AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt
Conference has released the 11-member preseason softball
All-Conference team, as selected by the league’s head
coaches. Six of the 11 PBC softball-playing schools had members of
the team with the majority going to the defending regular-season
and tournament champions at North Georgia, who had six
honorees.
But we start at first base and Armstrong Atlantic State’s
Nicole Huddleston, who was named first-team All-Conference and
second-team All-Region in 2009. The senior from Rossville, Ga., hit
.328 with six home runs and a team-best 36 RBIs. She led the Peach
Belt with 15 doubles and was fourth in the league with a .536
slugging percentage.
At second base is Laura Voyles of North Georgia. The senior from
Powder Springs, Ga., hit .335 with seven home runs, 28 RBIs and
scored 51 runs from the leadoff spot, second-most in the Peach Belt
last year. She also had one of the big hits of the year with a
three-run home run in the World Series that tied the game in the
seventh inning.
UNC Pembroke’s Jelena Shaw started every game last year at
third base and was named first-team All-Conference. The senior from
Hope Mills, N.C., was ninth in the PBC wit a .381 batting average
and was tied for first in the conference with 25 stolen bases. She
was fourth in the PBC with 61 hits and had 16 multi-hit games on
the year.
Kacee Camp was named the PBC Freshman of the Year in 2009 for
Augusta State at shortstop. Returning for her sophomore season, the
Harlem, Ga., native was also named first-team All-Conference after
leading the Peach Belt with a .408 batting average. She was also
ranked in the PBC top 10 in slugging, on-base, runs, hits, doubles
and stolen bases.
Hilary Cox became one of the premier clutch hitters in the PBC in
2009 as a freshman. The returning sophomore from Douglasville, Ga.,
hit .475 in the Saints remarkable postseason run with 19 hits and
nine RBIs. She was named PBC All-Tournament and to the Dahlonega
Regional All-Tournament teams. She hit .338 with six homers and 31
RBIs for the year.
North Georgia’s Courtney McGuire was named a first-team
All-American in 2009. The returning senior outfielder from Atlanta,
Ga., hit .354 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles and 48 RBIs. She led
the PBC in runs scored with 58 and was second in RBIs and home
runs. She hit a 10th-inning walk-off home run against Dixie State
in the World Series.
Pilar Harden also had a monster season for the Saints in the
outfield, hitting .343 as a freshman. Returning for her sophomore
year, the Watkinsville, Ga., native had 39 RBIs and six home runs.
She was sixth in the PBC with 97 total bases and started all 55
games for North Georgia, finishing with 14 doubles and two
triples.
Francis Marion’s Jessica Birchmeier returns for her senior
season in the outfield after being named to the last two
All-Conference teams. From Dade City, Fla., Birchmeier started all
51 games for the Patriots, hitting. 324 with 20 RBIs and 23 runs
scored. She was 11th in the PBC in on-base percentage and sixth in
walks drawn with 21.
Sarah Phillips was named the PBC Pitcher of the Year last season
and a first-team All-American for North Georgia. The junior from
Powell, Ohio, was second in the nation with 39 wins, including 36
in a row. She pitched a perfect game in the PBC Tournament and a
no-hitter to clinch the NCAA Southeast Region championship. She
finished with a 1.39 ERA and 260 strikeouts in 271 innings with
just 38 walks allowed.
USC Aiken’s Toni Flessate was named first-team All-Conference
after posting an 18-8 record in 2009. The senior from Goose Creek,
S.C., tossed 21 complete games with seven shutouts and a no-hitter.
Flessate had a conference-best 1.20 ERA with 100 strikeouts and
held opponents to a .205 batting average.
North Georgia’s Leslee Smith hit .365 as the designated
player in 2009 and was named first-team All-Conference and
All-Region. From Lexington, Ga., Smith had nine home runs, 12
doubles and 55 RBIs. She was fourth in the PBC in total bases with
a .594 slugging percentage and just 14 strikeouts on the year.
2010 Peach Belt Conference
Preseason Softball All-Conference Team
1b – Nicole Huddleston, Armstrong Atlantic State
2b – Laura Voyles, North Georgia
3b – Jelena Shaw, UNC Pembroke
SS – Kacee Camp, Augusta State
C – Hilary Cox, North Georgia
OF – Courtney McGuire, North Georgia
OF – Pilar Harden, North Georgia
OF – Jessica Birchmeier, Francis Marion
P – Sarah Phillips, North Georgia
P – Toni Flessate, USC Aiken
DP – Leslee Smith, North Georgia
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