May 5, 2009

YORK, PA – The York College softball team received outstanding news Tuesday afternoon as sophomores Kelly Smith (Riverdale, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) and Kristen Gray (Mickleton, N.J./Kingsway Regional) were selected to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region squad. Smith was chosen to the second-team’s third baseman while Gray was an at-large choice to the third-team.
      Smith started and played in all 45 Spartan games this year en route to recording team-highs in nearly every offensive category. A fixture atop the Spartan lineup, Smith posted a team-best .381 batting average this season, totaling 61 hits in 160 at-bats. Those 61 knocks set a new program-record for most hits in a single season. Her eleven doubles and five triples were both team-high marks, while she also posted a stellar .550 slugging percentage. On the year, Smith was held hitless only eleven times while putting together 18 multi-hit games, including a 5-for-5 performance against Gallaudet on March 31.
      In the field, Smith manned the hot corner in brilliant fashion. The preseason honorable mention All-American, posted a strong .960 fielding percentage on the year, committing only six miscues on 150 chances. Her total of 95 assists was second only to shortstop Heather Bormann’s (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) 121.
      “Kelly has the desire and ability to be an All-Capital Athletic Conference, All-Region, and All-American player every year,” Spartan head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift said. “I view her potential each season to be limitless not only for herself but for this team. As a coach, I can honestly say that Kelly is just a fun player to watch. You know she’s always going to make the routine play and the special thing about her is that you can close to guarantee she’s going to make the great play as consistently as the routine play.”
      Gray lands on the all-region squad after a strong 2009 campaign, serving mainly as York’s designated player. Gray appeared in 41 of York’s 45 contests this year, drawing 32 starts along the way. Her .346 batting average proved the third-highest on the squad as she banged out 37 hits in 107 at-bats. Gray, a tough left-handed stick, drove in 21 runs hitting in the middle of the York lineup throughout the year as she ripped seven doubles while launching one round-tripper in 2009.
      “Kristen’s tireless work ethic and never satisfied attitude are two big reasons for her success,” Patrick-Swift said. “She really believes in our team philosophy – “team first, self second” – and applies is both on and off the field. I’m happy to see her receive this well-deserved accolade.”
      Smith and Gray led the Green and White to a strong 30-15 mark this season including a 9-3 record in CAC play. With nary a senior on the 2009 roster, the Spartans’ will possess a great combination of talent and experience heading into the 2010 campaign.

Complete Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region Teams