DANVILLE, Ky. - For the second year in a row, Campbellsville third baseman
Bailey Dillender has been named Mid-South Conference Softball Player of the Year. The announcement was made at Millennium Park, site of the MSC Tournament.
"She's deserving, and we're super excited for her," said Coach
Shannon Wathen.
Dillender, a junior from Lexington, Ky., led the conference in RBI (48) and hits (60), along with a .335 batting average and .542 slugging percentage. Her 48 RBI are 31st best in the NAIA. She finished second in the conference in doubles (13) and fifth in home runs (13).
"She was intentionally walked numerous times this season, so the other coaches evidently respect her ability," continued Wathen. "She also played well in the field."
Joining Dillender on the All-Conference team was senior Alex Jane Clements (Smiths Grove, Ky.) and junior
Jennifer England (Campbellsville,Ky.). Freshman pitcher
Martina Riney (Owensboro, Ky.), and senior catcher
Morgan Bullock (Frankfort, Ky.) were named to the Honorable Mention Team.
Clements tied the team lead in homers (13), had 35 RBI, scored 44 runs and had a .594 slugging percentage. England scored 32 times and knocked in 25 runs with 10 doubles and seven homers. Riney won 12 games (12-3) for the Lady Tigers and held a 2.55 ERA. Bullock had seven homers, 35 RBI and scored 17 runs.
Joining Dillender, Ramirez, Clemmons and England on the all-conference team is Georgetown's Jordan Clemmons, Michelle Dresselhaus, Whitney Ealey, Mallory Johnson and Rachel Johnson; Lindsey Wilson's Ally Goniea, Morgan Paschall, Alexis Rodgers and Jamie Williams; University of Rio Grande's Amber Bowman and Anna Smith; Shawnee State University's Kirsti Yates; St. Catharine College's Justine Paddock; and University of Virginia's College at Wise's Maddi Ridenour.
Seven Lady Tigers were named to the conference All-Academic team. They were: Bullock and Dillender, Nichole Bonanon (Louisville, Ky.),
Jordan Cornett (Lexington, Ky.)
Leslie Hastings (Orient, Ohio),
Emma Napier (Scottsville, Ky.), and
Kacie Vincent (Louisville, Ky.).
Freshman aren't eligible for academic honors and members of the team are required to hold at least a 3.25 GPA.
"The academic awards are nice, too," said Wathen, "considering that that's what the girls are really here to achieve - an education."
Lindsey Wilson's Anyibell Ramirez was also a repeat winner of the MSC Pitcher of the Year. The pair highlighted an 18-woman all-conference team as selected by the MSC coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Ramirez was named MSC Pitcher of the Year after leading the MSC in nine pitching statistical categories this season. She led the league with 23 wins, a 0.83 earned run average and averaged 17.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Ramirez was also tops in the conference in opponent's batting average (.115), total strikeouts (342), runs allowed (22) and saves (5).
Shawnee's Yates was voted by the coaches as the MSC Freshman of the Year after batting .353 with three home runs and 17 RBIs during the season.
Lindsey Wilson's Ashley McCool was selected as the MSC Coach of the Year after leading the Blue Raiders to the program's second straight MSC regular season title.
Cumberlands' Whitney Delk was named the MSC Softball Champions of Character recipient. She was selected by a vote from the conference's athletics director for her civic and servant leadership within the campus and community.
Campbellsville opens Mid-South play Friday at 1:00 against Shawnee State.
