Softball lands three on all-conference teams

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference announced its all-conference teams Wednesday afternoon and the University of Memphis softball team had three players earn all-conference honors this season.

Senior first baseman Ashley Threatt was coined to the league's first-team while sophomore Baylee Smith and freshman Alyssa Dean were named to the second-team. Dean also earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team.

This is the first time in Threatt's career that she has made an all-conference list. Smith was an AAC Second-Team pick in 2018 and Dean's selection to the All-Rookie Team marks the third consecutive season Memphis has had a player on the list.

Threatt finished the 2019 regular season with a .310 batting average including a .328 mark in AAC play. In just two short seasons with the Tigers, Threatt made her impact on the record books in a hurry. She currently ranks eighth all-time with 13 home runs and her .985 career fielding percentage is seventh all-time.

This season, Threatt hit a career-high seven home runs and matched her 2018 hits total with 44. She has driven in a career and team-high 33 RBIs this season and is perfect in the field in 282 chances. She led Memphis with a .437 on-base percentage and had a stretch of 17 straight games in which she reached base safely.

Smith led Memphis offensively this season with a .344 overall batting average and 53 hits. She is one of two players with double-digit doubles and she joins Threatt as the team-leader with seven home runs. Only a sophomore, Smith has cracked several career lists, including RBIs with 67, doubles with 21, triples with four and career batting average at .359.

A versatile player in the field, Smith has started in the outfield and at shortstop for the Tigers. In all, she has 51 starts this season. With an 8-for-10 effort at the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament, Smith was named the league's Player of the Week for the second time in her career.

Dean stepped up in a big way during conference play, leading the Tigers with a .352 batting average and 19 hits. She finished the conference season with four doubles and just one error as the everyday second baseman. Against Wichita State, Dean recorded a career-high three hits with a double and a run scored.

Overall, Dean has tallied 30 hits as a true freshman including eight doubles and a home run. She started in 43 games at second base for Memphis.

Memphis is set to take on USF in the quarterfinals of the AAC Championship beginning Thursday in Houston, Texas. For more information on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.

2019 American Athletic Conference Softball Award Winners
Players of the Year
Sarah Barker, Houston
Julia Hollingsworth, Tulsa

Pitcher of the Year
Georgina Corrick, USF

Defensive Player of the Year
Macy Cook, USF

Rookie of the Year
Chenise Delce, Tulsa

Coaching Staff of the Year
USF

All-Conference First Team
P – Georgina Corrick, USF (unanimous)
P – Alea White, UCF
C – Madison Perrigan, Wichita State
1B – Ashley Threatt, Memphis
2B – Arielle James, Houston
3B – Sydney McKinney, Wichita State
SS – Laurie Derrico, Wichita State
SS – Briana Marcelino, UConn
OF – Julia Hollingsworth, Tulsa (unanimous)
OF – Maya Thomas, Houston
OF – Sarah Barker, Houston
DP/UTL (Pitcher) – Savannah Heebner, Houston
DP/UTL (Pitcher) – Chenise Delce, Tulsa
DP/UTL (Non-Pitcher) – Olivia Sappington, UConn
At-Large – AnaMarie Bruni, USF
At-Large – Ryleigh Buck, Wichita State

All-Conference Second Team
P – Samantha Pochop, Tulsa
P – Erin McDonald, Wichita State
C – Cassady Brewer, UCF
INF – Morgan Neal, Tulsa
INF – Lindsey Devitt, USF
INF – Alyssa Dean, Memphis
INF – Carli Cutler, UConn
OF – Reese Guevarra, UConn
OF – Haley Meinen, Tulsa
OF – Baylee Smith, Memphis
DP/UTL – Brooke Hartman, USF
At-Large – Presley Bell, Houston
At-Large – Rylie Spell, Tulsa

All-Rookie Team
Sydney McKinney, Wichita State
Chenise Delce, Tulsa
Breanna Vasquez, UCF
Meghan Sheehan, USF
Alyssa Dean, Memphis
Karissa Ornelas, UCF
Damaria Cannon, UCF
Alexis Lemus, UConn

University of Memphis Athletics

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Alyssa Dean

Baylee Smith

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