NMSU's Herrera Scores Preseason All-WAC Honors‏

by NMSU Athletics

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Western Athletic Conference announced Tuesday, Jan. 22 that senior Stephanie Herrera was selected to the Preseason All-WAC Team as the utility, voted on by the coaches of the conference.

Herrera (Pecos, Texas) led the Aggies in 2007 with a .371 batting average, 31 runs scored, had  16 RBI’s while stealing 19 bases in 25 attempts on the year, good for second in the conference.

Her 69 hits were the second most in Aggie history for a single season and it was the fourth most in the conference.

From March 3, 2007 through March 30, 2007 Herrera had a 19-game hitting streak that was the longest in the conference and is tied for the fourth longest in the nation. Her 17 multi-hit games on the year tied for the eighth most in the WAC and she tied the NMSU record for most hits in a game when she had four hits in five at-bats against St. Mary’s College, March 19, 2007, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Head coach Kathy Rodolph said that she is happy for Herrera and feels she is going to be a key leader for the Aggies this season.

 “This is such an honor, for Steph, to be recognized by the coaches and the conference,” Rodolph said.  “She’s had a lot of experience and is going to be a key to our success”.

Herrera was the lone Aggie to be selected to a preseason all-WAC team and NMSU was picked to finish fourth overall.

Hawai‘i edged out Fresno State with 36 points to the Bulldog’s 30 for the preseason crown.

For the third-straight season, Nevada was picked to finish third with 26 points.

New Mexico State finished fourth with 20 points followed by San Jose State with 17 points. Utah State was picked to finish sixth with 10 points, while Louisiana Tech was picked to finish seventh with eight points.

The coaches also voted on 2008 preseason award winners. For the first time, Nevada’s senior Jordan McPherson earned preseason Pitcher of the Year honors. Hawai‘i senior Kate Robinson became the second-straight Hawai‘i first baseman to earn preseason Player of the Year honors. Last season, Tyleen Tausaga earned the honor.

Hawai‘i earned the most preseason all-WAC honors with six. Besides Robinson, fellow senior Valana Manuma was named to the team at shortstop. Catcher Katie Grimes, third baseman Clare Warwick and outfielder Kaulana Gould were also named to the team. Utility player Audrey Andrade was named at-large. There were three Bulldogs named to the team, including second baseman Jenna Cervantez. Shortstop Haley Perkins and utility player Nicole Angene were named at-large. There were three named at-large due to a tie.

The Aggies open their season against Texas A&M, Feb.8, at the Cathedral City Kick Off, in Palm Springs, Calif.

              2008 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

              (Points awarded on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis)

             Coaches could not vote for their own teams.

 

            Team               1          2          3          4          5          6          Total

            1. Hawai‘i                    6          0          -           -           -           -           36

            2. Fresno St.     1          4          1          -           -           -           30

            3. Nevada                    -           2          4          -           -           -           26

            4. NMSU                     -           1          1          3          1          -           20

            5. SJSU                        -           -           1          3          2          -           17

            6. Utah St.                    -           -           -           1          2          3          10

            7. La Tech                   -           -           -           -           2          4          8

 

                   Preseason All-WAC Team

C                      Katie Grimes, So., Hawai‘i

1B                    Kate Robinson, Sr., Hawai‘i

2B                    Jenna Cervantez, Sr., Fresno State

3B                    Clare Warwick, Jr., Hawai‘i

SS                    Valana Manuma, Sr., Hawai‘i

OF                   Kaulana Gould, Sr., Hawai‘i

OF                   Liz Perez, Sr., San Jose State

OF                   Brittany Puzey, Jr., Nevada

P                      Jordan McPherson, Sr., Nevada

UT                   Stephanie Herrera, Sr., New Mexico State

DP                   Sarah Smith, Sr., San Jose State

At-Large          Audrey Andrade, Jr., UT, Hawai‘i

At-Large          Nicole Angene, Fr., UT, Fresno State

At-Large          Haley Perkins, Jr., 3B, Fresno State

 

Player of the Year: Kate Robinson, Sr., 1B, Hawai‘i

Pitcher of the Year: Jordan McPherson, Sr., P, Nevada

 

 

 

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