Lenoir-Rhyne’s Atkins Named MVP of 2010 Food Lion SAC Softball Tournament

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Lenoir-Rhyne University sophomore catcher Sarah Atkins has been named the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament.

Atkins hit .450 during the tournament with three home runs and seven RBI in seven games. She had home runs in both games against Carson-Newman on Sunday.

She is joined on the All-Tournament team by Lenoir-Rhyne teammates Alex Smith, Carlee Carpenter, and Kat Rivers. Smith won five games in the circle during the tournament. She picked up both pitching wins on Sunday, including the win in relief in the championship game. Carpenter hit .400 with seven RBI and two home runs, including a three-run blast in the championship game. Rivers hit .333 with six RBI and two home runs.

Tournament runner-up Carson-Newman also had four All-Tournament selections. Making the team from the Eagles are first baseman Sara Little, shortstop Jessie Howard, second baseman/pitcher Mary Shealy and outfielder Whitney Durham. Little hit .429 with three home runs and seven RBI. Howard hit .444 with three RBI. Shealy won three games in the circle.

Mars Hill's Ashley Seawell, Newberry's Amanda Huckestein and Wingate's LaRonda McClain round out the All-Tournament Team.

Seawell hit .462 with seven RBI in four tournament games. Huckestein had 25 strikeouts and a 1.40 ERA in three tournament games. McClain his .533 in four games.

The All-Tournament team is selected by the tournament's participating head coaches.