NORFOLK, Va. – Freshman outfielder
Haley Ward and junior shortstop
Gipsy Ramirez were honored for their efforts in 2012 by being named to the All-MEAC teams, as announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon. Ward garnered first-team honors, while Ramirez landed on the second team in voting done by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
Ward became the first NSU freshman ever to be named to the All-MEAC first team since the program moved to Division I prior to the 1998 season. Ramirez is the first Spartan infielder to garner All-MEAC status in last three seasons.
Second in the league in hitting at .417, Ward leads the Spartans with 33 runs, 53 hits, 10 doubles, a .559 slugging percentage and a .493 on-base percentage. She has also added a pair of home runs with 18 RBI and 17 walks. She ranks second in the MEAC in on-base percentage, fourth in hits, fifth in slugging and doubles, sixth in total bases and seventh in runs.
Currently the first NSU player to hit better than .400 in a season since 1998, Ward ranks 32nd in the nation in hitting, including fourth among all freshmen. She is the third NSU outfielder in the last two years to earn All-MEAC honors after
Jeanette Sauceda and
Danielle Wright were tabbed to the first team last year.
Ramirez ranks third on the team with a .323 batting average and has contributed 18 runs, nine doubles, one home run, 17 RBI, 18 walks and a .429 on-base percentage while fielding .948 at shortstop. She is the only player on the team to have started all 46 games on the season, including 36 at short, eight at second base and two at third base.
It is the first all-conference award for Ramirez and the first all-conference honor for a Spartan infielder since Jamie Raab in 2009.
Delaware State's Jordan Reid was named the MEAC Player of the Year, while Paige Arnold of Coppin State was named the league's Pitcher of the Year. Amber Hallman of Savannah State garnered Rookie of the Year honors, while her head coach Jose Gonzalez was named the Coach of the Year.
NSU will open up the 2012 MEAC tournament Thursday against Bethune-Cookman at 1:30 p.m. at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Fla.
2012 MEAC Softball All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Jordan Reid, Delaware State
Pitcher of the Year: Paige Arnold, Coppin State
Rookie of the Year: Amber Hallman, Savannah State
Coach of the Year: Jose Gonzalez, Savannah State
First Team
Pos Name School Class Ht. Hometown
P Paige Arnold Coppin State Sr. 5-7 Detroit, Mich.
P Madison Hedderly Savannah State Jr. 5-10 Dublin, Ohio
C Chelsea Parrish Savannah State Sr. 5-8 Baxely, Ga.
1B Juanita Jernigan North Carolina A&T So. 5-8 Raleigh, N.C.
2B Tera Gainer Florida A&M Sr. 5-7 Crestview, Fla.
3B Amber Hallman Savannah State Fr. 5-6 Kennesaw, Ga.
SS Aurelia Gamch Bethune-Cookman Jr. 5-2 Madera, Calif.
OF Jordan Reid Delaware State Sr. 5-8 Accokeek, Md.
OF Michelle Banuelos-Smith Bethune-Cookman Jr. 5-4 Mission Hills, Calif.
OF Haley Ward Norfolk State Fr. 5-7 Virginia Beach, Va.
UTL Jamie Paolini Savannah State So. 5-7 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Second Team
Pos Name School Class Ht. Hometown
P Stephanie Sarris Delaware State So. 5-6 Rohnert Park, Calif.
P Shanel Tolbert Bethune-Cookman So. 5-6 Los Angeles, Calif.
C Sabrina Ferguson Bethune-Cookman Sr. 5-3 Oxnard, Calif.
1B Karina Romero Bethune-Cookman Fr. 5-7 Cathedral City, Calif.
2B India Morgan Savannah State So. 5-3 Newnan, Ga.
3B Tranea Jones North Carolina A&T So. 5-6 Hickory, N.C.
SS Gipsy Ramirez Norfolk State Jr. 5-6 LaVerne, Calif.
OF Jasmin Donaldson Florida A&M Sr. 5-9 Rockledge, Fla.
OF Cember Carmichael North Carolina Central So. 5-6 Griffin, Ga.
OF Bria Green Delaware State Fr. 5-8 Wheatley Heights, N.Y.
UTL Morgan King Maryland E. Shore Fr. 5-4 Danville, Ill.
