Strickland and Flessate Named To Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region Team

AIKEN, SC - Senior Jessica Strickland and junior Toni Flessate were both honored today by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association as the 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Region Teams were announced on Thursday. Strickland was named to the first team as Flessate was tabbed to the second team, in their respective positions.

Each of the eight NFCA Division II Regions presents a 13-member first-team and 13-member second-team comprised of one player per team representing the positions of catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, designated player, utility/pitcher and utility/non-pitcher, plus two pitchers and three outfielders per teams.

Ties were not broken, bringing the total number of student-athletes honored to 107 for this season. All 107 players will be eligible for Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America honors.

This is the third time that Strickland has been recognized to this team, being named All-American the past two years. She has a chance to break the All-American record, becoming the first Pacer to be named to this honor in three consecutive seasons. This is Flessate's first time being named to this honor.

The duo was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Hickory Region of the 2009 NCAA Division II Softball Tournament as well as to the Daktronics Softball All-Southeast Region earlier this week.

Strickland ended the season with a .393 batting average, the highest in her four seasons at USC Aiken. She hit 14 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs for 41 runs batted in and 40 runs scored. Strickland was also walked 28 times and struck out a team-low seven times in her 140 at bats.

Arguably one of the best players to put on a USC Aiken softball uniform, Strickland holds seven career records including highest slugging percentage and on-base percentage. This season, Strickland broke the all-time hits record, breaking the nine-year-old mark on March 25 with a single against Francis Marion.

Flessate posted a 1.20 earned run average with an 18-8 mark in her 26 appearances in the circle. She has pitched in 21 completed games, recording seven shutouts and one no-hitter. Flessate gave up 42 runs on 133 hits, walking a personal-season low 31 batters while striking out 100. She has held opponents to a .205 batting average.

The ace of the staff, Flessate holds the all-time records for lowest earned run average and is tied with the most shutouts in a Pacer uniform. This season, Flessate struck out a season-high nine batters against Coker, and beat two ranked opponents in, at the time, No. 3 North Georgia and No. 19 Francis Marion.


2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Southeast Region Teams

First Team
P: Sarah Phillips, North Georgia College and State
P: Mandy Chandler, Georgia College and State
C: Jessica Strickland, South Carolina-Aiken
1B: Sarah Little, Carson-Newman
2B: Kat Hammond, Newberry
SS: Kacee Camp, Augusta State
3B: Jelena Shaw, North Carolina-Pembroke
OF: Sherquita Bostick, Georgia College and State
OF: Courtney McGuire, North Georgia College and State
OF: Pilar Harden, North Georgia College and State
DP: Leslee Smith, North Georgia College and State
UT/Pitcher: Noel Belk, Lenoir-Rhyne
UT/Non-Pitcher: Sarah Atkins, Lenoir-Rhyne

Second Team
P: Toni Flessate, South Carolina-Aiken
P: Chantel Dodge, Queens University of Charlotte
C: Ryann Baker, Catawba
1B: Nicole Huddleston, Armstrong Atlantic
2B: Carlee Carpenter, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS: Kat Rivers, Lenoir-Rhyne
3B: Hallie Pettigrew, Wingate
OF: LaRonda McClain, Wingate
OF: Jasmine Dobbin, Saint Andrew Presbyterian
OF: Kat Cahoon, Mount Olive
DP: Jessica Thornton, Augusta State
UT/Pitcher: Michaela Wolf, Francis Marion
UT/Non-Pitcher: Debra Grijalva, Wingate