Atlanta, GA-- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences announces the 2011 SIAC Softball Preseason All-Conference Team. The 2011 preseason team is led by Clark Atlanta senior catcher Lakeisha Pruitt and Fort Valley State senior pitcher Ronkeya Gardner.
In 2010, Pruitt was one of the best hitters in the nation, finishing in the top 10 nationally in several major categories including slugging percentage (1.105, second nationally), home runs per game (.4, fourth nationally), batting average (.493, fifth nationally), and home runs (18, eighth nationally). For her efforts, Pruitt was named 2010 SIAC Player of the Year. Pruitt and teammate Ashley Brooks, who led the SIAC with 20 home runs (fourth nationally) in 2010, form one of the top hitting tandems in the nation.
As a junior, Gardner ranked second in the SIAC in several major pitching categories including earned run average (3.28), strikeouts per seven innings (5.5), wins (13), and saves (2). She also led the SIAC in fewest walks per seven innings with 1.21 while also striking out 109 batters. Gardner was also one of the top hitters in the country, finishing in the top 10 nationally in doubles per game (.44, eighth nationally), triples per game (.15, eighth nationally), and triples (6, tenth nationally).
Fort Valley State led the 2011 preseason team with five selections, including three first-team selections, while Benedict, Clark Atlanta, and Kentucky State all had four.
2011 SIAC Softball Preseason All-Conference Team
1st Team
|
Position
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
|
Catcher
|
Lakeisha Pruitt
|
Clark Atlanta University
|
Senior
|
|
1st Base
|
Lorena Villamar
|
Kentucky State University
|
Sophomore
|
|
2nd Base
|
Brittney Brown
|
Fort Valley State University
|
Senior
|
|
Short Stop
|
Janay Hudson
|
Stillman College
|
Senior
|
|
3rd Base
|
Cherae Rice
|
Benedict College
|
Senior
|
|
Outfield
|
Dominique Bryant
|
Albany State University
|
Sophomore
|
|
Outfield
|
Lamara Parker
|
Kentucky State University
|
Senior
|
|
Outfiled
|
Tomeakin Wilson
|
Benedict College
|
Sophomore
|
|
Utility
|
Ashley Brooks
|
Clark Atlanta University
|
Junior
|
|
Starting Pitcher
|
Ashley Brooks
|
Clark Atlanta University
|
Junior
|
|
Starting Pitcher
|
Ronkeya Garner
|
Fort Valley State University
|
Senior
|
|
Relief Pitcher
|
Ashley Parmer
|
Fort Valley State University
|
Sophomore
|
2nd Team
|
Position
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
|
Catcher
|
Jessica Buchanan
|
Fort Valley State University
|
Sophomore
|
|
1st Base
|
Megan Moore
|
Tuskegee University
|
Sophomore
|
|
2nd Base
|
Tameria Brown
|
Tuskegee University
|
Junior
|
|
Short Stop
|
Jazmine McDaniel
|
Fort Valley State University
|
Senior
|
|
3rd Base
|
Tiffany Roberts
|
Miles College
|
Sophomore
|
|
Outfield
|
Destiny Finch
|
Kentucky State University
|
Senior
|
|
Outfield
|
Amber Thomas
|
Lane College
|
Senior
|
|
Outfield
|
Anjelica Nixon
|
Stillman College
|
Senior
|
|
Utility
|
Cherae Rice
|
Benedict College
|
Senior
|
|
Starting Pitcher
|
Shenaaz Burrell
|
Kentucky State University
|
Junior
|
|
Starting Pitcher
|
Lakeeya Ramsey
|
Benedict College
|
Sophomore
|
|
Relief Pitcher
|
Synne Baker
|
Clark Atlanta University
|
Senior
|