Braves A Big Winner At PBC Softball Banquet

FLORENCE, S.C. – Jelena Shaw took home PBC Player of the Year laurels, Holly Berry captured PBC Freshman of the Year honors and UNCP sent a trio of players to all-conference accolades at the Peach Belt Conference Softball Championship Banquet on Thursday evening in Florence, S.C.

Shaw and Berry were two of 16 players named to the first team all-PBC squad, while designated hitter Loren Bartz was included on the list of second team all-conference standouts. North Georgia’s Sarah Phillips garbbed PBC Pitcher of the Year honors, while her NGCSU skipper Mike Davenport took home the PBC Coach of the Year award after leading the top-ranked Saints to a perfect 41-0 regular season mark.

The night added to an already impressive career for Shaw who will depart UNCP possessing no less than eight career hitting records and becomes the first PBC Player of the Year award recipient since the Black and Gold joined the NCAA Division II ranks in 1993. Berry, likewise, gave the Braves their first PBC Freshman of the Year accolade in the same time frame. The all-PBC accolades marked the fourth-straight year that Shaw has been honored with such laurels, including her second consecutive first team honors.

Shaw, a Fayetteville native, posted a conference-best .441 (64-for-145) batting average during the regular season, while also posting PBC highs in on-base percentage (.529), runs scored (54), doubles (15) and hit by pitches (11). Of her 64 hits this season, 26 (41 pct.) have gone for extra bases and the senior has also booked 42 RBI, 17 walks and a 96 percent (22-of-23) success rate on stolen base attempts. A very strong defensive player as well, she has committed just five errors 158 total chances (.968) at third base.

Berry, a Seagrove product, ranks second in the PBC with a .434 (62-for-143) batting average, and has 20 extra-base hits (8 HR), 46 RBI and 26 runs scored to her credit as well. A 44-game starter at shortstop during her initial campaign in Pembroke, Berry has compiled a .692 slugging percentage and a .464 on-base percentage having drawn seven walks and a pair of hit by pitches. She has been thrown out just one time in nine (89 pct.) total stolen base attempts.

Bartz, a Greenville native, ranked third on the team this season with a career-best .340 (34-for-100) batting average to go along with 13 extra-base hits (9 HR), 27 RBI and 15 runs scored. The junior has drawn a team-best 25 walks this season and possesses a .660 slugging percentage and a .470 on-base percentage. A regular at designated hitter and a part-time starter at catcher, Bartz has not committed an error in 37 total chances behind the plate this season as well.

The sixth-seeded Braves (29-17) will open up its portion of PBC Tournament play on Friday afternoon when it battles third-seeded Francis Marion (31-12) in a 1:30 p.m. match-up at the Freedom Florence Complex in Florence, S.C.

2010 ALL-PEACH BELT CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM
1b - Nicole Huddleston, Armstrong Atlantic State
2b - April Jowers, Armstrong Atlantic State
3b - Jelena Shaw, UNC Pembroke
SS - Holly Berry, UNC Pembroke
C - Rocky Hemmer, Columbus State
OF - Lauren Dykes, North Georgia
OF - Kristen Jones, Augusta State
OF - Marilyn Newman, Lander
P - Sarah Phillips, North Georgia
P - Sara DeMuth, Augusta State
DP - Leslee Smith, North Georgia
UT - Jessica Thornton, Augusta State

At-Large
Ashley Jaramillo, Francis Marion
Amber Janus, Armstrong Atlantic St.
Hilary Cox, North Georgia
Toni Flessate, USC Aiken

SECOND TEAM
1b - Haley Burnett, GCSU
2b - Laura Voyles, North Georgia
3b - Baillie Temples, Armstrong Atlantic St.
SS - Brittany Leverett, Columbus State
C - Gabby Buck, Georgia Southwestern
OF - Destinea Schneider, Francis Marion
OF - Brittney Hatem, Flagler
OF - Belourse Jean-Francis, GCSU
P - Hayley Leissner, Lander
P - Kelly Riddick, Flagler
DP - Kelley King, USC Aiken
UT - Shelby Duff, Armstrong Atlantic St.

At-Large
Loren Bartz, UNC Pembroke
Megan Barnwell, Armstrong Atlantic St.
Ashley Buckett, Armstrong Atlantic St.
Lauren Locklear, USC Aiken

Player of the Year
Jelena Shaw, UNC Pembroke

Pitcher of the Year
Sarah Phillips, North Georgia

Freshman of the Year
Holly Berry, UNC Pembroke

Coach of the Year
Mike Davenport, North Georgia

(From left) Former USA Softball standout Michele Smith, PBC Freshman of the Year Holly Berry, PBC Player of the Year Jelena Shaw, PBC Pitcher of the Year Sarah Phillips and PBC Coach of the Year Mike Davenport.