Reed and Lorenz Headline All-SWAC Softball Teams
BIRMINGHAM - Juniors Wendi Reed of Jackson State and Alicia Lorenz of Mississippi Valley State topped the list of selections for the 2012 All-SWAC Softball teams. Reed was named SWAC Player of the Year, while Lorenz captured Pitcher of the Year honors.
Joining Reed and Lorenz on the list of superlative honorees was Newcomer of the Year Tayler Nave (Jackson State), Freshman of the Year, Shontel Lopez (Prairie View), Hitter of the Year, Sabeana Romero (Jackson State) and SWAC Coach of the Year Lee Smith of Mississippi Valley State.
The SWAC All-Conference teams are selected by league Coaches and Sports Information Directors.
Reed, a second-baseman for JSU, played in and started 54 games. The Little Rock, Ark. native lead the Tigers on offense batting .401 with nine home runs, four triples, 14 doubles and 36 RBI. She leads the SWAC in hits (67), RBI, runs scored (50), doubles, triples, home runs and steals (45). Her stolen bases are also ranked third in Division I. Reed was voted Preseason SWAC Player of the Year and she earned conference Player of the Week honors on March 21.
Lorenz was 17-8 during the regular season with an ERA of 2.50 in 29 appearances. She started 25, pitched 154.2 innings, had two shutouts with two saves. Lorenz had 155 strikeouts and 56 walks. In one outing this season, she had 12 strikeouts against IUPUI. She also pitched 11 innings against Troy, picking up a 2-1 win. Later in the season, Lorenz smothered Ole Miss in a 4-1 win. During the season, she topped all league pitchers, capturing SWAC Pitcher of the Week three times.
Nave played in and started 55 games for JSU. She hit .321 during the regular season. She was ranked second in the SWAC in hits (52), RBI (32), runs (32), triples (3) and steals (43). Her stolen bases ranks her fifth in the nation. She was third in the SWAC in doubles (11). Her highlight of the season came when she hit a walk-off grand slam against Austin Peay on February 20. Her honors this season include College Madness Sports Madness Softball Preseason All Conference second Team and College Sports Madness SWAC Softball Player of the Week, Feb. 28.
Lopez also earned SWAC Player of the Week honors during the season. She started 34-of-35 games, batting .339 with four home runs, two triples, six doubles and 31 RBI. She is ranked third in the SWAC in RBI. She is also ranked fifth in the SWAC in total bases with 60.
Romero batted .342 in 55 games. She was third in the SWAC in hits with 52. She hit eight home runs, 12 doubles and 32 RBI. Romero also scored 20 runs and stole six bases.
Overall, MVSU had six players on the All-SWAC teams, three on the first and three second team selections. Texas Southern had five players chosen, one on the first and four on the second team. JSU had three players on the first team and another on the second team. Prairie View and Alabama A&M had a pair split between the first and second teams. Southern and Alabama State each had a first team selection, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff had a player on the second team.
Here is the complete list of All-SWAC honorees.
First Team
Pitcher Alicia Lorenz Mississippi Valley State
Pitcher Rebecca Villarreal Texas Southern
Pitcher LeEthel Guillory Jackson State
Catcher Shontel Lopez Prairie View A&M
First Base Kishti Kamaka Mississippi Valley State
Second Base Wendi Reed Jackson State
Shortstop Shawntall Steamer Southern
Third Base Jasmine Riley Alabama A&M
Outfield Tayler Nave Jackson State
Outfield Ashley Hobbs Mississippi Valley State
Outfield Brehanna Rodrigues Alabama State
Newcomer of the Year - Tayler Nave (Jackson State)
Freshman of the Year - Shontel Lopez (Prairie View A&M)
Hitter of the Year - Sabeana Romero (Jackson State)
Pitcher of the Year - Alicia Lorenz (Mississippi Valley State)
Player of the Year - Wendi Reed (Jackson State)
Coach of the Year - Lee Smith (Mississippi Valley State)
Second Team
Pitcher Anisa Brit Alabama A&M
Pitcher Breea Jamerson Jackson State
Pitcher Cally Falls Prairie View A&M
Catcher Nicole Burr Mississippi Valley State
First Base Brianna Parker Texas Southern
Second Base Alexandra Sullivan Mississippi Valley State
Shortstop Princess Daniels Texas Southern
Third Base Alexandria Robertson Mississippi Valley State
Outfield Monica Castillo Texas Southern
Outfield Charyce Arnold Texas Southern
Outfield Tiressa Jacobs Arkansas-Pine Bluff
