DURHAM, N.C. – Elon catcher Kaitlyn Piazzolla, outfielders Tomeka Watson and Emerald Graham and utility player Erin O’Shea were selected to the 13-member All-State University Division Softball Team, as nominated and voted on by North Carolina sports information professionals. The Phoenix led the way with four selections, followed by fellow Southern Conference member UNC Greensboro with three selections.

 

The foursome helped Elon to a program-best 38-21 record and to its first-ever women’s Southern Conference Championship. The team was rewarded for its record-breaking season with the program’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Softball Championship.

 

A member of the All-Southern Conference first team and SoCon All-Tournament team, Piazzolla started all but one game behind the plate for the Phoenix. The sophomore from South Bound Brook, N.J., led the team with 11 home runs, including one grand slam. Seven of her round-trippers came with at least one runner aboard. The sophomore belted a three-run shot against UNCG in the championship game of the SoCon Tournament that lifted Elon to its first-ever title. Piazzolla was responsible for 68 Phoenix runs during the season, driving in 38 and scoring 30. She finished fourth on the team with a .295 batting average and slugged at a .530 clip. A force behind the plate, she gunned down five runners and picked off two.

 

Watson, who became the first Elon softball player to be named the SoCon Freshman of the Year, earned her fifth honor of the season after taking home all-freshmen, all-tournament and all-region accolades. A native of Jackson, Ga., Watson finished the season with a team-leading .373 batting average, which included six doubles, a triple and eight home runs, including the game-winner over then No. 16/20 North Carolina. Watson scored a team-leading 38 runs, while driving in 30. The true freshman struck out just 16 times in 193 official at bats, helping her to an on-base percentage of .409. Watson swiped a team-best 24 bases and committed just one error in 90 chances as Elon’s starting left fielder.

 

In her first season in the maroon and gold, Graham picked up first-team All-Southern Conference honors, NFCA All-Region accolades, two Southern Conference Player of the Weeks and was the March Player of the Month as Elon’s starting centerfield. The junior from Newburgh, Ind., was a force at the place, leading the team with 44 RBI on seven doubles, two triples and nine home runs for a .345 batting average. Graham was a perfect 16-of-16 on the base paths and finished second on the team with an on-base percentage of .434.

 

O’Shea, a SoCon All-Tournament team and a first-team all-region selection as a pitcher and utility player, finished the season with a 2.78 ERA and a 17-10 record with one save in 166 innings in the circle. She also led the team with 112 strikeouts and had 13 complete games and four shutouts to her credit. At the plate, O’Shea hit at a .252 clip that included two home runs and nine doubles this season. The Kennesaw, Ga. native accounted for 44 runs, driving in 24 and crossing the plate 20 times.

 

DURHAM, N.C. – UNC Greensboro softball players Alex Emeterio, Kaitlin Merkt and Eileen Horsmon have been named to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association All-State Team, the organization announced Thursday.

 

UNCG’s three selections were second only to Southern Conference rival Elon’s four players on the 13-person squad.

 

Emeterio, Merkt and Hormson helped the Spartans to a 27-30 overall record and a 12-11 mark in the SoCon, UNCG’s first winning league record since 2003. The Spartans earned the No. 4 seed in the SoCon Championship and advanced to the title game for the first time in school history.

 

Emeterio, a first baseman, turned in a phenomenal sophomore season in which she was named All-Mideast Region First Team, All-Southern Conference First Team and to the SoCon All-Tournament Team. The Murrieta, Calif., native hit a career-best .382 on the season, the sixth-best mark in school history. She led UNCG in average, runs (31), hits (66), slugging percentage (.555), walks (24) and on-base percentage (.468), setting career highs in every category but walks. She also had 13 doubles, five homers and 32 RBI, all career highs. Emeterio was tabbed the SoCon Player of the Week on April 26.

 

In just two years, Emeterio has moved into UNCG’s career top 10 in batting average (third, .355), slugging percentage (fifth, .519) and walks (tied for ninth, 55).

 

Merkt, a redshirt-junior shortstop, led UNCG with 11 home runs and 38 RBI, both career highs. She hit .268 and slugged .530 on the season, the third- and second-best marks on the squad, respectively. She also scored 23 runs, hit 10 doubles and drew 19 walks, all career bests. Merkt was named the SoCon Player of the Week on May 10 after hitting .556 with three homers and seven RBI in a three-game set at Samford.

 

The Irvine, Calif., native moved into fourth place in school history with 23 career home runs. Her 11 homers on the season tied for the fourth-most in a single season in school history.

 

Horsmon, a freshman designated player, hit. 326 with six homers, a .519 slugging percentage and a .409 on-base percentage, all second the team. She also had 21 RBI and 23 runs scored, both third on the team. The Dunkirk, Md., native was a second-team All-Southern Conference selection and a SoCon All-Freshman Team pick. Hormson also earned a spot on the SoCon All-Tournament Team after an impressive showing that included a grand slam against top-seeded Chattanooga in the first round of the tournament that helped UNCG to a 4-1 win.

 

The trio’s selection gives UNCG its first all-state performers since Jennifer Bonilla was named to the squad in 2005. The three picks were the Spartans’ most ever to the team.