PC Places Three On Preseason All-SAC Softball Team

ROCK HILL, SC – Three Presbyterian softball players were selected to the 2007 preseason All-South Atlantic Conference softball team it was announced on Thursday by the league office.

Rachel Bailey and Ashley Ford were first team selections, while Kellyn Henderson was a second team choice.

Bailey was tabbed to the first team as a shortstop. The Howard, Ohio native ended the 2006 campaign as a second team selection after hitting .341 for the Lady Blue Hose.

Ford, who made the preseason first team as a utility player, finished the 2006 season as the only PC softball player named to the 2006 All-SAC first team after leading the Blue Hose in hitting last season with an average of .359.

Named to the All-SAC first team last season as a utility player, Ford had a team-high 33 RBIs in the 2006 season. A native of Marietta, Ga., Ford also tallied a team-high 84 total bases to go along with a team second-best 14 extra-base hits, including a team-high seven home runs.

A junior this season, Henderson has been an All-SAC performer in both of her seasons at PC. The Hillcrest High School product hit .301 last season and tied for the team lead in runs (35) with Bailey.

As a team, Presbyterian was picked to conclude the 2007 season in sixth place in the South Atlantic Conference.

The Lady Blue Hose commence their season at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8 in a home doubleheader against Brevard.

Lenoir-Rhyne College, the 2006 South Atlantic Conference softball champions, is picked to defend their league crown, according to a vote of the league's head coaches.

Lenoir-Rhyne picked up seven first-place votes and 63 out of a possible 64 votes. The Bears lost in the South Atlantic Regional championship in a 16-inning marathon last season and wrapped up the year ranked 17th in the nation.

Wingate University is picked to finish second, receiving one first-place vote and 55 total points. The Bulldogs return plenty of talent from last year's squad which won the 2006 Food Lion SAC Softball Tournament.

Carson-Newman College is picked to finish third. The Lady Eagles received 47 points.

Catawba College received 33 points in the poll to finish fourth and edged out Newberry, the fifth-place team, by one point.

Mars Hill College received 20 points to finish seventh.

Tusculum College rounds out the poll, receiving 12 points. The 2007 Food Lion SAC softball tournament will be April 19-22 at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C.

2007 SAC SOFTBALL COACHES POLL RESULTS

2007 Preseason Softball All-South Atlantic Conference Team

First Team
Catcher - Mandi Chester, Wingate
Pitcher - Casey Hanes, Lenoir-Rhyne
Pitcher - Ashley Green, Wingate
1st Base - Jacqueline White, Catawba
2nd Base - Whitney Hickam, Carson-Newman
2nd Base - Megan McPhail, Wingate
Shortstop - Rachel Bailey, Presbyterian
3rd Base - Hallie Pettigrew, Wingate
Outfield - Taylor Queen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Outfield - Kimee Lewis, Wingate
Outfield - Joy Henry, Wingate
Utility - Ashley Ford, Presbyterian

Second Team
Catcher - Karie Pushard, Lenoir-Rhyne
Pitcher - Lindsay Ettinger, Catawba
Pitcher - Meredith O'Connor, Lenoir-Rhyne
1st Base - Leah Krohn, Lenoir-Rhyne
2nd Base - Hillary Hampton, Catawba
Shortstop - Courtney Lindler, Newberry
3rd Base - Amber Palmer, Carson-Newman
Outfield - Kellyn Henderson, Presbyterian
Outfield - Katie Bryden, Mars Hill
Outfield - Jenica, Fernandez, Tusculum
Utility - Angela Beard, Lenoir-Rhyne