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The Southern ConferencePublished: 4/8/2024, Last updated: 6/5/2024
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SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

Western Carolina’s Dirks and Juett honored

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina infielder Sydney Dirks and Catamounts left-hander Tessa Juett have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from April 1-7. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Dirks batted .538 over five games last week as the Catamounts went 4-1. In the first game of a doubleheader at North Carolina Central on April 4, Dirks had a career-high three hits, two RBIs and one run scored in a 9-1 win for Western Carolina. She drew two walks and scored another run during game two of the doubleheader as the Catamounts won 7-5. On April 6, the freshman had two doubles, one walk, an RBI and two runs scored in an 8-3 win at ETSU. Later that day, the native of Mocksville, North Carolina, went 1-for-3 in a 2-1 setback versus the Buccaneers. In the series finale against ETSU on April 7, Dirks had a hit, a walk and a run scored as the Catamounts defeated the Bucs, 3-0, to conclude the weekend.
 
Juett went 4-0 in four appearances, three of which were starts, inside the circle last week for Western Carolina. The junior carried a no-hitter through 4 2/3 innings in the first game versus North Carolina Central, eventually finishing the contest with eight strikeouts. In the second game against NCCU, Juett entered the game in the fourth inning with the score tied 4-4 and proceeded to strike out six batters and allow just one hit for the remainder of the game. In the first contest with ETSU, the Berea, Kentucky, native threw a complete game, recording nine strikeouts in the game. The next day, Juett tossed her third complete game of the week, finishing with five strikeouts and zero runs allowed.
 
Western Carolina (12-20, 3-6 SoCon) hosts USC Upstate on April 10, before traveling to Wofford (14-16, 4-5) for a weekend series on April 13-14.
 
Other nominees for player of the week: Tori Hedgecock (Mercer), Linsey Hargis (Samford), Kendall Forsythe (Chattanooga) and Kate Platte (Wofford)
 
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Cameron Lauretta (ETSU), Grace Taylor (Mercer), Karley Fuller (Samford), Alyssa Lavdis (Chattanooga) and Margaret Axelson (Wofford)
 
2024 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 12                                   Tori Hedgecock, Jr., INF, Mercer
Feb. 19                                   Sara Muir, Jr., 1B/P, ETSU
Feb. 26                                   Anna White, Sr., 1B, UNCG
March 4                                   Baileigh Pitts, So., C/INF, Chattanooga
March 11                                 Brooklynn Maxwell, INF, Sr., UNCG
March 18                                 Chloe Fabio, 3B, Sr., Furman
March 25                                 Alyssa Woods, OF, Sr., Mercer
April 1                                     Kailey Snell, SS, Sr., Chattanooga
April 8                                     Sydney Dirks, INF, Fr., Western Carolina
 
2024 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 12                                   Margaret Axelson, So., Wofford
Feb. 19                                   Taylor Miller, Fr., Furman
Feb. 26                                   Maddie Spell, R-Jr., UNCG
March 4                                   Taylor Long, So., Chattanooga
March 11                                 Salem Ward, So., UNCG
March 18                                 Lauralee Scott, Jr., Furman
March 25                                 Taylor Long, So., Chattanooga
April 1                                     Taylor Long, So., Chattanooga
April 8                                     Tessa Juett, Jr., Western Carolina