Softball MEAC Media Relations

MEAC ANNOUNCES 2008 SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Howard University outfielder Courtney Young was named the Player of the Year as the MEAC announced its 2008 All-Conference Softball honors during a pre-tournament banquet Wednesday night at the Center for Civic Engagement on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University.

For the second consecutive season Hampton University’s Amanda Black was selected as Pitcher of the Year and Jennifer Luper of North Carolina A&T State University garnered the Rookie of the Year honor. Head coach Mamie Jones, also of North Carolina A&T State, was named the MEAC Coach of the Year. All awards are voted on by the league’s head softball coaches and sports information directors.


Young led the MEAC in slugging percentage (.757) and hits per game (1.46) while boasting a .459 batting average for the Lady Bison. She is currently ranked seventh in the NCAA in batting average and 16th in doubles (12). Young’s short collegiate career has received notable recognition. In addition to this year’s Player of the Year award, last year she was selected as the MEAC’s Rookie of the Year and earned the Outstanding Performer honor after leading the Lady Bison to the 2007 championship title and first-ever berth to the NCAA tournament.




Black earned her second Pitcher of the Year honor after posting an 8-1 conference record with a 2.11 ERA. The junior right hander from Hamilton, Ontario is the only person to receive the pitching honor which began last season. Overall she racked up 18 wins, led the MEAC in strikeouts with 127 and averaged more innings (6.09) than any other pitcher this season.





North Carolina A&T’s Jennifer Luper was named the Rookie of the Year. The Fort Mill, South Carolina native posted an impressive pitching performance from the circle during her rookie campaign. Among conference opponents Luper finished 6-1 with a 2.62 ERA. She led the MEAC in wins with a 19-4 overall record (2.50 ERA) and ranked third in strikeouts with 99. Luper earned three weekly conference honors this season including two Pitcher of the Week accolades and one Rookie of the Week honor.




Mamie Jones was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Lady Aggies to a 31-15 overall record and 9-3 finish in the southern division. In her 15th season at the helm, Jones has guided the Lady Aggies to back-to-back 30+ win seasons, third overall, and finished in a tie for first place in the southern division. Since the 2002 season, Jones has been recognized for having one of the nation’s most outstanding academic teams. Under her leadership, several of her players have been recognized for being National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar Athletes for maintaining a 3.5 or above GPA. The NFCA also noted that the team’s overall GPA is one of the best in NCAA Division I.

Four teams led the MEAC with four student-athletes to earn post season honors including Delaware State, Hampton, Howard and North Carolina A&T State. North Carolina A&T State is the only institution to have all four of its players selected to the first team.

The 2008 MEAC Softball Championship Tournament begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 8 with Bethune-Cookman against Morgan State and Hampton facing interstate rival Norfolk State in games one and two. Howard drew Florida A&M for game three while North Carolina A&T will take on Delaware State in game four beginning at 1:30 p.m. The championship finale is set for Saturday, May 10 at 1 p.m.

Only the top four teams in each division can compete for the conference title. Coppin State (0-14), Maryland E. Shore (3-12), and South Carolina State (3-9) have been eliminated from post season play based on their conference finish.

Admission is $5 perday for children, students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased for the entire tournamnet for $12.

2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Softball All-Conference Awards

Player of the Year
Courtney Young, Howard

Rookie of the Year
Jennifer Luper, North Carolina A&T State

Pitcher of the Year
Amanda Black, Hampton

Coach of the Year
Mamie Jones, North Carolina A&T State


FIRST TEAM
P Amanda Black Hampton
P Jennifer Luper North Carolina A&T
C Kristinia Condover Howard
INF Lillian Bullock North Carolina A&T
INF Jessica Chrabaszcz Delaware State
INF Yahamma White North Carolina A&T
INF Brittany Davis Hampton
OF Courtney Young Howard
OF Angela Balser Hampton
OF Chaola Simmons North Carolina A&T
UTL Sha Tabor Delaware State

SECOND TEAM

P Allison Garcia Bethune-Cookman
P Dale McNeal Howard
C JoJo Shields Delaware State
INF Nicole Demers Delaware State
INF Emily Johnson Howard
INF Alacia Strafford Florida A&M
INF Evelyn Garcia Hampton
OF Brianeisha Eure Norfolk State
OF Dominisha Britton Morgan State
OF Rhianna Green Florida A&M
UTL Kendra Saunders Maryland E. Shore


? Copyright 2007 meacsports.com