VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Hampton University softball players Kelsei Saunders and Evelyn Garcia earned First Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) honors on Wednesday, as announced by the conference office.
Saunders (Suffolk, Va.) led the Lady Pirates (23-21, 8-6 MEAC) in home runs this season with 11. Heading into the season-ending doubleheader at Coppin State, she was batting .344 with six doubles and 31 RBI.
Garcia (Poquoson, Va.), who went-7-for-9 with three home runs against Coppin State, finished the year with seven long balls. She was second on the team in hitting at .317 going into the Coppin State doubleheader, hitting five doubles and a team-high three triples. She also led the team with a .407 on-base percentage.
North Carolina A&T’s Ryanne Hill was named Player of the Year, while Sam Douglas of Maryland-Eastern Shore earned Coach of the Year honors. Florida A&M’s Amanda Reyes was named Pitcher of the Year, and Howard’s Rebecca Kirshner was named Rookie of the Year.
The Lady Pirates will open the 2009 MEAC Championship on Thursday at 1:30 p.m., when they take on Bethune-Cookman. For more information on Hampton University softball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at
www.hamptonpirates.com.