Peach Belt Releases Preseason Softball All-Conference Team

AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference released 2009 softball preseason All-Conference team from the league office in Augusta. 11 players were selected to the team from the league’s 10 member schools. The team was administered and selected by PBC sports information directors. Francis Marion had the most honorees with three while Georgia College & State University, North Georgia and UNC Pembroke had two each. USC Aiken and Armstrong Atlantic State had one player on the team.

Francis Marion’s Tamela Bell was honored at first base. A senior who played the 2008 season at Columbus State, Bell will take the field for the Patriots in 2009 after hitting .333 with one home run and 18 RBIs. She also scored 16 runs and had seven doubles. In the field, Bell made only two errors in 311 chances, a .994 fielding percentage.

Laura Voyles was named PBC All-Conference and a third-team All-American last year for North Georgia at second base. Back for her junior year, Voyles was second in the PBC with a .419 batting average and led the team with 67 hits. She hit six home runs and drove in 26 with a .623 slugging percentage and stole nine bases.

Jelena Shaw was named PBC All-Conference and a third-team All-American at third base as UNCP won the conference title for the first time last year. Now a junior, Shaw hit .381 with 42 RBIs and 11 home runs a year ago. She added seven doubles, five triples and led the PBC with 55 runs scored.

FMU’s Shannan Tyson was also named All-Conference at shortstop after hitting .377 as the lead-off batter for the Patriots. Returning for her senior season, she scored 38 runs and tied a school single-season record with 21 doubles. She also hit a home run and drove in 28 and was one of the 100 toughest to strike out in the nation.

Jessica Strickland cracked the PBC career home run top-10 list last season and holds the USC Aiken career record with 28. All All-American in 2007 and 2008, Strickland hit .373 last year with 29 runs scored, seven home runs and 31 RBIs. She also hit 14 doubles for a .596 slugging percentage and led the team with 16 stolen bases.

Sherquita Bostick was named the 2008 PBC Player of the Year and the 2008 PBC Tournament MVP for GCSU. Now a senior, Bostick was a second-team All-American after hitting .379 with 44 runs scored and 27 RBIs. She also hit seven home runs and four triples and stole 20 bases.

Jessica Birchmeier was named All-Conference and All-Region for Francis Marion as the Patriots advanced to the Division II World Series. A junior, Birchmeier hit .383 with four home runs and 42 RBIs. She also scored 32 runs, had 13 doubles and a .428 on-base percentage.

NGCSU’s Courtney McGuire was named Peach Belt All-Conference and All-Region for the Saints last year. The returning junior hit .358 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. She led the team and was third in the PBC with a .648 slugging percentage and was also third in the league with 20 doubles.

Sam Floyd was named All-Conference as a DP/UT for Armstrong Atlantic State in 2008. A senior, Floyd hit .311 with five home runs and 27 RBIs. She also had 37 runs scored and 14 sac hits. On the mound, Floyd made 23 starts, going 11-12 with a 2.52 ERA and was sixth in the PBC in stikeouts with 131.

Mandy Chandler is currently sixth on the PBC’s all-time career victories list with 80 so far and third on the all-time strikeout list. Returning for her senior year, Chandler can top both after going 25-9 last year on the mound with a 0.98 ERA. The GCSU ace led the PBC in strikeouts with 311 in 236.2 innings pitched.

Martika Elmore was named the 2008 PBC Pitcher of the Year after going 22-5 for UNC Pembroke as a freshman. Now a sophomore, Elmore had a 1.95 ERA in 186.1 innings pitched, striking out 237 while walking only 93. She finished second in the PBC in strikeouts and was third in wins, appearances and four in innings pitched.

2009 Peach Belt Softball
Preseason All-Conference Team

First Base – Tamela Bell, Francis Marion
Second Base – Laura Voyles, North Georgia
Third Base – Jelena Shaw, UNC Pembroke
Shortstop – Shannan Tyson, Francis Marion
Catcher – Jessica Strickland, USC Aiken
Outfield – Sherquita Bostick, GCSU
Outfield – Jessica Birchmeier, Francis Marion
Outfield – Courtney McGuire, North Georgia
Pitcher – Mandy Chandler, GCSU
Pitcher – Martika Elmore, UNC Pembroke
Designated Player – Sam Floyd, Armstrong Atlantic State