2008 in Review

Rick Fremin enters his fourth season as Head Softball Coach for the Lady Blazers after another record breaking season in 2008.  The Blazers completed the 08' season with a record of (31-26) and for the 2^nd time in three years attended the NAIA Regional in Orange Beach, AL. “Well it is very exciting to be a part of back to back to back 30+ win seasons and have two first team All-Americans in '08” says Coach Fremin. “We played a very tough schedule last season and defeated several ranked teams. We also finished 27^th in the country with a 3.1 team GPA.”

 

The Lady Blazers had a number of outstanding team and individual accomplishments in during the 2008 campaign including an overall record of 31-26 which marked the third consecutive 30+ win season. Belhaven finished the year ranked 4^th in the final NAIA Regional Poll and received votes for the NAIA Top 25 for the first time in the program's history. Belhaven came up with some big wins defeating nationally ranked University of Mobile #4, Vanguard #10, William Carey University #10, and Lee University #24. The Lady Blazers also topped NCAA Division II Delta State University for the first time in the program's history and upended NCAA Division I Alcorn State University and Jackson State University. Academically, the Lady Blazers were 27^th in the country with a team GPA of 3.10.

 

Senior Lauren Biediger had an outstanding final season in a Lady Blazer Uniform. She was a two time Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week, had a batting average of .444 and slugged 15 homeruns. Her outstanding play on the field earned her an NAIA First Team All-American selection, an NAIA All Region XIII Team pick, an NFCA First Team All American and All East Region Team selection. She was also selected to the GCAC All Conference and tournament teams.

 

Junior Mallory Meadows received tremendous recognition for her efforts on the diamond this past spring. She tied Lauren Biediger for the team lead in homeruns with 15. Twice she was chosen as GCAC player of the week and was picked for the GCAC all conference team. On the national and regional level, she earned an NAIA First Team All American nomination, was picked for NAIA All Region XIII Team. She was also honored by the NFCA by being a First Team All-American and East Region team selection.

 

Sophomore Pitcher Sarah Burns was a GCAC All-Conference team selection and was chosen as the conference player of the week twice during the season. Burns picked up 17 wins and struck out a total of 226 opposing players. Seniors Christy Pugh and Meghan Pursell were also recognized by the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference with spots on the All-Tournament team.

Mallory Meadows is a senior Pitcher/DP from Daphne, AL, and was a NAIA First Team All-American in '08 after breaking the school record with 15 HR's and posting a .417 batting average, with 45 RBI's. Meadows also posted 6 wins in the circle.

 

Britney Webb is a senior outfielder from Mobile, AL, who was plagued with injuries in '08 and still managed to lead the conference in stolen bases. Webb achieved All-American status in '07 and in two seasons has a total of 78 stolen bases. 

 

Junior third basemen Tiffany Ansley from Miami, FL, received the GCAC Freshman of the Year award two seasons ago. Ansley finished the '08 season with a .317 batting average and only 6 strikeouts in 161 at bats.

 

Keresa Steichen is a senior from Kent, WA, who has been a two year starter in right field. Steichen tallied a .235 batting average, 14 RBI's and 1 homerun in '08.

Junior Jessica Eggold is a very talented utility player who hails from St. Louis, MO. Jessica is able to play a number of positions and has done a great job offensively in the short game. Eggold posted a .199 batting average, 27 runs, and 9 stolen bases in '08.

 

Jessica Wright is a junior from West Monroe, LA. Wright has spent time at first base and as a pinch hitter for the Lady Blazers. Wright finished the '08 season with a .209 batting average in 43 at bats.

 

Salina Cervantes in one of two returning pitchers for the Lady Blazers. Cervantes is a sophomore from San Bernardino, CA, who posted five wins in the circle, with a 2.60 era, and 55 strikeouts as a freshman last season.

 

Randi Green is a senior transfer from the University of Mississippi. Green is the career homerun leader at Hinds Community College. Randi is a Utility player from Byram, MS who showed a lot of power at the plate in the fall season.

 

Britanee Pace is one of two sisters from Sherman, TX. Pace is a transfer second baseman from Grayson Community College, who was a Texas Junior College All-Star participant.

 

Heather Pace is the younger sister of teammate Britanee Pace. Heather is a shortstop from Sherman, TX, and prepped at Sherman High School where she received numerous awards including the All-Texoma Land Team. She was also a member of the Fort Worth Batbusters travel ball team.

 

Ashley Mottola is from Dulzura, CA. Mottola is a junior college transfer pitcher from Grossmont College who posted 33 wins in two seasons. She received the MVP of the Pacific Coast Conference and also attended Santana High School in California.

 

Clarissa Williams is a speedy freshman outfielder from Bassfield High School in Bassfield, MS. Williams made great strides in the fall in being moved to the left side of the plate.

 

Chelsea Randle is a freshman Utility player from Alexandria, AL, who prepped at Alexandria High School. Randle was a member of the Bama Explosion travel ball team that won the NSA World Series in Peoria, Illinois. Randle saw a lot of time behind the plate in the fall season.

 

Kayla Maldonado is a freshman outfielder from Luling, LA. and graduated from Mount Carmel Academy . Maldonado played travel ball for the Louisiana Hustlers and VooDoo where she won an NFSA National title.

 

The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference will once again provide some tough competition for the Lady Blazers this season. Three of the four conference teams finished with 31 or more total wins in 2008. The University of Mobile won the league with a 9-3 conference mark while recording an overall record of 42-10. William Carey finished the season with overall record of 40-14 and finished second in the GCAC two games behind Mobile at 7-5. Belhaven took the third spot with a 6-6 GCAC record and Spring Hill College finished the conference schedule at 2-10 with an overall record of 19-27.

Belhaven will open the season in Riverside, CA at the California Baptist University Invitational on February 5^th against Southern Oregon University. The first pitch of 2009 is slated for 9 AM.