Five Ladyjacks Garner All-Southland Conference Accolades
5/7/2018 3:28:00 PM | Softball
SFA softball represented on the Southland Conference’s annual postseason teams with a first-team selection, two second-team members and a pair of honorable mention honorees
All-Southland Conference Release
FRISCO, Texas – As the Stephen F. Austin softball team embarks on its 2018 postseason run, a total of five Ladyjacks were named All-Southland Conference with the league office's announcement Monday afternoon. Seniors Amber Landry, Taylor Fraccastoro and Makayla Sikes highlighted SFA's selections as Landry earned her second All-Southland nod by being added to the first team. Both Fraccastoro and Sikes earned a spot on the second team, while freshman Bryana Novegil and junior Margarita Corona claimed honorable mention recognition.
Landry, a third baseman from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, was a preseason all-conference first-team pick after garnering All-Southland Second Team honors in 2017. She has been one of the Ladyjacks' best hitters this season, owning a .320 batting average with 54 hits and a team-high 45 RBI. Tied for the most doubles (12) and home runs (9) of any Ladyjack this spring, Landry ranks third in the Southland and among the top 100 players in the nation in RBI per game (0.88), while her .562 slugging percentage is 12th-highest in the league. She is the eighth-toughest player to strikeout in the conference according the NCAA's statistical rankings as Landry's team-best 95 total bases are fifth-most in the Southland. On the hot corner, Landry has recorded 78 putouts, assisted on another 98 and turned a trio of double plays.
After being named All-Southland honorable mention as a freshman and sophomore in 2015 and 2016, Fraccastoro has led SFA behind the plate for the majority of the season. The Orange, Texas, native owns the team's top slugging mark at .592 and has registered a team-best 24 extra-base knocks. Fraccastoro is tied with Landry for the most home runs (9) hit by a Ladyjack this season as her 44 runs scored lead SFA and 0.86 runs per game is the fourth-highest average in the Southland. Ranked fifth in the league in slugging, Fraccastoro leads the conference in hit by pitch with 18 total and 0.35 per contest. Behind the dish, Fraccastoro has thrown out 12 base runners attempting to steal for the fourth-most in the Southland, while owning a team-best 283 putouts and 32 assists on 319 total chances for a fielding percentage of .987. In league games, Fraccastoro has recorded an impressive slugging percentage of .613 with seven long balls and five doubles.
Sikes, a native of Gilmer, Texas, has proven herself as one of the top pitchers in the Southland this season with the conference's third-best ERA at 2.11. With an 18-8 record this spring, the right-hander is tied for the second-most wins and saves in the league. Her four saves are tied for 22nd-most nationally as her 123 strikeouts rank her third in the Southland in that category. Holding opponents to a .234 batting average on the year, seventh-best in the conference, Sikes has sat 39 down looking, third-most in the 12-team league. She has been the Ladyjacks' work horse in the circle the entire spring, tossing 162 and 2/3 innings in 34 appearances and 26 starts. Giving up just 25 extra-base hits, Sikes owns 10 complete game wins and three complete game shutouts on the season.
In her inaugural collegiate season of softball, Novegil has cemented herself as SFA's leadoff hitter. The Houston, Texas, native has been sensational at the plate as the Ladyjacks' most consistent hitter, finding a way to get on base. Novegil's .401 batting average in 2018 ranks as the second-highest among all Southland batters and is 66th nationally, while her team-best .524 on-base percentage is second-highest in the league and ranks 17th in the nation. With a team-leading 59 hits, which is third-most in the conference, Novegil is second in the Southland in triples (9) and tied for ninth nationally in that category. Playing the majority of the season at second base but also seeing time at shortstop, Novegil has turned three double plays, recorded 76 putouts and assisted on another 84.
After transferring in from Pima Community College, Tucson, Arizona, native Corona has made her presence known at the plate throughout the 2018 season, proving herself as the Ladyjacks' most clutch hitter with several game-winning hits and walk-off home runs. The first baseman's eight home runs are tied for the 10th-most in the 12-team league and are second-most among all SFA hitters. Corona holds a .478 slugging mark on the year with eight doubles and 45 total hits, tallying 29 RBI and accumulating 77 total bases. Defensively, Corona has been one of the Ladyjacks' best infielders, owning a .992 fielding percentage, which is eighth-highest in the Southland, with 255 putouts on 266 total chances and fielding a team-best five double plays.
Southland regular season champion Nicholls and Southland Tournament host McNeese swept all of the conference's major awards. The Colonels' lead man, Angel Santiago, was named Southland Coach of the Year, while Cowgirls utility player Erika Piancastelli was tabbed Southland Player and Hitter of the Year for the fourth-straight season.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks have clinched the No. 2 seed and a double-round bye for this week's 2018 Southland Tournament held Tuesday-Friday, May 8-11, on the campus of McNeese at Joe Miller Field in Lake Charles, Louisiana. SFA will play Wednesday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. and will face either No. 3 seed McNeese, sixth-seeded ACU or No. 7 seed Northwestern State.
For all weather-related SFA softball schedule changes throughout the 2018 spring season, be sure to keep an eye on SFAJacks.com and follow SFA softball on Facebook (SFA Softball) and Twitter (@SFA_Softball).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the postseason.
2018 All-Southland Conference Softball Teams
Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Erika Piancastelli, McNeese
Hitter of the Year: Erika Piancastelli, McNeese
Pitcher of the Year: Megan Landry, Nicholls
Freshman of the Year: Jewel Lara, Nicholls
Newcomer of the Year: Kali Clement, Nicholls
Coach of the Year: Angel Santiago, Nicholls
2 Two-time all-conference selection
3 Three-time all-conference selection
4 Four-time all-conference selection
Honorable Mention – Catcher: Heidi Jacquez, Houston Baptist. First Base: Codi Carpenter, Sam Houston State; Margarita Corona, Stephen F. Austin. Second Base: Bryana Novegil, Stephen F. Austin; Alli Daigle, Southeastern Louisiana Third Base: Kassie James, Houston Baptist. Shortstop: Kate Myers, Central Arkansas; Jacquelyn Ramon, Southeastern Louisiana. Outfield: Lauren Brown, McNeese; Julie Rawls, Northwestern State; Kayla Crutchmar, Central Arkansas; Kayla Sheridan, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Megan McDonald, Sam Houston State. Pitcher: Micaela Bouvier, Northwestern State; Alexsandra Flores, McNeese.
-SFA-
FRISCO, Texas – As the Stephen F. Austin softball team embarks on its 2018 postseason run, a total of five Ladyjacks were named All-Southland Conference with the league office's announcement Monday afternoon. Seniors Amber Landry, Taylor Fraccastoro and Makayla Sikes highlighted SFA's selections as Landry earned her second All-Southland nod by being added to the first team. Both Fraccastoro and Sikes earned a spot on the second team, while freshman Bryana Novegil and junior Margarita Corona claimed honorable mention recognition.
Landry, a third baseman from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, was a preseason all-conference first-team pick after garnering All-Southland Second Team honors in 2017. She has been one of the Ladyjacks' best hitters this season, owning a .320 batting average with 54 hits and a team-high 45 RBI. Tied for the most doubles (12) and home runs (9) of any Ladyjack this spring, Landry ranks third in the Southland and among the top 100 players in the nation in RBI per game (0.88), while her .562 slugging percentage is 12th-highest in the league. She is the eighth-toughest player to strikeout in the conference according the NCAA's statistical rankings as Landry's team-best 95 total bases are fifth-most in the Southland. On the hot corner, Landry has recorded 78 putouts, assisted on another 98 and turned a trio of double plays.
After being named All-Southland honorable mention as a freshman and sophomore in 2015 and 2016, Fraccastoro has led SFA behind the plate for the majority of the season. The Orange, Texas, native owns the team's top slugging mark at .592 and has registered a team-best 24 extra-base knocks. Fraccastoro is tied with Landry for the most home runs (9) hit by a Ladyjack this season as her 44 runs scored lead SFA and 0.86 runs per game is the fourth-highest average in the Southland. Ranked fifth in the league in slugging, Fraccastoro leads the conference in hit by pitch with 18 total and 0.35 per contest. Behind the dish, Fraccastoro has thrown out 12 base runners attempting to steal for the fourth-most in the Southland, while owning a team-best 283 putouts and 32 assists on 319 total chances for a fielding percentage of .987. In league games, Fraccastoro has recorded an impressive slugging percentage of .613 with seven long balls and five doubles.
Sikes, a native of Gilmer, Texas, has proven herself as one of the top pitchers in the Southland this season with the conference's third-best ERA at 2.11. With an 18-8 record this spring, the right-hander is tied for the second-most wins and saves in the league. Her four saves are tied for 22nd-most nationally as her 123 strikeouts rank her third in the Southland in that category. Holding opponents to a .234 batting average on the year, seventh-best in the conference, Sikes has sat 39 down looking, third-most in the 12-team league. She has been the Ladyjacks' work horse in the circle the entire spring, tossing 162 and 2/3 innings in 34 appearances and 26 starts. Giving up just 25 extra-base hits, Sikes owns 10 complete game wins and three complete game shutouts on the season.
In her inaugural collegiate season of softball, Novegil has cemented herself as SFA's leadoff hitter. The Houston, Texas, native has been sensational at the plate as the Ladyjacks' most consistent hitter, finding a way to get on base. Novegil's .401 batting average in 2018 ranks as the second-highest among all Southland batters and is 66th nationally, while her team-best .524 on-base percentage is second-highest in the league and ranks 17th in the nation. With a team-leading 59 hits, which is third-most in the conference, Novegil is second in the Southland in triples (9) and tied for ninth nationally in that category. Playing the majority of the season at second base but also seeing time at shortstop, Novegil has turned three double plays, recorded 76 putouts and assisted on another 84.
After transferring in from Pima Community College, Tucson, Arizona, native Corona has made her presence known at the plate throughout the 2018 season, proving herself as the Ladyjacks' most clutch hitter with several game-winning hits and walk-off home runs. The first baseman's eight home runs are tied for the 10th-most in the 12-team league and are second-most among all SFA hitters. Corona holds a .478 slugging mark on the year with eight doubles and 45 total hits, tallying 29 RBI and accumulating 77 total bases. Defensively, Corona has been one of the Ladyjacks' best infielders, owning a .992 fielding percentage, which is eighth-highest in the Southland, with 255 putouts on 266 total chances and fielding a team-best five double plays.
Southland regular season champion Nicholls and Southland Tournament host McNeese swept all of the conference's major awards. The Colonels' lead man, Angel Santiago, was named Southland Coach of the Year, while Cowgirls utility player Erika Piancastelli was tabbed Southland Player and Hitter of the Year for the fourth-straight season.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks have clinched the No. 2 seed and a double-round bye for this week's 2018 Southland Tournament held Tuesday-Friday, May 8-11, on the campus of McNeese at Joe Miller Field in Lake Charles, Louisiana. SFA will play Wednesday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. and will face either No. 3 seed McNeese, sixth-seeded ACU or No. 7 seed Northwestern State.
For all weather-related SFA softball schedule changes throughout the 2018 spring season, be sure to keep an eye on SFAJacks.com and follow SFA softball on Facebook (SFA Softball) and Twitter (@SFA_Softball).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the postseason.
2018 All-Southland Conference Softball Teams
Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Erika Piancastelli, McNeese
Hitter of the Year: Erika Piancastelli, McNeese
Pitcher of the Year: Megan Landry, Nicholls
Freshman of the Year: Jewel Lara, Nicholls
Newcomer of the Year: Kali Clement, Nicholls
Coach of the Year: Angel Santiago, Nicholls
| First Team | ||||
| Pos. | Name | University | Class | Hometown |
| 1B | Morgan Catron | McNeese | Sr. | Mineola, Texas |
| 2B | Cayla Jones | Northwestern State | Fr. | Missouri City, Texas |
| 3B | Jewel Lara | Nicholls | Fr. | Missouri City, Texas |
| 3B | Amber Landry2 | Stephen F. Austin | Sr. | Ponchatoula, La. |
| SS | Amanda Gianelloni3 | Nicholls | Jr. | Napoleonville, La. |
| C | Moriah Strother | Nicholls | R-Sr. | Suwanee, Ga. |
| UT | Erika Piancastelli4 | McNeese | Sr. | Carlsbad, Calif. |
| DP | Alexandria Flores | McNeese | So. | Lufkin, Texas |
| OF | Justyce McClain3 | McNeese | Jr. | Phoenix, Ariz. |
| OF | Kasey Frederick2 | Nicholls | Jr. | Bridge City, Texas |
| OF | Kendall Talley | Lamar | Fr. | San Antonio, Texas |
| P | Megan Landry2 | Nicholls | Jr. | Pierre Part, La. |
| P | Hannah Null | Abilene Christian | Sr. | Highland Village, Texas |
| Second Team | ||||
| 1B | Shelby Henderson | Lamar | So. | Keller, Texas |
| 2B | Kelly Meeuwsen3 | Lamar | Jr. | Hillsboro, Ore. |
| SS | Peyton Hedrick4 | Abilene Christian | Sr. | Forney, Texas |
| C | Taylor Fraccastoro | Stephen F. Austin | Sr. | Orange, Texas |
| UT | Kali Clement | Nicholls | Jr. | Thibodaux, La. |
| DP | Taylor Davis | Lamar | Jr. | Nederland, Texas |
| OF | Kelsey Miller | Nicholls | Fr. | Denham Springs, La. |
| OF | Kinsey Nichols2 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Alvin, Texas |
| OF | Sidney Salmans | Northwestern State | Sr. | The Woodlands, Texas |
| P | Makayla Sikes | Stephen F. Austin | Sr. | Gilmer, Texas |
| P | Lindsey McLeod | Sam Houston State | Jr. | Austin, Texas |
| Third Team | ||||
| 1B | Kaylyn Shepherd | Central Arkansas | So. | Mechanicsville, Va. |
| 2B | Libby Morris | Central Arkansas | Jr. | Grove, Okla. |
| 3B | Mahalia Gibson2 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Hattiesburg, Miss. |
| SS | Tiffany Thompson | Sam Houston State | So. | Montgomery, Texas |
| C | Bailey White | Sam Houston State | R-Fr. | Burleson, Texas |
| UT | Kaitlyn St. Clair | Northwestern State | So. | Cypress, Texas |
| DP | Alyson Bishoff | Abilene Christian | Sr. | Belton, Texas |
| OF | Donelle Johnson | Abilene Christian | R-So. | McKinney, Texas |
| OF | Ali McCoy | Southeastern Louisiana | So. | Maurepas, La. |
| OF | Morgan Felts | Central Arkansas | Jr. | Conway, Ark. |
| P | Rachel Hayes | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Ocean Springs, Miss. |
| P | Alexis LaBure | Nicholls | Fr. | Port Neches, Texas |
2 Two-time all-conference selection
3 Three-time all-conference selection
4 Four-time all-conference selection
Honorable Mention – Catcher: Heidi Jacquez, Houston Baptist. First Base: Codi Carpenter, Sam Houston State; Margarita Corona, Stephen F. Austin. Second Base: Bryana Novegil, Stephen F. Austin; Alli Daigle, Southeastern Louisiana Third Base: Kassie James, Houston Baptist. Shortstop: Kate Myers, Central Arkansas; Jacquelyn Ramon, Southeastern Louisiana. Outfield: Lauren Brown, McNeese; Julie Rawls, Northwestern State; Kayla Crutchmar, Central Arkansas; Kayla Sheridan, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Megan McDonald, Sam Houston State. Pitcher: Micaela Bouvier, Northwestern State; Alexsandra Flores, McNeese.
-SFA-
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