North Carolina Central University

SOFTBALL

     GREENSBORO, NC -- North Carolina Central University sophomores Clarisse Steans and Asha Sutton have been named to the 2005 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) College Division All-State Softball Team.
     Steans, a native of Macon, Georgia, is one of two pitchers on the all-state team. She was named the CIAA Softball Player of the Year after leading the Lady Eagles to the CIAA Western Division Championship with a conference record of 21-1. Steans set NCCU single-season records with 194 strikeouts and 26 victories, while throwing every pitch in 266 innings this season. She also broke the NCCU career record in strikeouts (342) and victories (41). 
     Sutton, a shortstop out of LaGrange, NC, was voted All-CIAA First Team after leading the NCAA Division II with 66 runs scored (1.51 per game) and also rating among the nation's top-10 in triples (9), doubles (18) and batting (.500).  NCCU won the CIAA Western Division title for the first time since 1998, winning a school-record 26 games (26-18) in the process.
     The team consists of NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA student-athletes from North Carolina colleges and universities.  Nominees were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals.  NCCSIA members voted for the all-state teams.
     The all-state softball teams include two starting pitchers, one catcher, four infielders, three outfielders and one designated hitter.  In the event of ties, all players included are honored on the all-state team.
     The second annual NCCSIA softball all-state team is led by three players from Wingate University, while Belmont Abbey, North Carolina Central and UNC Pembroke placed two players on the unit.
     Founded in 2002, The North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina.  The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools.  Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.  NCCSIA selects all-state teams for men's and women's soccer, softball and baseball on both the College and University (Division I) levels.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Contact:  Stan Cole / Campbell University / All-State Coordinator / 910.893.1331 / cole@campbell.edu

NCCSIA Announces 2005 North Carolina All-State College Division Softball Team

     GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Twelve student-athletes comprise the 2005 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) College Division All-State Softball Team released on Tuesday.
     The team consists of NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA student-athletes from North Carolina colleges and universities.  Nominees were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals.  NCCSIA members voted for the all-state teams.
     The all-state softball teams include two starting pitchers, one catcher, four infielders, three outfielders and one designated hitter.  In the event of ties, all players included are honored on the all-state team.
     The second annual NCCSIA softball all-state team is led by three players from Wingate University, while Belmont Abbey, North Carolina Central and UNC Pembroke placed two players on the unit.
     Frances Constantino of Greensboro College earned all-state recognition for the second-straight year.  She was one of three seniors on a squad that was dominated by underclassmen.
     Founded in 2002, The North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina.  The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools.  Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.  NCCSIA selects all-state teams for men's and women's soccer, softball and baseball on both the College and University (Division I) levels.

North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association
2005 College Division All-State Softball Team
Pos. Name Class School Hometown
P Nicole McCorkle Soph. UNC Pembroke Half Moon Bay, Calif.
P Clarisse Steans Soph. North Carolina Central Macon, Ga.
C Kristal Shelton Jr. St. Andrews Yakima, Wash.
IF Sarah Carleton Jr. Wingate Powhatan, Va.
IF Leigh Carter Jr. Belmont Abbey Belmont, N.C.
IF Cameron Langston Sr. Wingate Goldsboro, N.C.
IF Asha Sutton Soph. North Carolina Central LaGrange, N.C.
OF Frances Constantino Sr. Greensboro Burnsville, N.C.
OF Grace Cunningham Jr. Wingate Camden, S.C.
OF Jennifer Franklin Sr. Guilford Greensboro, N.C.
OF Danielle Peters Soph. UNC Pembroke Vass, N.C.
DH Amy Sturch Jr. Belmont Abbey Oshawa, Ontario

Nominated by North Carolina Sports Information professionals / Selected by NCCSIA members
 

     Wingate teammates Sarah Carleton, Cameron Langston and Grace Cunningham earned places on the all-state unit after helping the Bulldogs to a 32-13 overall record.  A two-time All-South Atlantic Conference infielder, Carleton led Wingate in batting (.396) and shared the team lead in home runs (7) while driving in 39.
     Langston, a 2005 first-team All-SAC infielder, batted .378 with four homers and 39 RBI, while hitting at a .413 clip in league play and a .529 rate in the conference tournament.  Cunningham, a three-time All-SAC outfielder, hit .389 with 15 doubles, seven home runs and 40 RBI.
     UNC Pembroke pitcher Nicole McCorkle earned all-state recognition after leading NCAA Division II in strikeouts (364), setting a new Peach Belt Athletic Conference and school record in the process.  She was a first-team All-Southeast Region and All-PBAC pick while compiling a 17-10 won-lost record with a 1.35 ERA and three saves.
     Outfielder Danielle Peters also represented UNCP on the all-state squad after helping the Braves to a school-record 31 victories (31-20) and the program's first regional ranking during 2005.  The sophomore ranked second nationally in Division II with 56 stolen bases in 57 attempts to also set school and league records.  She batting .381 and earned second-team all-region honors.
     North Carolina Central sophomore pitcher Clarisse Steans gained all-state honors, adding to a list that already includes Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year and All-CIAA first-team recognition.  She struck out 194 batters in 265 2/3 innings, while posting a 26-18 record and 3.66 ERA. Her strikeout and victory totals both were school records.
     Infielder Asha Sutton also represented NCCU on the all-state unit after the shortstop gained first-team All-CIAA recognition.  She led Division II with 66 runs scored (1.51 per game) and also rated among the nation's top-10 in triples (9), doubles (18) and batting (.500).  NCCU won the CIAA Western Division title for the first time since 1998, winning a school-record 26 games (26-18) in the process.
     Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Player of the Year Leigh Carter of Belmont Abbey was an all-state choice after leading the league in batting (.418), slugging (.694), on-base percentage and walks.  The infielder also earned first-team All-CVAC honors while rating second in the league in home runs (9) and total bases.
     Carter's teammate Amy Sturch was named the NCCSIA all-state designated hitter after hitting .377 with 14 doubles and 31 RBI in 47 games.  The Belmont Abbey junior also gained first-team All-CVAC recognition after ranking among the league's top four in batting, doubles and on-base percentage.
     First-team All-CVAC honoree Kristal Shelton of St. Andrews Presbyterian was also named the NCCSIA all-state catcher.  The junior hit .375 with 12 doubles, five homers and 22 RBI in 42 games for the Knights.
     Constantino of Greensboro College and Jennifer Franklin of Guilford also gained spots in the NCCSIA all-state outfield.  A first-team USA South Conference selection, Constantino set school single-season (25) and career (62) stolen base records while batting at a .400 clip.  She also led the Pride to a school-record 24 victories and a second-place finish in the USA South.
     Franklin added all-state honors to first-team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference recognition after she led the ODAC in doubles (17) and totals bases, while rating second in hits (55) and home runs (4) with a .393 batting average.
     The NCCSIA all-state baseball and softball University Division (NCAA I) will be announced next week.