Diamond Blossoms Picked To Repeat As GSC West Champs - Four Named to Preseason All-GSC Team
January 30, 2008

MONTICELLO, Arkansas – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team was picked to repeat as Gulf South Conference West Division Champions in the 2008 season, while four Cotton Blossoms were named to the preseason All-GSC team in the 2008 GSC Softball Pre-Season Release sent by the conference office on Tuesday.
 
UAM received five first place votes and one second place vote among the coaches in the division – none of which were allowed to vote for their own team. The vote ended Delta State’s three consecutive seasons as the conference favorite to win the division.
 
Delta received two first place votes and three second place votes, while Henderson State was picked third, followed in order by Southern Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist, Arkansas Tech, and Christian Brothers.
 
Representing UAM on the preseason All-GSC Softball team is senior outfielder/pitcher Kate Brady, senior outfielder Jenny Dunn, senior first-baseman Meredith Heckel, and sophomore outfielder Becca Tipton.
 
Brady (Longview, Texas) finished the 2007 season with a .322 batting average, smashing 13 homeruns, and collected 42 RBI, while also being the team’s best pitcher with a 20-12 season record and a final 3.01 ERA. Those numbers aided to Brady being named to the 2007 First Team All-GSC.
 
Dunn (Adelaide, Australia) finished the season with a .401 batting average, including 16 homeruns, 13 doubles, and a .736 slugging percentage. Dunn only committed two errors last season for a final .971 fielding percentage. Dunn was also named the 2007 First Team All-GSC.
 
Heckel (Hot Springs, Ark.) was the team’s best hitter last season, getting a hit in almost half of her at-bats. Heckel, who is a three time GSC first team selection, finished the season with a .438 batting average. She led the team in home-runs with 22 and was second best on the team with 65 RBI. Heckel, like her teammate Dunn, also only committed two errors last season for a final .996 fielding percentage.
 
Tipton (Dermott, Ark.) was named to the 2007 Second Team All-GSC as freshman. She finished the season second best in hitting with a .411 batting average, including hitting 11 homeruns, 20 doubles, and tallying 46 RBI. Tipton was the only Blossoms that played in more than 20 games that did not commit an error. She tallied 85 putouts and 20 assists at both catcher and outfield.
 
The Blossoms open up its season Thursday, Feb. 7 in Tampa, Fla. against Tampa on Thursday, Florida Southern on Friday, and Saint Leo on Saturday. The first game in Monticello is scheduled for the first game of the UAM Classic that runs from Feb. 29-Mar. 2. For specific times, visit uamsports.com and click on softball in the drop down menu.