NORFOLK, Va., – Norfolk State outfielder Haley Ward was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Player of the Year. Torrian Wright, of Savannah State, was named Rookie of the Year. Hampton’s Jailynn Jackson earned Pitcher of the Year and Bethune-Cookman head coach Chris Cochran received the Coach of the Year accolade.
All awards are voted on by the conference’s head softball coaches and sports information directors.
Ward leads the nation with a .504 batting average. She also ranks nationally in the top 25 in eight categories including runs per game (17th), slugging percentage (14th), runs per game (21st), triples (15th) and on base percentage (23rd). For the season, Ward totaled 15 doubles, five (5) triples, five (5) home runs, 37 runs, and 40 RBI in 119 appearances for the Spartans. The outfielder also stole seven bases and contributed 50 putouts and three assists.
Wright started in 45 of 46 games for the Lady Tigers and currently boasts a .418 batting average, fourth best in the MEAC and 39th nationally. She tops the conference in home runs with 16 (33rd NCAA) and is second in runs batted in with an average of 1.09, 26th nationally. The rookie led her team in slugging percentage (.861), hits (51), runs (37), and walks (21).
Jackson started in 32 games for the Lady Pirates. She led her team with a 23-10 record and a 2.65 ERA in 214.1 innings. In 40 appearances, she leads the MEAC with 223 strikeouts and is first in victories. She also ranked 30th and 29th nationally in both categories.
Cochran earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Lady Wildcats to the 2013 southern divisional title and number one seed in the MEAC championship, with an 11-3 MEAC mark. In her seventh season, Cochran has led Bethune-Cookman to three consecutive MEAC tournament titles (2010-2012) and NCAA post-season berths.
Joining Ward (NSU) and Jackson (Ham) on the first-team are Madison Hedderly (SSU), Sabrina Edmonds (NCAT), Ashley Bennett (DSU), Alina Moriarty (NSU), Whitney Williams (NSU), Whitney Wilkins (Ham), Raven Smith (NCAT), Ashanti Shepherd (FAMU) and Rochelle Sablay (DSU).
The 2013 MEAC Softball Championship tournament gets underway Thursday, May 9 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Florida. Admission is $7 per day or $12 for the three-day tournament.
2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Softball All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year Rookie of the Year
Haley Ward, Norfolk State Torrian Wright, Savannah State
Pitcher of the Year Coach of the Year
Jailynn Jackson, Hampton Chris Cochran, Bethune-Cookman
First Team
|
Pos
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Ht.
|
Hometown
|
|
P
|
Jailynn Jackson
|
Hampton
|
So.
|
5-8
|
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
|
P
|
Madison Hedderly
|
Savannah State
|
Sr.
|
5-10
|
Dublin, Ohio
|
|
C
|
Sabrina Edmonds
|
North Carolina A&T
|
Jr.
|
5-8
|
Riverside, Calif.
|
|
1B
|
Ashley Bennet
|
Delaware State
|
Fr.
|
5-9
|
Delmare, Del.
|
|
2B
|
Alina Moriarty
|
Norfolk State
|
So.
|
5-3
|
Chesapeake, Va.
|
|
3B
|
Whitney Williams
|
Norfolk State
|
Fr.
|
5-6
|
Fort Oaks, N.C.
|
|
SS
|
Margaret Wilkins
|
Hampton
|
Jr.
|
5-10
|
Tustin, Calif.
|
|
OF
|
Haley Ward
|
Norfolk State
|
So.
|
5-7
|
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
|
OF
|
Raven Smith
|
North Carolina A&T
|
So.
|
5-3
|
Raleigh, N.C.
|
|
OF
|
Ashanti Shepherd
|
Florida A&M
|
Sr.
|
5-6
|
Moore Haven, Fla.
|
|
UTL
|
Rochelle Sablay
|
Delaware State
|
Fr.
|
5-5
|
La Mirada, Calif.
|
Second Team
|
Pos
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Ht.
|
Hometown
|
|
P
|
Jennifer Lindsey
|
Florida A&M
|
Sr.
|
5-6
|
Jacksonville, Fla.
|
|
P
|
Jamie Schulle
|
Norfolk State
|
Jr.
|
5-7
|
Maxwell, Texas
|
|
C
|
Sandy Hawthorne
|
Delaware State
|
Fr.
|
5-5
|
Smithtown, N.Y.
|
|
1B
|
Torrian Wright
|
Savannah State
|
Fr.
|
5-6
|
McDonough, Ga.
|
|
2B
|
Nicole Gazzola
|
Delaware State
|
Fr.
|
5-4
|
Coram, N.Y.
|
|
3B
|
Kerissa Burruel
|
Hampton
|
So.
|
5-3
|
Phoenix, Ariz.
|
|
SS
|
Aurelia Gamch
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
Sr.
|
5-2
|
Madera, Calif.
|
|
OF
|
Michelle Banuetos-Smith
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
Sr.
|
5-4
|
Mission Hills, Calif.
|
|
OF
|
Jasmine James
|
Maryland Eastern Shore
|
Sr.
|
5-1
|
Willingboro, N.J.
|
|
OF*
|
Antonette Smith
|
Savannah State
|
Fr.
|
5-5
|
Ellenwood, Ga.
|
|
OF*
|
Morgan Boyd
|
Norfolk State
|
Jr.
|
5-3
|
Chesapeake, Va.
|
|
UTL
|
Vanessa Gomez
|
Maryland Eastern Shore
|
Fr.
|
5-4
|
Belleville, N.J.
|
*indicates tie