Freshman Catcher Katie Boyd earned first-team All-SoCon honors (Photo: Tim Richardson)

Katie Boyd and Brittany Gaston Garner All-SoCon Recognition
by ASU Sports Information

May 7, 2008 - Mt. Pleasant, S.C. – Months of hard work paid off for two Appalachian State softball players. On Wednesday evening onboard the USS Yorktown, freshman Katie Boyd and junior Brittany Gaston were named to the 2008 All-SoCon Softball team. Boyd earned first-team honors behind the plate while Gaston backed-up her pre-season All-SoCon honor with her second consecutive second-team honor at second base.

The awards, voted on by the SoCon softball coaches recognized 26 student-athletes from the eight teams competing at this year’s SoCon Tournament.

Boyd, a native of Walkertown, N.C., closed out the regular season with a .311 average and nine home runs to set the ASU single-season home run record. The Mountaineer backstop has also set single-season school records in slugging percentage (.806) and on base percentage (.527).

Gaston hails from Roswell, Ga. and is hitting .322 through the end of the regular season. She has 24 RBI along with seven doubles and a triple for the Apps this year. Her three errors this season is the lowest total for any Mountaineer infielder.

The Mountaineers continue in the SoCon Championships on Thursday afternoon against Furman. The elimination game gets underway from the Patriots Point Athletic Complex at Noon.

Player of the Year – Robyne Siliga, Georgia Southern
Pitcher of the Year – Brooke Loudermilk, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year – Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
Coach of the Year – Frank Reed, Chattanooga

All-Conference Teams
First Team
P Brooke Loudermilk, Chattanooga
P Melissa Laliberte, Georgia Southern
C Katie Boyd, Appalachian State
1B Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
2B Nina Iduate, Georgia Southern
SS Tracey Dahlen, Elon
Tara Tembey, Chattanooga
3B Robyne Siliga, Georgia Southern
OF Mary Greenway, UNC Greensboro
OF Laci Upchurch, Chattanooga
OF Lindsey Hopkins, Georgia Southern
DP Shannon Howard, College of Charleston
UT Jamie Swank, Western Carolina

Second Team
P Shannon Howard, College of Charleston
P Megen Smith, Georgia Southern
C Jenny Side, Georgia Southern
1B Brythe Blankenship, Furman
2B Jackie Gonzalez, Elon
Brittany Gaston, Appalachian State
SS Amanda Hall, Georgia Southern
3B Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston
OF Tiffany Harmon, College of Charleston
OF Lyndsey Stiles, Chattanooga
OF Michelle Beasley, Georgia Southern
DP Melanie Helterbran, Elon
UT Katie Nutaitis, College of Charleston