Marshall University Athletics
@HerdSB Lands Four Players Selected Preseason All-C-USA
1/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Four Marshall softball players were named to the Preseason All-Conference-USA Team and the Herd was picked second in the preseason poll announced by the league office Wednesday.
The four selections were the most of any school. Each team nominates up to six players and then are voted on by the conference coaches.
"The most exciting thing about the preseason poll is that it means the season is on the horizon," Herd coach Shonda Stanton said. "With four teams scoring over 100 points, it demonstrates the parity and strength of our league. C-USA softball overall has tremendous talent and the 2016 season will provide competitive matchups from top to bottom."
Making the team were senior outfielder Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.), junior outfielder Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.), junior pitcher Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) and sophomore infielder Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.). All four were NFCA Mideast All-Region selections in 2015.
Zerkle, Greene and D'Orazio combined for 216 hits, 127 runs scored and 98 stolen bases. D'Orazio was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year after her stellar performance. Zerkle has continued to rack up the accolades after one of the best seasons in Marshall softball history, breaking single-season records in route to being selected for the 2016 Women's National Elite team. Greene became the first player in Herd history to record two seasons of 70 or more hits.
In the circle, Dixon became the first player in the country last season to reach 30 wins, and her 33 victories tied the Marshall season record. Dixon's 308 strikeouts were eighth best in the nation in 2015.
"Having four players identified shows the caliber of student-athlete we have in our program," Stanton said. "However, we are more interested in achievement than potential recognized in preseason picks. We have completed our first week of training and every day we are focused on a working culture that produces a winning culture."
Florida Atlantic was selected in the top spot and had the second most players selected with three. UAB senior infielder Caitlin Attfield, the reigning C-USA Player of the Year, was voted the Preseason Player of the Year. FAU junior pitcher Kylee Hanson was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
2016 Conference USA Preseason Poll
- Florida Atlantic - 141 points
- Marshall - 128 points
- UAB - 121 points
- UTSA - 106 points
- Louisiana Tech - 78 points
- FIU - 75 points
- Charlotte - 70 points
- WKU - 68 points
- UTEP - 49 points
- North Texas - 41 points
- Middle Tennessee - 30 points
- Southern Miss - 29 points
2016 Preseason All-C-USA Team
P - Kylee Hanson, Florida Atlantic
P - Jordan Dixon, Marshall
P - Lexi Betancourt, Charlotte
C - Krysta Tutsch, Louisiana Tech
C - Morgan Harris, Middle Tennessee
INF - Caitlin Attfield, UAB
INF - Stephanie Texeira, FIU
INF - Sara Beth Williamson, UAB
INF - Emily Lochten, Florida Atlantic
INF - Elicia D'Orazio, Marshall
OF - Morgan Zerkle, Marshall
OF - Kendall Burton, UTSA
OF - Kaelynn Greene, Marshall
OF - Christina Martinez, Florida Atlantic
DP/UT - Kawehiokalani Netane, UTEP
