Praytor Tabbed ESPN.com Preseason All-American
2/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? Jordan Praytor, a junior on the University of Alabama softball team, was named to the first team of the ESPN.com Preseason All-American team on Wednesday.
"It is really humbling to be named among the top players in the nation," said Praytor. "I am flattered that ESPN would consider me for their preseason All-American team."
A utility player from Vancouver, Wash., Praytor was one of the top players in the SEC last season and was named first team All-SEC and second team All-South Region. She put together a 25-game hitting streak in her sophomore season, the second longest streak in school history and third longest in SEC history. During her streak, which lasted from March 16 to April 29, she hit .487 (38-of-78) with six home runs, eight doubles, 22 RBI, 29 runs scored, an .821 slugging percentage and a .518 on base percentage. More importantly, the Tide went 20-5 during that time frame.
Praytor finished her sophomore season ranked in the top-10 in the SEC in eight categories, including slugging (2nd), batting avg. (4th), on-base percentage (5th), runs (5th), stolen bases (5th), hits (6th), total bases (6th) and home runs (T-9th). She hit .415 (78-of-188) with 57 runs scored, 78 hits, nine home runs, 36 RBI and 27 stolen bases.
Alabama will begin the 2007 season this weekend at the Century-Tel Softball Classic in San Marcos, Texas. The tournament is hosted by Texas State University and will feature the Bobcats, Crimson Tide, Oklahoma State and Texas-San Antonio.
"Everyone is really excited to get started," said Praytor. "We are all excited to play somebody besides our teammates and see what everybody will bring to the team this season."
Bama opens against Oklahoma State at 12:30 p.m. and Texas State at 3 p.m. on Friday. They will face Texas-San Antonio at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
First team
C: Chelsi Lake, Baylor
1B: Garland Cooper, Northwestern
2B: Dominique Lastrapes, Washington
SS: Kristie Fox, Arizona
3B: Whitney Mollica, Massachusetts
OF: Kaitlin Cochran, Arizona State
OF: Kellie Middleton, Georgia
OF: Caitlin Lowe, Arizona
DP: Jordan Praytor, Alabama
P: Monica Abbott, Tennessee
P: Katie Burkhart, Arizona State
P: Anjelica Selden, UCLA
Second team
C: Callista Balko, Arizona
1B: Whitney Haller, Georgia Tech
2B: Veronica Wootson, Florida State
SS: Jodie Legaspi, UCLA
3B: Megan McAllister, Georgia
OF: Leslie Klein, LSU
OF: Cambria Miranda, Oregon State
OF: Norrelle Dickson, Oklahoma
DP: Jessica Strickland, Colorado State
P: Eileen Canney, Northwestern
P: Taryne Mowatt, Arizona
P: Danielle Lawrie, Washington
