McDonald honored again

There was no sophomore jinx for Southeast Missouri State shortstop Megan McDonald.

McDonald, a Central High School graduate, was last season's Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year.

On Wednesday, McDonald repeated as an all-OVC first-team selection based on voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

McDonald is tied for second in the conference with a .371 batting average. She is tied for the team lead in doubles with 12, and she has five home runs and 27 runs batted in while playing stellar defense.

"Mac is just having another tremendous season for us," Southeast coach Lana Richmond said. "Her bat and defense have been there all year."

While the Redhawks placed nobody else on the all-conference first team, they have three second-team selections and two members of the all-newcomer squad.

Sophomore third baseman Michelle Summers, junior center fielder Lindsay Pickering and senior utility player Stephanie Huffman were voted to the second team.

Summers, a first-team pick last year, is batting .338 while leading the Redhawks with 11 home runs (tied for second in the OVC) and 33 runs batted in. She also has 11 doubles.

In just two seasons, Summers has already broken Southeast's record for career home runs with 21, and her 11 homers this year ties the school single-season mark.

Pickering is hitting .318 with four homers, 10 doubles and 22 RBIs. A two-sport star at Southeast, she was the OVC's defensive player of the year for soccer last season as the Redhawks' goalkeeper.

Huffman is batting .316 with four homers, 12 doubles and 25 RBIs. As a pitcher, she leads Southeast in wins with a 13-7 record and a 3.75 earned-run average.

"They're all having very good seasons and are deserving of all-conference recognition," Richmond said.

All-newcomer selections are freshmen Lauren Bradley and Jenn Monaghan. Bradley is hitting .287 with five homers and 25 RBIs, while Monaghan is batting .270 with six homers and 24 RBIs.

"They have really done well for freshmen and have very bright futures at Southeast," Richmond said.

---

ALL-OVC SOFTBALL

First Team

P -- Bonnie Bynum, Tennessee Tech, Jr.

P -- Christine Pierce, Jacksonville State, Sr.

C -- Savannah Roberts, UT Martin, Fr.

IF -- Krystina Dobbs, Tennessee Tech, Jr.

IF -- Beth Boden, Tennessee Tech, So.

IF -- Lauren Horwath, Jacksonville State, So.

IF -- Megan McDonald, Southeast Missouri, So.

OF -- Daniela Pappano, Jacksonville State, Jr.

OF -- Ashley Potts, Tennessee Tech, Jr.

OF -- Maigin Alexander, Jacksonville State, Sr.

OF -- Justine Pineda, UT Martin, Jr.

UTIL -- Danielle Wallace, Tennessee Tech, Fr.

Player of the year: Daniela Pappano, Jacksonville State

Pitcher of the year: Bonnie Bynum, Tennessee Tech

Freshman of the year: Danielle Wallace, Tennessee Tech

Coach of the year: Tory Acheson, Tennessee Tech

Second Team

P -- Carly Kellam, Jacksonville State, Sr.

P -- Kathleen Jacoby, Eastern llinois, Fr.

C -- Sandyn Short, Eastern Illinois, Jr.

IF -- Rachel Karos, Eastern Illinois, Sr.

IF -- Michelle Summers, Southeast Missouri, So.

IF -- Brianna Venable, Austin Peay, Sr.

IF -- Chanze Patterson, Eastern Kentucky, So.

IF -- Megan Jezierski, Jacksonville State, Sr.

OF -- Lindsay Pickering, Southeast Missouri, Jr.

OF -- Shelley Stanley, Samford, Jr.

OF -- Brandy Whalen, UT Martin, Jr.

UTIL -- Stephanie Huffman, Southeast Missouri, Sr.