Four Bulldogs Receive Big South Postseason Honors
May 07, 2009 | Softball
Charlotte, N.C.– The Gardner-Webb softball team had four different players garner Big South Conference postseason honors announced by the League office on Wednesday.
Junior Christa Fullwood and sophomore Kelsey Witter were both named First-Team All-Conference, while juniors Melody Harrell and Mandy Ward both were named to the Second-Team All-Conference.
Fullwood was also named to the Academic All-Conference Team on Wednesday.
In the regular season, Fullwood started all 42 games for the Bulldogs with 41 of those starts coming at first base. Fullwood led the team in batting avg. (.438), slugging pct. (.719), on base pct. (.486), hits (56), RBI (32), doubles (12), triples (3), home runs (6), total bases (92), walks (10) and hit by pitch (3). The junior, who is in her second season at Gardner-Webb after transferring from Mars Hill, was second on the team in runs scored with 26. In the Big South statistics, Fullwood has been in the top-five in the conference statistics all season long in batting avg. (.429), slugging pct. (.732), on base pct. (.475), doubles (6), and home runs (3). Defensively, Fullwood has a posted a fielding percentage of .988 on the season.
This season, Fullwood, who hails from Wilmington, N.C., was named the Choice Hotels Player of the Week on February 24 and was also named to the Samford Bulldog Bash All-Tournament team in the first-four games of the season.
In the classroom, Fullwood has posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.7, double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. This season marks the third straight year in which she has received recognition for her work in the classroom, as in 2008 she was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Academic team and to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2007.
Along with Fullwood, Witter was on the First-Team All-Conference as a utility player. On the regular season, Witter had eight multiple hit games and posted a season-high six-game hitting streak. The ultimate utility player, Witter saw action in 37 games, starting 22 games in the outfield on the year, with the other starts coming at catcher, second base and third base. Witter is third on the team in batting avg. (.294), slugging percentage (.412), on base pct. (.348), total bases (42) and runs scored (19).
The awards did not stop there, as shortstop Harrell, who also hails from Wilmington, N.C., was named to the Second-Team All-Conference, finding herself in a tie with Kelly Strickland of Liberty. Harrell has started 41 games at the shortstop position for the Bulldogs this season and leads the team in runs scored (28), triples (3) and in stolen bases with six. The junior is second on the team in batting avg. (.326), slugging pct. (.492), on base pct. (.353), hits (43), total bases (65) and home runs (4). With a solid junior season, Harrell moved into the top-five in the GWU career record books in RBI, doubles, triples, extra base hits, home runs and total bases this season.
Fellow classmate Ward overcame off-season surgery to earn a spot on the second-team at the catcher position. Ward started in 27 games, 17 of which were conference play. The junior is fourth on the team in batting avg. (.280), slugging pct. (.402), on base pct. (.326) and RBI (13) and has posted a season-high five game hitting streak this season. Behind the plate, Ward has posted a fielding percentage of .985 on the season and has allowed only one passed ball all season long.
Despite finishing its first season in the Big South with a 6-12 conference record and a fifth-place regular season finish, the Bulldogs four all-conference selections was the third most of any team in the league, as the first-place Radford Highlanders had seven selections and the second-place Winthrop Lady Eagles had six.
The four all-conference selections are the most that the Bulldogs have had in one season since moving to NCAA Division I in 2000-01.
The Bulldogs will open up play in its first ever Big South Softball Championship on Thursday, May 7, at 10 a.m. The Bulldogs will take on the No. 4 seeded Charleston Southern Lady Buccaneers in the first round of the tournament.
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First-Team All Conference
OF: Lisa Kingsmore, Winthrop
OF: Leigh Godfrey, Radford
OF: Tessa Thomas, Winthrop
1B: Christa Fullwood, Gardner-Webb
2B: Amy Trenkamp, Charleston Southern
SS: Kristen Shifflett, Radford
3B: Nichole Beall, Radford
C: Sarah Himan, Radford
DP: Jamie Wellons, Charleston Southern
Taylor Wright, Winthrop
UT: Kelsey Witter, Gardner-Webb
P: Chelsea Kelley, Radford
P: Tiffani Smith, Liberty
Second-Team All Conference
OF: Shannon Keefe, Radford
OF: Maceaela Ballard, Coastal Carolina
OF: Melissa Adams, Charleston Southern
1B: Megan Hall, Charleston Southern
2B: Kelsey Riffel, Coastal Carolina
Jenn Everhart, Radford
SS: Melody Harrell, Gardner-Webb
Kelly Strickland, Liberty
3B: Michelle Evans, Coastal Carolina
C: Mandy Ward, Gardner-Webb
UT: Lenny Stodart, Winthrop
P: Cari Wooldridge, Winthrop
P: Megan Evans, Winthrop
Academic All-Conference
Lisa Kingsmore, Winthrop
Christa Fullwood, Gardner-Webb
Gail Matsushima, Charleston Southern
Kelsey Riffel, Coastal Carolina
Kellie Snooks, Radford
Erin Stewart, Presbyterian
Beth Bennett, Liberty
Player of the Year
Lisa Kingsmore, Winthrop
Pitcher of the Year
Chelsea Kelley, Radford
Freshman of the Year
Leigh Godfrey, Radford
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Lisa Kingsmore, Winthrop
Coach of the Year
Mickey Dean, Radford
