Elon Softball’s Watson Earns All-Southern Conference Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Elon softball outfielder Tomeka Watson was named to the 2012 Southern Conference Softball All-Conference Second Team, the league announced today, May 7. The conference’s nine softball coaches conducted nominations and voting.

Watson started 44 games for the Phoenix this season and leads the team and ranks seventh in the conference with a .383 batting average. The junior has hit eight doubles, one triple and a team-high six home runs in her 54 hits, while driving in 32 runs and scoring 36. A preseason first-team selection, Watson has 26 stolen bases this year and ranks first in the league and 25th in the nation in stolen bases per game (0.56). The left fielder has a 1.000 fielding percentage with 54 putouts, five assists and no errors on the season. A native of Jackson, Ga., Watson also owns a .582 slugging percentage and a .443 on base percentage and is the seventh hardest player to strikeout in the country with only three strikeouts this season.

Georgia Southern earned two first team all-conference selections, one second team selection, an all-freshman honoree and an individual award. The Eagles’ Annie Smith was named the SoCon Coach of the Year, while Chattanooga’s Michelle Fuzzard won the league’s Player of the Year.

The 2012 Southern Conference Softball Championship begins Wednesday, May 9, at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium in Boone, N.C. Elon earned the seventh seed and will play second seeded Chattanooga on Wednesday at 12 p.m. The championships game of the double elimination tournament is scheduled for Saturday, May 12, at 1:30 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPN3.

2012 Southern Conference Softball All-Conference Teams
First Team

Pitcher: Stephanie Saylors, College of Charleston
Pitcher: Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
Catcher: Vivian Morimoto, Chattanooga
1st Base: Kasey Tydingco, Chattanooga
2nd Base: Sara Poteat, Chattanooga
Shortstop: Megan Rembielak, Appalachian State
3rd Base: Jessie Homesley, Furman
Outfield: Allie Cashion, Appalachian State
Outfield: Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern
Outfield: Erin Foster, Western Carolina
Designated Player: Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
Utility Player: Sarah Warnock, Appalachian State

Second Team
Pitcher: Hope Klicker, College of Charleston
Pitcher: Taylor Deason, Chattanooga
Catcher: Michelle Lighton, Appalachian State
1st Base: Amanda Lonergan, College of Charleston
2nd Base: Hanna Ennis, Georgia Southern
Shortstop: Jessica Traxler, Chattanooga
3rd Base: Sarah Beth Roberts, Chattanooga
Outfield: Tomeka Watson, Elon
Outfield: Stephanie Rieck, Chattanooga
Outfield: Cheyenne Willis, Chattanooga
Designated Player: Katelyn Bedwell, UNCG
Utility Player: Lauren Collier, Furman

All-Freshman Team
Caroline Rogers, Appalachian State
Sarah Warnock, Appalachian State
Hope Klicker, College of Charleston
Allison Pedigo, College of Charleston
Mackenzie Maples, College of Charleston
Brooke Red, Georgia Southern
Madison Dickey, Samford
Taylor Deason, Chattanooga
Sarah Beth Roberts, Chattanooga
Cheyenne Willis, Chattanooga

Player of the Year
Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga

Pitcher of the Year
Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern

Freshman of the Year
Sarah Warnock, Appalachian State

Coach of the Year
Annie Smith, Georgia Southern