Alabama Has Four Named to NFCA All-South Region Teams
5/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association (NFCA) has announced that the Alabama softball team has placed four players on this year’s NFCA All-South Region teams.
Ashley Courtney (SR, Vero Beach, Fla.) and Stephanie VanBrakle (JR, Chambersburg, Pa.) were both named 1st Team All-South Region while Jordan Praytor (FR, Vancouver, Wash.) and Jackie Wilkins (SR, Miami, Fla.) were both named 2nd Team performers.
“To be named All-South Region is a great honor as this region is one of the largest in the country and opposing coaches are doing the voting,” said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy. “I’m very happy for these four as they all deserved being recognized.”
Courtney leads the Tide in average (.392), hits (82), runs (52), triples (6), RBI (45) and stolen bases (21). She is making her fourth appearance as an All-South Region performer and her second on the first team. Courtney becomes the third player in Alabama history to be named a four-time All-Region performer. She joins former four-time All-Americans Kelly Kretschman and Jackie McClain.
VanBrakle has been the leader on the Alabama pitching staff all season long, posting a 29-6 record and striking out a team high 288 batters in 215.1 innings pitched. She’s adding to her closet of hardware having been named the USA Softball National Player of the Week earlier this week as well as the SEC Tournament MVP. The honor is the second for VanBrakle after being named a 1st Team All-Region performer in 2003.
Praytor was a late comer to the Alabama starting lineup, but proved her worth, hitting .371, the second highest on the team. Her 38 runs ranks third on the team.
Wilkins is making her first appearance on the All-Region team after posting career highs in hitting (.338), hits (71), RBI (34) and stolen bases (15).
These year’s four selections pushes Alabama’s total of All-Region performers to 31. It’s also the largest representation for the Crimson Tide softball program since 2001 when Alabama placed five on the teams.
The Crimson Tide hosts the NCAA Region 12 Championship this weekend hosting the Arizona State Sun Devils, Hofstra Pride and the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devilettes. Arizona State and Hofstra will open action on Friday at 4:00 p.m. followed by the top-seeded Tide and Mississippi Valley State at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 205.348.BAMA (2262) or fans can purchase their tickets at the gates on Friday.
2005 NFCA ALL-SOUTH REGION TEAMS
1ST TEAM
Monica Abbott Pitcher University of Tennessee
Stephanie VanBrakle Pitcher University of Alabama
Ashley Courtney Catcher University of Alabama
Paige Jones 1st Base Auburn University
Lauren Boone 2nd Base Sam Houston State University
Courtney Bures Shortstop Mississippi State University
Kristi Durant 3rd Base University of Tennessee
Lauren Castle DP Louisiana State University
Holly Currie Utility Auburn University
Sarah Fekete OF University of Tennessee
Danyelle Gomez OF University of Louisiana-Lafayette
Jennifer Davis OF University of Texas-San Antonio
2nd TEAM
Brooke Mitchell Pitcher University of Louisiana-Lafayette
Sarah Pauley Pitcher Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi Jocelyn McCallum Pitcher Troy State University
Aja Sherman Pitcher University of Louisville
Carly Kellam Pitcher Jacksonville State University
Lacey Swarthout Pitcher Chattanooga
Shalayne Blythe Pitcher Sam Houston State University
Tamra Howren Catcher Troy State University
Beth Jordan 1st Base McNeese State University
Brittany Bryant 2nd Base University of Louisiana-Lafayette
Lindsay Schutzler Shortstop University of Tennessee
Courtney Moore Shortstop University of Louisville
Kristen Glowacz 3rd Base University of Houston
Jessica Rogers 3rd Base University of Texas-San Antonio
Jordan Praytor DP University of Alabama
Jennifer Jessup Utility Mississippi State University
Jill Robertson OF University of Louisiana-Lafayette
Camille Harris OF Louisiana State University
Jackie Wilkins OF University of Aabama
Maigin Alexander OF Jacksonville State University
Janine Sprague OF East Tennessee State University
