NCCSIA Announces 2013 North Carolina University Division All-State Softball Teams

The North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) announced its selections for the 2013 University Division All-State Softball Teams on Thursday. Twenty-three student-athletes representing nine different North Carolina Universities were named to the 2013 NCCSIA University Division All-State Softball Teams.

UNC Greensboro led the way with four representatives on the first-team, followed by Campbell who placed three on the first-team. Elon had two honorees on the first-team, while UNC Wilmington, Gardner-Webb and Appalachian State had one apiece.

Six of this year’s honorees earned All-State recognition previously, topped by senior outfielder Tomeka Watson of Elon with her fourth consecutive selection. Junior infielder Samantha Meenaghan of Gardner-Webb has been named All-State in each of her three seasons, while sophomore infielder Ericka Nesbitt of Campbell, senior outfielder Allie Cashion of Appalachian State, junior outfielder Carleigh Nester of Elon and senior outfielder Briana Gwaltney of Charlotte received the award for the second time.

The All-State first team consists of pitchers Raeanne Hanks (UNCG) and Courtney Roberts (Campbell); catcher Lindsay Thomas (UNCG); infielders Lauryn Buckworth (UNCW), Raven Lee (Campbell), Nesbitt (Campbell), and Meenaghan (Gardner-Webb); outfielders Cashion (Appalachian State), Watson (Elon) and Nester (Elon); designated player Katelyn Bedwell (UNCG); and utility player Aisha Figueroa (UNCG).

Four UNCG student-athletes garnered first team All-State merit after the Spartans posted a 38-19 record, earning the most victories since the 2003 season. Hanks, named second-team All-Southern Conference and SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player, finished the season with a 19-9 record with a 2.34 earned run average, 17 complete games, four shutouts, three saves and 176 strikeouts. Thomas, the first Spartan to be named SoCon Freshman of the Year, was also first team All-SoCon after batting .377 with 63 hits, 17 home runs, 45 RBI and a .760 slugging percentage (best in school history). Bedwell, who was also selected to the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) Mideast All-Region first team and first-team All-SoCon, finished with a .366 batting average along with 11 home runs and 52 RBI. Figueroa, a second team All-SoCon selection, started all 57 games and hit .297 with 55 hits and 42 runs scored.
Campbell boasts three first-team honorees after the Camels amassed 39 wins, the most for the program since registering 42 victories during the 2008 campaign. Roberts, a second team All-Big South selection, completed her rookie season with a 20-7 record with a 3.22 ERA, 17 complete games and 142 strikeouts. Lee, a first team All-Big South pick at first base, batted .341 with 57 hits, 70 RBI, 18 home runs and a .713 slugging percentage. Nesbitt, a first team All-Big South honoree at shortstop, recorded a .419 batting average with 72 hits, 45 runs scored, 19 RBI and 22 stolen bases.

A pair of Elon outfielders earned first-team All-State recognition. Watson, who was selected as Elon’s first All-American by the NFCA, was also a first team All-SoCon member after leading the league with a .419 batting average, a .768 slugging percentage, a .511 on-base percentage, 65 hits and 25 stolen bases. Nester, a first-team All-SoCon and NFCA Mideast All-Region First Team honoree, finished the season with a .370 batting average, a .660 slugging percentage, 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 34 RBI.
Cashion, who earned the Southern Conference Player of the Year award while leading Appalachian State (31-22) to the SoCon regular-season title, batted .342 with 51 hits, 43 RBI, 18 doubles, eight home runs, 29 runs scored and a .624 slugging percentage.

Buckworth, a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection for UNCW, led the Seahawks with a .355 batting average, 55 hits, 14 doubles and a .503 slugging percentage.
Meenaghan, a first-team All-Big South pick, topped Gardner-Webb with a .427 batting average, 67 hits, 30 runs scored.

The All-State second team consists of pitchers Sarah Christian (East Carolina) and Alissa Schoelkopf (Appalachian State); catcher Courtney Klingler (Campbell); infielders Heather Robb (UNCG), Kristi Oshiro (East Carolina), Jordan Lewis (East Carolina), and Morgan Baker (Gardner-Webb); outfielders Briana Gwaltney (Charlotte), Stephanie Jones (Campbell), and Jessica Plemmons (Charlotte); and utility player Amber Steinhardt (Western Carolina).

Nominees were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals and voted on by the NCCSIA members.

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.
NCCSSIA selects All-State teams in the University (Division I) and College (Division II, III, NAIA) divisions for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball.

North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association – 2013 University Division All-State Softball Teams

First Team
Pos.  Name                     Class  School                        Hometown
P     Raeanne Hanks            Jr.    UNC Greensboro                Rainier, Ore.
P     Courtney Roberts         Fr.    Campbell University           Simpsonville, S.C.
C     Lindsay Thomas           Fr.    UNC Greensboro                Irvine, Calif.
IF    Ericka Nesbitt &         So.    Campbell University           Salisbury, N.C.
IF    Lauryn Buckworth         Sr.    UNC Wilmington                Elkton, Md.
IF    Raven Lee                Jr.    Campbell University           Battleboro, N.C.
IF    Samantha Meenaghan  & %  Jr.    Gardner-Webb University       Atlantic Beach, Fla.
OF    Allie Cashion %          Sr.    Appalachian State University  Waxhaw, N.C.
OF    Tomeka Watson & % #      Sr.    Elon University               Jackson, Ga.
OF    Carleigh Nester %        Jr.    Elon University               Kernersville, N.C.
UTL   Aisha Figueroa           Jr.    UNC Greensboro                Virginia Beach, Va.
DP    Katelyn Bedwell          Fr.    UNC Greensboro                Surrey, B.C.
 	 	 	 	 
Second Team
Pos.  Name                     Class  School                        Hometown
P     Sarah Christian          So.    East Carolina University      Greenville, N.C.
P     Alissa Schoelkopf        So.    Appalachian State University  Sewell, N.J.
C     Courtney Klingler        Fr.    Campbell University           Alvin, Texas
IF    Heather Robb             Sr.    UNC Greensboro                Apex, N.C.
IF    Kristi Oshiro            Jr.    East Carolina University      Mililani, Hawaii
IF    Jordan Lewis             Jr.    East Carolina University      Fremont, Calif.
IF    Morgan Baker             Jr.    Gardner-Webb University       Louisville, Ky.
OF    Briana Gwaltney &        Sr.    Charlotte                     Anaheim Hills, Calif.
OF    Stephanie Jones          So.    Campbell University           Black Mountain, N.C.
OF    Jessica Plemmons         Fr.    Charlotte                     Lexington, N.C.
UTL   Amber Steinhardt         Sr.    Western Carolina University   Lantana, Fla.

& - Named to 2012 All-State Team
% - Named to 2011 All-State Team
# - Named to 2010 All-State Team