Four Gators Named to NFCA All-Southeast Region Teams
Thursday, May 14, 2015 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Four members of the University of Florida softball team earned NFCA All-Southeast Region recognition, announced Thursday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The Gators' All-Region selections are: Lauren Haeger, Kirsti Merritt, Aleshia Ocasio (First Team); and Kelsey Stewart (Second Team).
Haeger was named to the All-Southeast Region First Team for the fourth consecutive season. The SEC Pitcher of the Year becomes the third player in Gator history to receive four All-Region accolades (also: Aja Paculba, Hannah Rogers). Merritt garnered her second straight All-Region selection after she was named to the Third Team in 2014, while Stewart captured All-Region honors for the third straight year to go along with her SEC Player of the Year award. Ocasio adds All-Region recognition to her Freshman All-SEC selection.
Florida now has tallied 44 All-Southeast Region selections by 19 players during Head Coach Tim Walton's 10 seasons and 52 All-Region accolades in school history. The Gators' four All-Region selections are eligible for All-America honors, which will be announced on May 27.
Below is a glimpse at the notable achievements of each of Florida's All-Southeast Region honorees:
Lauren Haeger
NFCA All-Southeast Region First Team
*Holds a 24-1 record after beginning the season with 24 consecutive victories to mark the best start to a campaign in Gator history
*Earned the win in Game 1 of each of Florida's eight SEC series
*Is one of two pitchers in the country to with at least 20 wins and fewer than two losses
*Holds the SEC record for career home runs (67) and the Florida benchmark for career RBI (249)
*Is the first player in NCAA history to hit 60 or more home runs and earn 60 or more wins in a career
*Named SEC Pitcher of the Week three times (Weeks 2, 9 and 11)
Kirsti Merritt
NFCA All-Southeast Region First Team
*Has set career bests in hitting (.333), doubles (11), slugging percentage (.607) and on-base percentage (.520)
*Ranks eighth in the SEC in on-base percentage and eighth nationally in sacrifice flies (six)
Aleshia Ocasio
NFCA All-Southeast Region First Team
*Is the third Gator freshman since 2012 to earn All-Region honors (also: Haeger, Stewart)
*Ranks among the SEC's best in ERA (ninth, 2.11), opposing batting average (seventh, .206), strikeouts (11th, 135), wins (12th, 16), saves (T-9th, two)
*Owns seven wins over ranked opponents
Kelsey Stewart
NFCA All-Southeast Region Second Team
*Ranks among SEC leaders in hitting (fourth, .454), hits (first, 88), runs scored (third, 66), doubles (third, 16), triples (first, nine), stolen bases (T-8th, 22), and on-base percentage (11th, .502)
*In league play, led the SEC with a .536 average that was 78 points ahead of the No. 2 hitter
*Had 45 hits against conference opponents – 12 more than any other player
*Has turned 12 double plays, which is tied for eighth in the conference
*Has committed just five errors in 157 chances
The Southeastern Conference champion Gators will open NCAA Tournament play at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Friday against Florida A&M. The contest will be streamed live online via ESPN3, while Florida Sports Talk will have the radio broadcast. Complete information about the 2015 NCAA Gainesville Regional can be found on the Regional Central page on GatorZone.com.
NFCA All-Southeast Region Teams
First
| Pitcher | Lacey | Waldrop | Florida State University |
| Pitcher | Aleshia | Ocasio | University of Florida |
| Catcher | Annie | Aldrete | University of Tennessee |
| First Base | Jade | Rhodes | Auburn University |
| Second Base | Emily | Carosone | Auburn University |
| Third Base | Kasey | Cooper | Auburn University |
| Shortstop | Kristen | Brown | University of North Carolina |
| Outfield | Alaynie | Page | University of South Carolina |
| Outfield | Tiffany | Howard | Auburn University |
| Outfield | Kirsti | Merritt | University of Florida |
| Utility/Pitcher | Lauren | Haeger | University of Florida |
| DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher | Courtni | Emanuel | University of Georgia |
Second
| Pitcher | Chelsea | Wilkinson | University of Georgia |
| Pitcher | Lexi | Shubert | University of South Carolina Upstate |
| Catcher | Megan | Baltzell | Longwood University |
| First Base | Kelsea | Roth | University of Missouri |
| Second Base | Kelsey | Stewart | University of Florida |
| Third Base | Jessica | Warren | Florida State University |
| Shortstop | Renada | Davis | North Carolina State University |
| Outfield | Emily | Crane | University of Missouri |
| Outfield | Shellie | Robinson | University of South Carolina Upstate |
| Outfield | Branndi | Melero | Auburn University |
| Utility/Pitcher | Rainey | Gaffin | University of Tennessee |
| DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher | Tina | Iosefa | University of Georgia |
Third
| Pitcher | Emily | Weiman | North Carolina State University |
| Pitcher | Kelsey | Nunley | University of Kentucky |
| Pitcher | Elizabeth | McCarthy | Longwood University |
| Pitcher | Sabrina | Angualano | Bethune Cookman University |
| Catcher | Griffin | Joiner | University of Kentucky |
| First Base | Jenna | Kelly | University of North Carolina |
| Second Base | Alex | Hugo | University of Georgia |
| Third Base | Anna | Swafford | University of Georgia |
| Shortstop | Paige | Wilson | University of Georgia |
| Outfield | Sydni | Emanuel | University of Georgia |
| Outfield | Morgan | Estell | Auburn University |
| Outfield | Morgan | Klaevemann | Florida State University |
| Utility/Pitcher | Maryssa | Becker | University of Louisville |
| DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher | Lauren | Walker | University of North Carolina |
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