Feb. 8, 2010

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina junior softball player Amber Hawkins was named today to the Southern Conference Preseason First Team, at designated player, in balloting conducted by the league's head coaches. It is the third time in the team's five-year history the club has placed a player on the preseason first team.

As a team, Western Carolina was picked ninth in the team poll by the coaches. Chattanooga was selected to win the Southern Conference and Georgia Southern was tabbed second.

Hawkins led the Catamounts with a .356 batting average in 2009, which also ranked fourth in the Southern Conference. She ranked second on the team in runs scored (23), hits (46) and homeruns (6). Hawkins was third on the team in RBI with 19.

In the team rankings, College of Charleston was picked to finish third, Appalachian State fourth, Samford fifth, UNC Greensboro sixth, Furman seventh and Elon eighth.

Western Carolina opens the season February 13 at the Georgia State First Pitch Classic. The Catamounts will face Saint Louis and Army in the opening day of the tournament.