Wingate’s Hallie Pettigrew Named To ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Softball Team

WINGATE, N.C. -- Wingate University senior third baseman Hallie Pettigrew (Uniontown, Ohio) has been named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III softball first team (college division), selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). A graduate of Lake High School, Pettigrew earns ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III first team honors for the second consecutive season.

The members of the College Sports Information Directors of America selected Pettigrew for this prestigious honor. Twenty-four student-athletes were named to either the first or second ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III softball teams. Pettigrew and her 11 fellow first team members will advance to the national ballot.

The District III College Division consists of all-non NCAA Division I colleges and universities in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Virginia. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.30 cumulative grade point average. In addition, the student-athlete must be a starter or a significant reserve on her team.

The South Atlantic Conference head coaches voted Pettigrew the 2009 SAC co-Player of the Year in April. In addition, she earned the SAC Scholar-Athlete Award for softball. Pettigrew and her Bulldog teammates will participate in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional tournament Friday through Sunday in Dahlonega, Ga.

Pettigrew is hitting .389 on the season, helping the Bulldogs (33-14-1 overall) capture the SAC regular season title and post a 13-3 record in league play. She has 58 hits and 38 runs on the year. A four-time All-SAC choice, Pettigrew is a perfect 14-for-14 in the stolen bases category.

In the classroom, Pettigrew holds a 3.75 GPA. She is a Mathematics and Education major. In addition to her CoSIDA honors, Pettigrew was named to the National Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete team in 2007.

On campus, Pettigrew is a four-year member of Wingate's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). During the fall 2008 semester, she spent time volunteering for Union County Habitat for Humanity. She served a one-year term on the Wingate University Academic Advisory Board.

Pettigrew is a two-year peer mentor, helping guide Wingate freshman through the University's orientation process. As a peer mentor, she also helps lead an introductory class for freshman known as Wingate 101. During the summer of 2006, Pettigrew helped coach a junior varsity girls' basketball team in a summer league in her hometown of Uniontown, Ohio.

Pettigrew is the only South Atlantic Conference student-athlete to earn ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III softball honors (college division). Eight of the 24 student-athletes named to either the first or second ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III softball teams are participating in the NCAA Division II post-season tournament.

In addition to Pettigrew, first team infielders Sara Lovestrand (Florida Southern College) and Lindsey Swanson (Georgia College & State University) and first team pitcher Mandy Chandler (GCSU) will see action in the NCAA tournament. Four second team members will also accompany their teams to the NCAA big dance. They include outfielders Natalie Lang (Florida Southern) and Monica Meadows (Rollins College), pitcher Megan Brown (Florida Southern) and designated player Kristie Cornell (Valdosta State University).

2009 ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT III
SOFTBALL TEAMS (COLLEGE DIVISION, AS SELECTED BY CoSIDA)

FIRST TEAM
C-Catherine Beuerle, Shenandoah (Va.)
INF-Hallie Pettigrew, Wingate
INF-Meghan Osborne, Lynn (Fla.)
INF-Sara Lovestrand, Florida Southern
INF-Lindsey Swanson, Georgia College & State
OF-Brittany Allsop, Lynchburg (Va.)
OF-Jessica Strong, Armstrong Atlantic State
OF-Shyla Rider, Barry (Fla.)
P-Katie Haskins, Shenandoah (Va.)
P-Mandy Chandler, Georgia College & State
DP-Jenny Jackson, Mount Olive

SECOND TEAM
C-Brittany Anderson, Barry (Fla.)
INF-Kayla Talbert, Methodist
INF-Caitlin Fitzgerald, Emory
INF-Catherine Bundrick, Shenandoah (Va.)
INF-Kelly Hale, Guilford
OF-Natalie Lang, Florida Southern
OF-Monica Meadows, Rollins
OF-Lakyn Bendle, Francis Marion
P-Cea Knox, USC Salkehatchie
P-Morgan Brown, Florida Southern
P-Becca Thomas, Shorter
P-Brianna Barth, Florida Tech
DP-Kristie Cornell, Valdosta State