Softball Southern Conference

UTC Players Earn Regional Honors

Chattanooga sophomore first baseman Angela Brewer was named to the NFCA All-South Region Softball team and two of her UTC teammates were second-team selections.

Brewer, a slugger from East Ridge, Tenn., was the first UTC player to receive a first-team honor since the trio of Kami Tucker, Keri Meigs and Megan Luring all made first team in 1998.

Second baseman Dana Reed and pitcher Beth Alexander both of whom also prepped at East Ridge High School were named NFCA Second-Team All-South Region.

Brewer will be on the ballot for All-America consideration, and Reed and Alexander could also be considered for national honors.

The 2001 Southern Conference Player of the Year, Brewer hit .383 this season and set a school record for home runs (14) and RBIs (55), and she tied the record for walks (31). She also led the team in hits (75), doubles (16), slugging percentage (.679) and on-base percentage (.468).

"Angela is the best hitter I have ever coached at the collegiate level," said UTC co-coach Ralph Weekly. "She is a real clutch performer and the person who has won a ton of ball games for us. I like to have her at the plate when the game is on the line."

"I like to be (at the plate) in those situations, but I also have confidence in my teammates to get the job done just as well," Brewer said. "I like to be the one to do it, but I couldn't have done it without my teammates pushing me the whole way."

Reed epitomizes the team concept and had a consistent game batting and fielding. An All-Southern Conference First Team pick, Reed hit .311 with 11 doubles, a .372 on-base percentage and 12 sacrifice bunts. She drove in 27 runs, which was third on the team.

"Dana is a gold-glove performer, no doubt," Weekly said. "She is "Miss Consistent." She is the kind of player every coach would love to have."

Alexander, the 2001 Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year, was tied for fourth nationally with five saves and her ERA was among the top 50 all season. She finished with a 24-8 record, which is the second-most wins in school history and she continues to build on her career strikeout record of 588. Alexander had 222 Ks this season, and opponents hit just .180 against her. She also had 10 shutouts and had a string of 55 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run in the middle of the season.

"Beth had an outstanding season," Weekly said. "She was the key to us winning is most of our critical games. Along with Talya Trudell, they gave us one of the best 1-2 punches in the South. Beth is always the one who wants the ball in a critical situation."