April 11, 2007
Contact: Mike Christie, Sports Information Director

USA South Softball Awards Announced

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for softball.  A total of 39 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams for softball.  Methodist University athletes earns three individual honors as Rebekah Kelly has been named the Player of the Year, Megan Hutson has been named Rookie of the Year and Emily Beck has been named Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Christopher Newport University's Janet Fairchild has been named Pitcher of the Year while her coach, Keith Parr, was named Coach of the Year.

Kelly, a junior outfielder from Fayetteville, North Carolina, led the USA South in batting average (.464), runs scored (47) and triples (6). Kelly also amassed 52 hits, 17 RBI, 12 doubles, six triples, three home runs, a 759 slugging percentage, a .520 on-base percentage and ten stolen bases. Kelly helped lead the Monarchs to an 11-3 finish in the conference which was good for second place. This is Kelly's third appearance on the All-Conference Team as she has earned first-team honors the past two seasons and honorable-mention accolades in 2005.

A junior from Ashburn, Virginia, Fairchild led the Lady Captains on the mound with a 13-1 record and a 1.42 ERA in 18 appearances. In 88.2 innings pitched, Fairchild had one complete-game shutout with 57 strikeouts. Fairchild tied for the league-high in wins and appearances while her ERA and opponent batting average were good for fifth in the USA South. For her efforts, Fairchild earns her second all-conference honor as she was first-team this season and honorable-mention last spring.

Hutson, a freshman from Garner, North Carolina, helped the Monarchs by batting .394 with 37 hits, seven doubles, one triple, 24 runs scored and 17 RBI. Hutson was second on the team in batting average, hits and stolen bases. She also had a fielding percentage of .963 to help her earn First-Team All-Conference honors at second base.

A freshman from Tenafly, New Jersey, Beck appeared in 19 games, starting 13 of them. She compiled a 10-5 record with a 2.00 ERA and 40 strikeouts. Beck tossed a team-high 87.1 innings with two complete-game shutouts and two saves. For her efforts, Beck received Honorable-Mention All-Conference honors.

Parr is currently in his fourth season at the helm of the Lady Captains and earns his second coach of the year honor. He led CNU to its 15th USA South Regular Season title, the first since the 2004 season. The Lady Captains finished conference play with a 12-1 record and an overall mark of 31-6. CNU has been nationally ranked for most of the season and currently sit at 14th in the latest NFCA Top-25 Poll.

Player of the Year
Rebekah Kelly, Methodist

Pitcher of the Year
Janet Fairchild, Christopher Newport

Rookie of the Year
Megan Hutson, Methodist

Rookie Pitcher of the Year
Emily Beck, Methodist

Coach of the Year
Keith Parr, Christopher Newport

The 2007 USA South Softball All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team 1B - Courtney Tucker, N.C. Wesleyan 2B - Megan Hutson, Methodist 3B - Kayla Talbert, Methodist SS - Ashlee Bass, N.C. Wesleyan C - Margit Severin, Christopher Newport DP - Lauren Pleveich, Christopher Newport Util - Ashley Stansbury, Peace OF - Rebekah Kelly, Methodist          Jenee Johnson, Greensboro          Becky Bond, Christopher Newport P - Janet Fairchild, Christopher Newport       Lesley Hewitt, Methodist

Second Team 1B - Candace Hudgins, Methodist 2B - Katie Moyers, Christopher Newport 3B - Britney Smith, Greensboro SS - Jessica Clack, Greensboro C - Lauren Thurman, Ferrum DP - Brittany Estep, Averett Util - Katie Haskins, Shenandoah OF - Lauren Pleasant, Peace         Hannah Hardy, N.C. Wesleyan         Kristen Kennedy, Methodist P - Libby Fulford, N.C. Wesleyan       Erica Brown, Greensboro

Honorable Mention
1B - Meagan Knight, Greensboro
        Holly Braswell, Peace
2B - Joanie Blevins, Peace
3B - Kathleen Gulino, Ferrum
SS - Mary Kennedy, Christopher Newport
C - Catherine Beuerle, Shenandoah
DP - Katie Custis, Ferrum
        Billye Rivas, Methodist
Util - Sara Lassiter, Averett
OF - Alicia Sanders, Shenandoah
        Mia Johnson, Christopher Newport
        Jennifer Sims, Greensboro
P - Kristen Rowe, Christopher Newport
      Lauren Pleasant, Peace
      Emily Beck, Methodist