Haithcox Named All-Conference
April 18, 2012ROCK HILL, S.C. – Mars Hill softball team member Natalie Haithcox was named to the 2012 All-SAC Softball First Team, which was announced Wednesday.
Haithcox led the conference with 17 home runs, a school record, and also led the conference in slugging percentage (.947) and on-base percentage (.524). Haithcox became the school's all-time leader in career home runs this season, with 42 career bombs to date. As of April 17, she ranked fifth in the nation in home runs and third in slugging percentage. Haithcox also ranked in the top-five in the conference in batting average (third- .412), RBI's (fourth- 44) and total bases (fourth- 108).
Abby Child of Anderson was named Player of the Year. In just her second season on campus, Child hit .432 during the regular season and led the SAC with 57 runs batted in. The shortstop also finished second in home runs with 14, third in hits with 64 and third in runs scored with 46.
Behind Child – who also earned All-SAC First Team accolades -- Anderson went 35-11 overall and finished third in the regular-season conference standings at 12-6.
SAC regular-season champion Lenoir-Rhyne led the way with three All-SAC First Team selections, including the conference’s Pitcher of the Year Dawon Millwood.
Millwood went 28-6 in the circle during the regular season and led the conference with 180 strikeouts, 14 shutouts and an opponent’s batting average of just .190. She also threw two no-hitters.
This is the second-straight season Millwood has won the SAC Pitcher of the Year award.
Also earning All-SAC First Team honors from L-R were first baseman Jessica Fellmeth and catcher Sarah Atkins. Fellmeth finished second in the SAC in RBI with 48 and fourth in home runs with 12, while Atkins was first in walks with 32, third in RBI with 45 and fifth in home runs with 11.
Joining the L-R duo on the First Team infield were Anderson second baseman Jessica Neidigh and Haithcox.
Neidigh had a huge regular season for AU, as she led the SAC in batting average at .463, hits with 81, runs scored with 60 and total bases with 117 en route to also being named the league’s Freshman of the Year.
Making up the First Team outfield were Brevard’s Brittany Fowler, Carson-Newman’s Cassidy Skeen and Lincoln Memorial’s Briana Mulkey.
Skeen finished the regular season with 54 hits, Fowler hit .333, and Mulkey led the conference with 27 stolen bases.
Rounding out the First Team were designated player Amanda Snow from LMU, Tusculum utility player Kaytlin Stroinski and Tusculum pitcher Elizabeth Johnson, who finished third in the SAC with 25 wins, second in complete games with 30 and sixth in strikeouts with 122.
After leading her team to 42-11 overall record and a 14-4 SAC mark, Lenoir-Rhyne’s Shena Hollar was selected as the SAC Coach of the Year – an honor she also took home in 2011, 2010, 2008 and 2006.
The All-Conference Second Team was announced on Wednesday as well. Making up the team’s infield was Wingate catcher Betsy Braswell, Carson-Newman first baseman Caitlyn Lance, Brevard second baseman Chelsi Mallory, LMU shortstop Bridget Eicher and L-R third baseman Haily Jarman.
Also earning selections to the Second Team were outfielders Marie Mauhar from L-R, Brittany Coursen from L-R and Rebecca Martin from Anderson. They were joined by AU designated player Amber Duncan and Newberry utility player Brittany Phillips.
Rounding out the All-SAC Second Team were pitchers Kayla Clemens of Brevard, Brittany Murray of Catawba and Mary Shealy of Carson-Newman. Murray and Shealy tied for the team’s final pitcher selection.
SAC Player of the Year: Abby Child, AU
SAC Pitcher of the Year: Dawon Millwood, L-R
SAC Freshman of the Year: Jessica Neidigh, AU
SAC Coach of the Year: Shena Hollar, L-R
2012 All-SAC Softball Team
First Team
C - Sarah Atkins, L-R
1B - Jessica Fellmeth, L-R
2B - Jessica Neidigh, AU
SS - Abby Child, AU
3B - Natalie Haithcox, MHC
OF - Briana Mulkey, LMU
OF - Brittany Fowler, BC
OF - Cassidy Skeen, C-N
DP - Amanda Snow, LMU
Util. - Kaytlin Stroinski, TC
SP - Dawon Millwood, L-R
SP - Elizabeth Johnson, TC
Second Team
C - Betsy Braswell, WU
1B - Caitlyn Lance, C-N
2B - Chelsi Mallory, BC
SS - Bridget Eicher, LMU
3B - Haily Jarman, L-R
OF - Marie Mauhar, L-R
OF - Brittany Coursen, L-R
OF - Rebecca Martin, AU
DP - Amber Duncan, AU
Util. - Brittany Phillips, NEW
SP - Kayla Clemens, BC
SP - Brittany Murray, CAT*
SP - Mary Shealy, C-N*
* tied for final second-team pitcher selection
