Elon’s Nester and Watson Selected to All-State Softball Team

ELON, N.C. – Elon softball outfielders Carleigh Nester and Tomeka Watson were named to the 2013 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) University Division All-State Softball First Team as announced by the association on Thursday, June 27. This is the fourth consecutive All-State honor for Watson and the second overall for Nester in her career.

For Watson, it’s another postseason accolade after a terrific 2013 senior campaign in which she led the Southern Conference in five different categories and set numerous program single-season and career records.

The Jackson, Ga., native paced the league in batting average (.419), slugging percentage (.768), on-base percentage (.511), hits (65) and stolen bases (25) while ranking among the top-three in home runs (14), runs scored (42) and walks (29). On Feb. 24, she became Elon’s all-time career home run leader and tied an NCAA Division I softball record with a homer in her sixth consecutive game. Watson also broke the program’s career record in hits, RBI, runs scored and slugging percentage.

Watson was named an All-American by the NFCA on May 29, becoming the first member of the program to receive the prestigious honor. She also became the first Elon female student-athlete to be recognized as an All-American at the Division I level.

Nester played in 51 games for the Phoenix, ranking among the top-five in the SoCon in batting average (.370), slugging percentage (.660), doubles (14), home runs (11) and total bases (107). The junior center fielder also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage for the second consecutive year.

The Kernersville, N.C., native had a 4-for-4 effort at SoCon regular-season champion Appalachian State on April 7, tying an NCAA Division I softball record with three doubles. She was tabbed as the league’s Player of the Month in April and joined Watson on the All-SoCon and NFCA All-Mideast Region First Teams.

Founded in 2002, The North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.

NCCSIA selects all-state teams in the university (NCAA Division I) and college (Division II, III, NAIA) divisions for women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, softball and baseball.

NCCSIA Softball University Division All-State First Team
P: Raeanne Hanks, Jr., UNC Greensboro
P: Courtney Roberts, Fr., Campbell University
C: Lindsay Thomas, Fr., UNC Greensboro
IF: Ericka Nesbitt, So., Campbell University
IF: Lauryn Buckworth, Sr., UNC Wilmington
IF: Raven Lee, Jr., Campbell University
IF: Samantha Meenaghan, Jr., Gardner-Webb University
OF: Allie Cashion, Sr., Appalachian State University
OF: Tomeka Watson, Sr., Elon University
OF: Carleigh Nester, Jr., Elon University
DP: Katelyn Bedwell, Fr., UNC Greensboro
UTIL: Aisha Figueroa, Jr., UNC Greensboro

NCCSIA Softball University Division All-State Second Team
P: Sarah Christian, So., East Carolina University
P: Alissa Schoelkopf, So., Appalachian State University
C: Courtney Klingler, Fr., Campbell University
IF: Heather Robb, Sr., UNC Greensboro
IF: Kristi Oshiro, Jr., East Carolina University
IF: Jordan Lewis, Jr., East Carolina University
IF: Morgan Baker, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb University
OF: Briana Gwaltney, Sr., Charlotte
OF: Stephanie Jones, So., Campbell University
OF: Jessica Plemmons, Fr., Charlotte
UTIL: Amber Steinhardt, Sr., Western Carolina University