May 7, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
Samford softball players Jessica Owens and Aaren Fisher were both honored Wednesday at the Ohio Valley Conference's annual awards banquet held at Jacksonville State University. Owens was named First-Team All-OVC, while Fisher received all-newcomer accolades.
"Obviously, it's always nice when our players get recognized," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "We've really started to come together as a team this year, so it's good to get that recognition for them and for all of the hard work that they've put in."
Owens, Samford's junior leftfielder from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., earned the second All-OVC honor of her career. Last season, she was named as a member of the OVC All-Tournament Team as a sophomore.
This year, Owens is leading the Bulldogs with a .333 batting average and is only five hits shy of setting the school's all-time record in the category. She heads into the OVC Tournament with 55 hits and is within striking distance to surpass former Samford-great Kelly Smith's 2002 all-time mark of 59.
In Owens' three seasons as a Bulldog, she has compiled stolen-base totals of 15, 19 and 20. On Sunday, she tallied her school-record 20th stolen base of the season against UT Martin and surpassed her own single-season record of 19, which she set last year. Owens is Samford's all-time stolen-base leader with a career total of 54.
"Jessica's numbers speak for themselves," Ketcham said. "She's had a great year and she's very important to our lineup. We would have a tough time winning without her. She's a hard-worker, a great kid and she has an outstanding mental game. She just brings all that and puts it together on game day."
Fisher, Samford's true freshman from Henderson, Nev., was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team on Wednesday. She started in all 50 games this season and has compiled a team-high 10 multiple-RBI outings.
As one of the top power hitters on the Bulldogs' roster, Fisher is ranked third on the team with a .291 batting average. She has already hit seven home runs this season and is tied with sophomore Amanda Barrs for Samford's all-time single-season record with 38 runs batted in.
"Aaren is a great competitor and she goes out to win every day," Ketcham said. "She does whatever it takes both offensively and defensively and is always focused. She pushes everybody around her to be better and with her in the lineup we are definitely a better team."
Tennessee Tech's Stephanie Fischer was named the OVC Player of the Year, while Morehead State's Alex Gjevre earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Jacksonville State's Ashley Eliasson received the Freshman of the Year award and the Gamecocks' Jana McGinnis was named the OVC Coach of the Year.
Samford (23-27, 14-13 OVC) heads into this week's six-team OVC Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the conference. The Bulldogs have won nine of their previous 12 games, including a must-win, three-game sweep against UT Martin last week.
With its three do-or-die victories at UT Martin, Samford rallied to earn the sixth-and-final spot in the OVC Tournament.
In its five years as a member of the OVC, Samford has compiled a 3-6 postseason record. The Bulldogs have tallied a 1-2 record in each of their previous three appearances in the OVC Tournament.
Against Eastern Kentucky (28-20, 17-10 OVC), Samford's first-round opponent, the Bulldogs own a 1-2 OVC Tournament record.
The winner of Thursday's matchup in the 2008 OVC Tournament will advance to play second-seeded Morehead State at 3 p.m. The loser will have to work its way through the loser's bracket and will next play Friday at 10 a.m.
2008 ALL-OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TEAMS
OVC Player of the Year: Stephanie Fischer, Tennessee Tech
OVC Pitcher of the Year: Alex Gjevre, Morehead State
OVC Freshman of the Year: Ashley Eliasson, Jacksonville State
OVC Coach of the Year: Jana McGinnis, Jacksonville State
FIRST TEAM
P - Alex Gjevre (Morehead State) - So., Billings, Mont.
P - Ashley Eliasson (Jacksonville State) - Fr., Vallejo, Calif.
C - Allie Barker (Jacksonville State) - Jr., Gadsden, Ala.
IF - Shyenne Hussey (Eastern Kentucky) - So., Waimanalo, Hawaii%
IF - Niki Prier (Jacksonville State) - So., Raleigh, N.C.%
IF - Megan McDonald (Southeast Missouri) - Sr., Cape Girardeau, Mo.%
IF - Michelle Summers (Southeast Missouri) - Sr., Glendale, Calif.*
IF - Beth Boden (Tennessee Tech) - Sr., Plover, Wis.*
OF - Rachel Fleming (Jacksonville State) - Sr., Gadsden, Ala.%
OF - Jessica Owens (Samford) - Jr., Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
OF - Chrissy O'Neal (Jacksonville State) - So., Dallas, Ga.%
UTIL/DP - Stephanie Fischer (Tennessee Tech) - Sr., Stevens Point, Wis.*
SECOND TEAM
P - Sarah Street (Tennessee Tech) - Sr., Lilburn, Ga.
P - Melissa Dowling (Jacksonville State) - Jr., Bradenton, Fla.
P - Paij Lintz (UT Martin) - So., Lewisburg, Tenn.
C - Jena Handley (Eastern Kentucky) - So., Garden Grove, Calif.
IF - Chanze Patterson (Eastern Kentucky) - Sr., Kent, Wash.*
IF - Sarah Coppert (Easern Illinois) - Jr., Maple Park, Ill.
IF - Adriel Foxley (Eastern Kentucky) - Sr., Auburn, Wash.
IF - Rebecca Butler (Morehead State) - Fr., Pendleton, Ind.
OF - Denee' Menzione (Eastern Illinois) - So., Darien, Ill.
OF - Megan Williams (UT Martin) - So., Murfreesboro, Tenn.
OF - Ashley Benbow (UT Martin) - So., Memphis, Tenn.*
UTIL/DP - Kari Quinn (Morehead State) - Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.
* - 1st Team All-OVC in 2007
% - 2nd Team All-OVC in 2007
ALL-NEWCOMER
Ashley Eliasson (Jacksonville State) - Fr., P, Vallejo, Calif.
Amber Lenz (Eastern Kentucky) - Fr., INF, Tustin, Calif.
Rebecca Butler (Morehead State) - Fr., INF, Pendleton, Ind.
Tiffany Smith (Austin Peay) - Fr., OF, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Maddie Schmissrauter (Tennessee Tech) - Fr., P, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Courtney Underwood (Jacksonville State) - Jr., INF, Huntsville, Ala.
Kayla Collins (Jacksonville State) - Jr., UTL, Niceville, Fla.
Stacye Toups (Eastern Kentucky) - Fr., P, Loveland, Ohio
Aaren Fisher (Samford) - Fr., OF, Henderson, Nev.
Erin Luther (Eastern Kentucky) - Fr., INF, Massillon, Ohio
Cassi Gibson (Eastern Kentucky) - Fr, OF, Brawley, Calif.
Chelsea Cary (UT Martin) - Fr., UTL, Erin, Tenn.
