May 7, 2008

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - Carson-Newman's Zoe Heim (Gallatin, Tenn.) was named Daktronics All-South Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year as the All-Region teams were released today (May 7). The teams were nominated and voted upon by the region's sports information directors.

Heim, a first-team South Atlantic Conference (SAC), was 30-5 this season with a 1.01 ERA and 276 strikeouts for the Eagles, the top-ranked team in the region. She held opponents to just a .186 batting average and tossed seven shutouts on the year.

The Gallatin-native is currently in the top 12 nationally in wins (4th), ERA (11th), and strikeouts per seven innings pitched (12th).

Carson-Newman (48-6) earned three more nods to the All-Region teams after turning in the nation's top regular season record. Joining Heim on the first team was second baseman Whitney Hickam (Knoxville, Tenn.) and shortstop Jessie Howard (Knoxville, Tenn.). Senior third baseman Mandy Stevens (Knoxville, Tenn.) earned second team honors.

Hickam, a senior, batted .363 with 19 doubles in starting every game for the Lady Eagles. The Knoxville Central-product was also a first team All-SAC selection.

Howard, a sophomore, joins her on the first team after stealing 53 bases on the year, good for second nationally. She also hit .453 with a .533 on-base percentage.

Stevens grabbed the second team spot on the All-Region team, batting .401 and leading the team with 11 home runs and 20 doubles.

The Lady Eagles placed the most players on both teams combined with four total, sharing that honor with SAC-foe Lenoir-Rhyne College, who landed four members on the second team.

The first team selections will go on to the Daktronics All-American Ballot, with the All-American announcement due May 16.

2008 Daktronics All-South Atlantic Region

REGION PITCHER OF THE YEAR Zoe Heim, Carson-Newman

REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR Sara Henn, Lincoln Memorial

FIRST TEAM C- Jessica Strickland, USC Aiken 1B- Kimberly Atkinson, Coker 2B- Whitney Hickam, Carson-Newman 3B- Sara Henn, Lincoln Memorial SS- Jessie Howard, Carson-Newman OF- Sherquita Bostick, Georgia College OF- Brittany Berrier, UNC Pembroke OF- Natalie Haithcox, Mars Hill DP- Jenny Jackson, Mount Olive UT- Courtney McGuire, North Georgia P- Zoe Heim, Carson-Newman P- Mandy Chandler, Georgia College P- Martika Elmore, UNC Pembroke

SECOND TEAM C- Kristina Osborn, Mars Hill 1B- Ashley Seawell, Mars Hill 2B- Laura Voyles, North Georgia 3B- Mandy Stevens, Carson-Newman SS- Kat Rivers, Lenoir-Rhyne OF- Taylor Queen, Lenoir-Rhyne OF- Brittany Cherry, Lenoir-Rhyne OF- Martina Bullard, Pfeiffer UT- Tonya Medders, Georgia College P- Shelly Catlett, Coker P- Meredith O'Connor, Lenoir-Rhyne P- Brittany Blankenship, Wingate