Southern’s Steamer and Jenkins clinch top honors
BIRMINGHAM – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2010 all-conference softball honors Wednesday, with Southern’s Shawntall Steamer and Lanaya Jenkins claiming top honors. The teams were voted on by the schools’ coaches and sports information departments.
Steamer – a 5-foot-4 freshman shortstop – has been named the 2010 Player and Freshman of the Year. Steamer had an exceptional freshman campaign this season for the Jaguars. She ranked first on her team and eighth in the conference with a .364 batting average. The Freeport, TX native also finished the regular-season ranked first in the SWAC in hits (47), triples (10), and total bases (79); third in runs scored (29), and fourth in slugging percentage (.612) and runs batted in (27).
Jenkins – a 5-foot-3 senior from Seattle, WA – has been voted the 2010 Pitcher of the Year. Jenkins ranked first on her team and third in the SWAC with a 3.37 earned run average. She was the second winningest pitcher in the conference, registering 12 victories. She also ranked third in the league in opposing batter average (.267) and fourth in batters struck out (69).
Jackson State’s Wendi Reed has been named the 2010 Hitter of the Year. A 5-foot-7 sophomore, Reed led her team and was 10th in the SWAC with a .353 batting average. From her second base position, she also led her team with 25 RBI’s (eighth in the SWAC) and was second on her squad and eighth in the conference with 26 runs scored.
Shortstop Jasmine Hubbard of Alcorn State has been selected the 2010 Newcomer of the Year. A 5-foot-5 junior, Hubbard was the second-leading hitter on her team with a .349 batting average. The Brunswick, GA native, was second in the SWAC in runs scored (30) while also ranking fourth in total bases (62), eighth in slugging percentage (.569), and ninth in hits (38).
The 2010 SWAC Softball Championship tournament kicks off Thursday, April 29 with first pitch set for 11:30 a.m. Action will be taking place at the Shea Brothers Softball Complex in Irondale, AL. Sunday’s championship game is scheduled to air live on ESPNU at 1:00 p.m. (CT).
