Trio of Spartans earns NCCSIA All-State honors
DURHAM, N.C. – UNC Greensboro softball players Alex Emeterio, Kaitlin Merkt and Eileen Horsmon have been named to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association All-State Team, the organization announced Thursday.
UNCG's three selections were second only to Southern Conference rival Elon's four players on the 13-person squad.
Emeterio, Merkt and Hormson helped the Spartans to a 27-30 overall record and a 12-11 mark in the SoCon, UNCG's first winning league record since 2003. The Spartans earned the No. 4 seed in the SoCon Championship and advanced to the title game for the first time in school history.
Emeterio, a first baseman, turned in a phenomenal sophomore season in which she was named All-Mideast Region First Team, All-Southern Conference First Team and to the SoCon All-Tournament Team. The Murrieta, Calif., native hit a career-best .382 on the season, the sixth-best mark in school history. She led UNCG in average, runs (31), hits (66), slugging percentage (.555), walks (24) and on-base percentage (.468), setting career highs in every category but walks. She also had 13 doubles, five homers and 32 RBI, all career highs. Emeterio was tabbed the SoCon Player of the Week on April 26.
In just two years, Emeterio has moved into UNCG's career top 10 in batting average (third, .355), slugging percentage (fifth, .519) and walks (tied for ninth, 55).
Merkt, a redshirt-junior shortstop, led UNCG with 11 home runs and 38 RBI, both career highs. She hit .268 and slugged .530 on the season, the third- and second-best marks on the squad, respectively. She also scored 23 runs, hit 10 doubles and drew 19 walks, all career bests. Merkt was named the SoCon Player of the Week on May 10 after hitting .556 with three homers and seven RBI in a three-game set at Samford.
The Irvine, Calif., native moved into fourth place in school history with 23 career home runs. Her 11 homers on the season tied for the fourth-most in a single season in school history.
Horsmon, a freshman designated player, hit. 326 with six homers, a .519 slugging percentage and a .409 on-base percentage, all second the team. She also had 21 RBI and 23 runs scored, both third on the team. The Dunkirk, Md., native was a second-team All-Southern Conference selection and a SoCon All-Freshman Team pick. Hormson also earned a spot on the SoCon All-Tournament Team after an impressive showing that included a grand slam against top-seeded Chattanooga in the first round of the tournament that helped UNCG to a 4-1 win.
The trio's selection gives UNCG its first all-state performers since Jennifer Bonilla was named to the squad in 2005. The three picks were the Spartans' most ever to the team.
2010 NCCSIA All-State Softball Team (University Division)
Pos
Name
School
Class
Hometown
P Emily
Jeffery
*
Charlotte
Senior
Matthews, N.C.
P Toni
Paisley
East
Carolina
Junior
Lakewood, Calif.
C Kaitlyn
Piazzolla
Elon
Sophomore South Bound
Brook, N.J.
IF Alex
Emeterio
UNC Greensboro
Sophomore Murrieta,
Calif.
IF Christa Fullwood
*
Gardner-Webb
Senior
Wilmington, N.C.
IF Kaitlin
Merkt
UNC Greensboro
R-Junior
Irvine, Calif.
IF Charina
Sumner
East
Carolina
Senior
Kailua, Hawai'i
IF Morgan
Walters
UNC Wilmington
Senior
Fuquay-Varina, N.C.
OF Emerald
Graham
Elon
Junior
Newburgh, Ind.
OF Serena Smith
*
Charlotte
Senior
Mooresville, N.C.
OF Tomeka
Watson
Elon
Freshman
Jackson, Ga.
DP Eileen
Horsmon
UNC Greensboro
Freshman
Dunkirk, Md.
U Erin
O'Shea
Elon
Sophomore South Bound
Brook, N.J.
* - 2009 NCCSIA All-State selection
- UNCG -