Rogers, Florida
P – Kelsey Nunley, Kentucky
IF – Kasey Cooper, Auburn
IF – Stephanie Tofft, Florida
IF –Emily Carosone, Auburn
IF – Kaila Hunt, Alabama
IF – Nikki Sagermann, Kentucky
OF – A.J. Andrews, LSU
OF – RT Cantillo, Ole Miss
OF – Cassie Tysarczyk, Texas A&M
OF – Emily Albus, Texas A&M
C – Molly Fichtner, Alabama
DP/U – Devon Wallace, Arkansas
Freshman All-SEC
P – Tori Finucane, Missouri
P – Alexis Silkwood, Mississippi State
P – Nickie Blue, South Carolina
P – Baylee Corbello, LSU
IF – Kasey Cooper, Auburn
IF – Caroline Seitz, Mississippi State
IF –Taylor Koening, Tennessee
IF – Megan Geer, Tennessee
IF – Kaylea Snaer, South Carolina
OF – Justine McLean, Florida
OF – Bailey Landry, LSU
OF - Shaliyah Geathers, Tennessee
C – Annie Aldrete, Tennessee
DP/U – Sahvanna Jaquish, LSU
SEC All-Defensive
P – Hannah Rogers, Florida
C – Griffin Joiner, Kentucky
1B – Taylor Schwarz, Florida
2B – Kelsey Stewart, Florida
SS – Madison Shipman, Tennessee
3B – Stephanie Tofft, Florida
LF – Mackenzie Sykes, Mississippi State
CF – Haylie McCleney, Alabama
RF – Cassie Tysarczyk, Texas A&M
Player of the Year: Madison Shipman, Tennessee
Pitcher of the Year: Jaclyn Traina, Alabama
Freshman of the Year: Tori Finucane, Missouri
Coach of the Year: Patrick Murphy, Alabama
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ellen Renfroe, Tennessee
For live updates, box scores, stats, recaps, and videos as Florida enters the postseason, stay tuned to GatorZone.com, follow the Gators on Twitter and visit the team on Facebook.
-UF-
