The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Townsend Named C-USA Softball Coach Of The Year
5/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2006
IRVING, Texas -- UAB head softball coach Marla Townsend has been named 2006 Conference USA Softball Coach of the Year by a vote of league coaches. The organization announced its postseason awards Wednesday which feature six Blazers named to the annual all-conference teams. It is the second such honor for Townsend, who was also the league's top coach in 2002.
"Being selected by your peers that you compete against, game in and game out, means the world to me," Townsend said. "We all do this because we love the sport, we enjoy coaching our players, and hopefully, we make an impact in their lives. But when you add an honor like this, it makes it really special." Townsend guided UAB to a postseason berth for the first time since 2003 this season. The Blazers finished tied for second in league standings after being predicted to finish seventh in the preseason coaches poll. UAB is the fourth seed in this week's C-USA Championships in Tulsa, Okla. The Blazers are 31-20 overall and were 15-9 in regular season conference play. The 15 leagues wins marked a new school record for UAB. UAB placed a pair of players each on the 2006 All-Conference USA first, second and all-freshman teams. Shortstop Holly Krzan returned after missing a majority of the 2005 season with a knee injury to bat .333 with six home runs and a team-leading 39 RBI. Leftfielder Lindsay Stanley joined Krzan on the first team after leading the Blazers with a .345 average. Stanley leads Conference USA with 32 stolen bases as well. Pitchers Kayla Harris and Jennifer Nelson were second team all-league selections. Harris was honored as a utility player after registering a .247 batting average and .404 on-base percentage with three home runs and 20 RBI from the plate. She was 10-6 with one save and a 3.14 ERA in 22 appearances on the as well. Nelson set a new UAB record for strikeouts in a season this year (she has 208 heading to the postseason) and was 15-9 with a 1.96 earned run average on the season. Andrea Rogers joined Harris on the 2006 C-USA All-Freshman Team. Rogers is hitting .279 with eight home runs and 29 RBI with an impressive .511 on-base percentage. She leads UAB with 29 walks on the year and is the team leader in putouts as the squad's primary catcher. "I am excited for our players," Townsend said. "This is the most we have ever had named to the all-conference team. It's an honor for them individually, but it's also a great honor for our team. Everyone of them would say they wouldn't have received the award without their teammates. That's what makes this team special." Houston's Angel Shamblin was named the Pitcher of the Year and the Cougars' Elaina Nordstrom was named the Freshman of the Year. Preseason Player of the Year Rachel Folden lived up to those expectations as the Marshall's sophomore was honored as the Player of the Year. UAB begins is quest for the Conference USA Tournament title Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at Tulsa's Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex. The Blazers face East Carolina in first-round action of the double-elimination brackets. The tournament runs through Saturday. 2006 Conference USA Softball Awards and All-Conference Teams Player of the Year Pitcher of the Year Freshman of the Year Coach of the Year First Team Second Team All-Freshman
Rachel Folden, Marshall
Angel Shamblin, Houston
Elaina Nordstrom, Houston
Marla Townsend, UAB
C - Rachel Folden, Marshall
IF - Jessica Valis, Houston
IF - Jessica Williams, Marshall
IF - Katie Torres, Tulsa
IF - Holly Krzan, UAB
OF - Amanda Williams, Marshall
OF - Jennifer Fox, Southern Miss
OF - Lindsay Stanley, UAB
UT - Sara Dyer, Tulsa
P - Keli Harrell, East Carolina
P - Angel Shamblin, Houston
C - Elaina Nordstrom, Houston
IF - Erin St. Ledger, East Carolina
IF - Bridgette McNulty, Memphis
IF - Ashley Brenan, Southern Miss
IF - Kelly Lombard, UTEP
OF - Cara Stiles, Memphis
OF - Julie Shafer, Tulsa
OF - Sarah Ramirez, UTEP
UT - Angel Shamblin, Houston
Samantha Rodriguez, Marshall
Kayla Harris, UAB
P - Abigail Harter, Marshall
P - Jennifer Nelson, UAB
Vanessa Moreno, East Carolina
Elaina Nordstrom, Houston
Jessica Valis, Houston
Joscelyn Bitner, Marshall
Kimmi Hayden, Memphis
Leila Dolfo, Memphis
Lacey Gros, Southern Miss
Jessica Barr, Tulsa
Brooke Smart, Tulsa
Kayla Harris, UAB
Andrea Rogers, UAB
Amber Bennett, UTEP
