Posted: Jun 19, 2012
Four Maroons were named to the VaSID All-State team, as Leona Rainey and Higbie earned first-team honors, while Felice Lowery and Stephanie Clark were tabbed with second-team accolades.
Kelly Higbie
As just a freshman, the Midlothian, Virginia native has already etched her name into the Roanoke College record books. Higbie was named Most Outstanding Player for both the ODAC Tournament and the NCAA DIII Newport News Regional Tournament. She was also named to the All-ODAC, All-Atlantic Region and NCAA Championships All-Tournament team, as well as being the ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year. Higbie finished her first year with a record of 30-10 in 261.1 innings pitched. She has broken the Roanoke single-season records in wins (30), starts (41), appearances (45), complete games (36), innings pitched (261.1), strikeouts (141) and tied the record in shutouts (8). Higbie is already second all-time at Roanoke College in complete games and fourth in shutouts. Her 30 victories this season ranked third amongst all pitchers in the NCAA.
Leona Rainey
Rainey, a two-time All-American, batted .371 on the season. This is her third time being named to the All-State Team. She led the team in runs (57), home runs (8), and stolen bases (41). At the end of her junior year, Rainey holds the Roanoke career record for stolen bases with 103, 11 more than second place. She holds the single-season records for runs scored and stolen bases, both accomplished in 2012. Over the last two seasons, Rainey has successfully stolen 66 consecutive bases, which ranks her second all-time in NCAA history. Rainey just needs to successfully steal her next three bases to break the current record, held by Rose Kuchwara of Marywood (1996-98). Lastly, with one year to play, Rainey sits at the top of the career record list for Roanoke College in on base percentage (.498) and second in batting average (.426)
Felice Lowery
Lowery, from Madison Heights, Virginia, led the Maroons in batting with 59 hits and finished second with an average of .401. She ranked second on the squad in total bases (93), RBIs (41) and home runs (6). Lowery earned many awards in 2012 as she was named a member of the 2012 All-Atlantic Region team, 2012 Newport News Regional All-Tournament Team, First-Team All-ODAC, and ODAC All-Tournament Team. Lowery ranks the top-10 in the career list in numerous statistical categories: doubles (32), triples (6), home runs (14), RBIs (110), and total bases (235).
Stephanie Clark
Clark, the Nathalle, Virginia native led the squad in hitting with an average of .404. Named a member of the Newport News Regional All-Tournament Team and All-Region Team, Clark led all batters during the tournament, hitting 9-for-13 for a mark of .692. She led the team this season in doubles (17), which ranked third in the all-time single season record book. She also led the team in RBIs with 42. Clark boasted the highest slugging percentage on the team with a mark of .695.
The complete teams are listed below. For more information about VaSID, log onto the new home of the Virginia Sports Information Directors at www.vasidsports.com.
VaSID College Division Player of the Year – Tori Higginbotham, VWC
VaSID College Division Rookie of the Year – Kelly Higbie, Roanoke
VaSID College Division Coach of the Year – Mike Mitchell, Roanoke
1st Team
C – Chelsea Mitchell, CNU
1B – Sabrina Hill, CNU
2B – Jen Falin, CNU
3B – Brianna Bertovich, VWC
SS – Ashley Gardner, Randolph
OF – Tori Higginbotham, VWC
OF – Leona Rainey, Roanoke
OF – Karly Thompson, Ferrum
DP – Gina Pagano, Randolph
UTI – Hannah Shumaker, Ferrum
P – Kelly Higbie, Roanoke
P – Kristina Karagiorgis, VWC
2nd Team
C – Felice Lowery, Roanoke
1B – Morgon Lamon, Mary Washington
2B – Kelly Keys, VWC
3B – Patti Vinson, Randolph
SS – Stephanie Clark, Roanoke
OF – Kelly Foate, CNU
OF – Brittany Guepe, Shenandoah
OF – Lauren Stevenson, Randolph
DP – Sarah Heretick, Bridgewater
UTI – Lisa Lee, EMU
P – Kaitlyn Culler, Ferrum
P – Whitney Haller, CNU
