2012 USA South Softball Awards Announced

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its 2012 All-Conference awards for softball. A total of 55 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams. Christopher Newport University's Sabrina Hill collected both Player and Rookie of the Year accolades while her teammate, Whitney Haller, earned Pitcher of the Year accolades. Methodist University's Kayla Malone picked up Rookie Pitcher of the Year honors while Meredith College's Kim Scavone took home Coach of the Year accolades. Also, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school.

All honors were determined by votes from the softball coach at each institution.

Hill, a freshman first baseman from Stafford, Virginia, becomes the first player in USA South softball history to receive both the Player and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. She currently ranks in the Conference's top-ten of ten different offensive categories, including batting average, hits, runs batted in and home runs. Hill has compiled a .416 batting average with 52 hits, 39 RBI and eight home runs. In USA South action alone, she leads the league in slugging percentage, home runs, RBI and total bases. For her efforts this season, Hill collects First Team All-Conference honors at first base. Finally, she was named USA South Player of the Week once this spring and USA South Rookie of the Week twice this season.

A junior pitcher from Chester, Virginia, Haller collects her second consecutive Pitcher of the Year honor. She has posted an 11-3 record, including a league-best five shutouts, in 16 appearances. In 89.0 innings pitched, Haller has accumulated a 1.65 ERA and struck out 79 batters. In USA South-only contests, she posted a perfect 8-0 record with a 0.79 ERA. Haller also earned First Team All-Conference honors as a pitcher this spring for the second consecutive season. Finally, she was named USA South Pitcher of the Week twice this season.

A freshman pitcher from Willard, North Carolina, Malone has posted an 11-6 record with one save and a 2.55 ERA in 20 appearances. Her 11 wins currently ranks tied for third in the Conference. Malone has tossed a total of 110.0 innings and struck out 61 batters this spring. Finally, she earned USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week honors two times this spring.

In her second season at Meredith, Head Coach Kim Scavone collects her first Coach of the Year honor. She becomes the first Meredith softball coach to earn a USA South Coach of the Year award. Scavone has led the Avenging Angels to a 26-10 overall record and a program-best 12-6 conference mark, which tied for second place in the league standings. Scavone now takes her squad into the USA South tournament as the second-seeded team.

Player & Rookie of the Year	Pitcher of the Year	Rookie Pitcher of the Year	Coach of the Year
Sabrina Hill Christopher Newport	Whitney Haller Christopher Newport	Kayla Malone Methodist	Kim Scavone Meredith

The 2012 USA South Softball All-Conference Team: