High Point, NC – Conference Carolinas announced their All-Conference teams tonight at the tournament banquet hosted by Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina. The Erskine Softball Team (22-21-1, 14-6) took home several honors including Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year.
Senior Courtney Davis (Asheville, NC) won Conference Carolinas Softball Player of the Year honors. A four year starter for the Fleet at first base, Courtney Davis currently leads the nation in home runs with 19. In addition to home runs, Davis leads the conference in almost every other hitting category, including batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, runs batted in (RBI), total bases, and walks. In 44 games this season, Davis hit .385 (47 for 122) with 19 home runs, scoring 32 runs while driving in 44 runs. Earlier this year, Davis broke Erskine’s single season and career home run record previously held by Katee Knapp ’09. Coach Hawkins said, “Courtney Davis is having the year every senior student-athlete dreams of and desires.” Davis also received 1st Team All-Conference honors.
Davis’ records may not stand for long, however. Earning Freshman of the Year honors is Larissa Shannon. The freshman standout from Newberry, South Carolina, hit .349 with 9 home runs, scoring 30 runs while driving in 29 runs. She also showed off some speed swiping 8 bases on the year as well. Shannon also received 1st Team All-Conference honors.
In addition, Erskine had three other softball student-athletes recognized for their 2010 seasons. Leadoff hitter and centerfielder Kelly Davis (Weaverville, NC) was named 1st Team All-Conference along with freshman pitcher Heather Richey (Abbeville, SC). The prototypical leadoff hitter, Davis helped jump start the Fleet offense with her ability to get on base and steal. Davis led the Fleet in steals with 23 and was second in the conference in that category. Meanwhile, Heather Richey led a very talented Erskine pitching staff going 7-4 with a 1.43 ERA in 73.2 innings. She also had a team-leading 3 saves on the season. Earlier this season, Richey threw a no-hitter against Belmont-Abbey.
Fellow freshman pitcher, Kelsey Spurrier, was named 2nd Team All-Conference. The young hurler from Charlotte, North Carolina, threw a no-hitter against Chowan College in her first collegiate start. Spurrier went 8-5 throwing a team-leading 91 innings. She also earned 2 saves on the season.
Coach Alleen Hawkins was voted Coach of the Year by her fellow head coaches. Erskine finished 2nd in the conference at 14-6. In her 10th year at Erskine, Coach Hawkins is 188-221-8. Prior to arriving at Erskine, Coach Hawkins had coached at Georgia and Furman. In her 25 year coaching career, Coach Hawkins is 651-607-11.
