CofC's Emily Smith Earns SoCon Honor
6/10/2009 8:45:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced its May Athletes of the Month today, honoring top performers in baseball, softball and men's and women's outdoor track and field. The athletes are chosen by the conference sports information directors for baseball and softball and the league head coaches in outdoor track and field. Charleston's Emily Smith (Rock Hill, S.C.) the women's field honor.
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Track
The Citadel sprinter Jodi Whittle has been named Women's Track Athlete of the Month.
Whittle won the Clemson Orange Classic in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:03.11. The senior also finished sixth in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.97. The time was her first under 15 seconds and also was the second-best time in school history.
Later in the month, Whittle finished fourth in the 400 hurdles and sixth in the 100 hurdles at the Aggie Classic last chance meet at North Carolina A&T.
Field
College of Charleston high jumper Emily Smith was named Women's Field Athlete of the Month.
Smith tied for third (collegiately) at the Georgia Tech Invitational in the high jump with a leap of 5-7. The freshman also placed eighth at the NCAA East Regional with a jump of 5-8.
Also nominated for the award was Appalachian State's Danielle Thorpe.
Baseball
Player
Georgia Southern's A.J. Wirnsberger has been named Baseball Player of the Month.
During the month of May, Wirnsberger clubbed seven of his 13 home runs this season including a pair of two-homer performances against Furman and Samford in leading the Eagles to a No. 2 seed in the Cal State Fullerton NCAA Regional. The junior batted .438 with a .844 slugging percentage, while striking out only twice in 64 at-bats. A native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wirnsberger recorded 24 RBIs and five doubles on the month as the Eagles won the SoCon Championship.
Also nominated for this month's award were College of Charleston's Joey Bergman, Elon's Bennett Davis, The Citadel's Nick Orvin, UNC Greensboro's Drew Gehringer and Kyle Behrendt.
Pitcher
Georgia Southern pitcher Chris Mederos has been named the Baseball Pitcher of the Month.
Mederos did not lose in his six starts, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.65 ERA. The junior struck out 42, averaging 11.1 strikeouts per 9 innings. After working 7.1 in round one, Mederos pitched 5.0 scoreless innings in the SoCon championship game while working on three days' rest while helping the Eagles win their first SoCon Baseball Tournament title since 200.
Also nominated for this month's award were The Citadel's Matt Talley, UNC Greensboro's Matt Parrish, College of Charleston's David Peterson and Elon's Daniel Britt.
Softball
Player
Samford's Jessica Owens has been named Softball Player of the Month.
After returning from an injury that sidelined her for a portion of the 2009 season, Owens hit .611 with 11 hits during the month of May. The senior also chipped in four RBIs, four stolen bases, three runs and one double against only one strikeout in leading the Bulldogs to a semifinal appearance in the SoCon Softball Championship after being a No. 7 seed entering the tournament.
Also nominated for this month's award were Chattanooga's Tiffany Baker, Georgia Southern's Jenny Side and UNC Greensboro's Jordan Jewett.
Pitcher
Georgia Southern's Brianna Streetmon has been named Softball Pitcher of the Month.
The sophomore went 3-2 during the month of May with a 1.38 ERA in six starts. Streetmon recorded 30 strikeouts against only 15 walks. The Winder, Ga., native was named Most Outstanding Player at the SoCon Softball Championship after leading the Eagles to the title game and going 2-0 during the tournament.
Also nominated for this month's award were UNC Greensboro's Amber Harrell and Appalachian State's Kayla Richardson.
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Track
Western Carolina sprinter Dominique Young has been named Track Athlete of the Month.
Young finished eighth in the 100-meter dash and seventh in the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Southeast Region meet. He set a new Western Carolina school record in the 100 in 10.40 and sprinted to a personal best of 20.86 in the 200. He was also a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that set a seasonal best of 39.86 and qualified for the final at the Region championships.
Also nominated for this month's award was UNC Greensboro's Joey Thompson.
Field
Samford pole vaulter Patrick Wells has been named Men's Field Athlete of the Month.
During the month of May, Wells vaulted over 16-0 in three meets with a personal-best clearance of 16-7.25 (5.06m) at the NCAA Mideast Regionals.
At Clemson's Orange Classic the junior won the event with a leap of 16-0.75, his fifth pole vault victory of the outdoor season.
