For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Brian J. Howard, Assistant Director of Media Relations
Phone: 757-951-2055 or [email protected]
MEAC ANNOUNCES 2015 SOFTBALL ALL‐CONFERENCE HONORS SSU’s Torrian Wright Named Player of the Year; SSU’s Gonzalez Selected Coach of the Year NORFOLK, Va., May 6, 2015 – Savannah State first baseman Torrian Wright was named the Mid‐Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Player of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday. Vanessa Washington of Delaware State was named Rookie of the Year, while Bethune‐Cookman’s Sabrina Anguiano earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Savannah State’s Jose Gonzalez received Coach of the Year accolades. All awards are voted on by the conference’s head softball coaches and sports information directors. Wright, a 2014 MEAC Player of the Year and 2015 Preseason Player of the Year, led the conference in batting (.584), on‐base percentage (.752), runs batted in (49), home runs (17), walks (48), total bases (100), and slugging percentage (1.299). She also finished second in runs scored (40). She ranks first nationally in batting, walks, slugging percentage, on‐base percentage, and third in home runs per game, fifth in RBI per game, 30th in home runs and 24th in runs scored per game. Wright was a two‐time MEAC Player of the Week honoree (April 6 and May 4). Washington finished first on the team in sacrifice flies (5), third in on‐base percentage (.436) and tied for third in walks (9). She started all 39 games and batted .398 in 123 attempts. Washington recorded 49 hits, including 14 doubles and eight home runs, 41 RBI and 30 runs scored. Defensively, she led the team in fielding percentage (.983) and committed just two errors as a catcher and infielder. She picked up MEAC Rookie of the Week honors three times. Anguiano appeared in 41 games and registered 15 wins and three shutouts in 218.0 innings pitched. A two‐time MEAC Player of the Week selection, Anguiano ranked third in the MEAC in complete games (17), sixth in strikeouts (95), seventh in ERA (4.17) and ninth in opponent batting average (.307). Gonzalez earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Lady Tigers to a 13‐1 conference mark and a 20‐15 overall record, along with the number one seed from the southern division in the upcoming 2015 MEAC Softball Championship. He is in his sixth season as the team’s head coach, winning the second divisional title (’12) and holds the best record in the programs history. Joining Wright (SSU) and Anguiano (B‐CU) on the first team are Allyson Babinsack (Hampton), Sandy Hawthorne (DSU), Danielle Smith (CSU), Amber Hallman (SSU), Margaret Wilkins (Hampton), Calesha Shelley (B‐CU), Al’Asia Davis (Howard), Nicole Gazzola (DSU) and Candace Van Horn (CSU). The 2015 MEAC Softball Championship tournament gets underway Thursday, May 7 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Florida. Admission is $7 per day or $12 for the three‐day tournament. A complete tournament bracket can be found on www.MEACsports.com. 2730 Ellsmere Ave. Norfolk, VA 23513 Ph: (757) 951-2055 Media Relations Fax: (757) 951-2077
2015 Mid‐Eastern Athletic Conference Softball All‐Conference Awards Rookie of the Year Vanessa Washington, Delaware State Player of the Year Torrian Wright, Savannah State Pitcher of the Year Sabrina Anguiano, Bethune‐Cookman Coach of the Year Jose Gonzalez, Savannah State First Team Pos P P C 1B 2B 3B SS OF OF OF UTL Name Sabrina Anguiano Allyson Babinsack Sandy Hawthorne Torrian Wright Danielle Smith Amber Hallman Margaret Wilkins Calesha Shelley Al’Asia Davis Nicole Gazzola Candace Van Horn Pos P P C 1B 2B 3B SS OF OF OF UTL Name Kenya Pereira Tara Tursellino Emerie Germ Taylor McCoy Mariah Davis Jordan Stamps Chloe Oro Alina Moriarty Vanessa Gomez Casey Hargett Vanessa Washington School Bethune‐Cookman Hampton Delaware State Savannah State Coppin State Savannah State Hampton Bethune‐Cookman Howard Delaware State Coppin State Second Team School Florida A&M Delaware State North Carolina Central Hampton Bethune‐Cookman Delaware State Delaware State Norfolk State Maryland Eastern Shore North Carolina Central Delaware State ‐www.MEACsports.com‐ Class So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Gr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Ht. 5‐7 5‐11 5‐5 5‐6 5‐2 5‐7 5‐10 5‐3 5‐5 5‐6 5‐10 Hometown Hacienda Heights, Calif. Hampton, Va. Smithtown, N.Y. McDonough, Ga. Rising Sun, Md. Kennesaw, Ga. Tustin, Calif. Suisun City, Calif. Seattle, WA. Coram, N.Y. Drums, Pa. Class So. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Ht. 5‐3 5‐6 5‐9 5‐11 5‐0 5‐6 5‐4 5‐3 5‐4 5‐8 5‐6 Hometown Kissimmee, Fla. Moreno Valley, Calif. Canton, Ga. Riverview, Fla. Madera, Calif. Torrance, Calif. San Pedro, Calif. Chesapeake, Va. Belleville, N.J. Greenville, N.C. Elk Grove, Calif.