Guilford’s Keys joins All-State softball team honor roll

GUILFORD’S KIMBERLY KEYS EARNS ALL-STATE SOFTBALL HONORS

GREENSBORO, N.C. —
* Guilford College sophomore *Kimberly Keys (Hamlet, N.C./Richmond
Senior)*earned College Division All-State softball recognition from
the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) Thursday. The
squad consists of NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA
student-athletes from North Carolina colleges and universities. North
Carolina sports information directors submitted nominees and NCCSIA members
selected the team for the seventh straight year. *

*The Quakers’ fourth all-state pick in school history, *Keys *set or tied
five school season records this year, including batting average (.463), hits
(63) and RBI (46), en route to Second Team All-Atlantic Region recognition
from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The First Team All-Old
Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) honoree hit a career-high five homers
and led Guilford in on-base percentage (.483) and triples (2). A
left-fielder, *Keys *stood fourth in the league in batting average, second
in hits and fifth in RBI and doubles (12). She hit .508 in 18 conference
games with three homers and 25 RBI en route to her second all-conference
commendation in as many years.

*Keys *had at least two hits in a club-high 19 games and also led Guilford
with 12 multiple-RBI contests. She was 3-for-5 with a school-record-tying
two doubles and five RBI in a Mar. 27 win over Swarthmore College. *Keys *also
had three hits, including a homer, and five RBI in an Apr. 16 triumph at
league-rival Emory & Henry College.

Fourth-year head coach *Dennis Shores *guided his club to a school-best
28-13-1 overall record and a 13-5 ODAC mark that tied for tops in the
league. After a series of tiebreakers, Guilford earned its first top seed
for the eight-team postseason tournament in Salem, Va. In addition, the
Quakers received their initial NCAA regional ranking this year and set or
tied 34 team and individual records. *Shores *expects as many as 18 letter
winners back in 2011, including *Keys*.
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Dave Walters
Guilford College Athletics