Southeast Missouri's Anderson and Jacksonville State's Sims Headline Postseason Softball Awards

Southeast Missouri's Anderson and Jacksonville State's Sims Headline Postseason Softball Awards

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Southeast Missouri's Rachel Anderson was named the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year while Jacksonville State's Faith Sims was tabbed the 2019 OVC Pitcher of the Year as voted on by the league's head softball coaches and sports information directors. Murray State's Hannah James earned OVC Freshman of the Year honors while Southeast Missouri's Mark Redburn was named the OVC Coach of the Year.
 
A native of Edwardsville, Ill., Anderson leads the league in batting average (.453), hits (73), RBI (53), triples (9), on-base percentage (.548) and slugging percentage (.863). Her nine triples rank third in the NCAA while her batting average is eighth. The junior outfielder is also second in the OVC in runs scored (48), 7th in home runs (12) and sixth in doubles (12). The All-OVC first team pick broke the school's career triple mark early this season and currently has 23 for her career. She becomes the fifth Redhawk to earn OVC Player of the Year honors.
 
Sims, a product of Jasper, Ala., leads the league with 21 wins and a 1.57 ERA. The first team All-OVC selections also ranks first in the Conference in saves (6) and shutouts (11). She is second in the OVC with 173 strikeouts, 169.2 innings pitched and 26 complete games. The senior tossed three no-hitters this year, including back-to-back no-hitters against UT Martin and Southeast Missouri. She fanned 10 or more batters twice this season, including tying a school single-game record with 16 strikeouts versus Jacksonville. She is the fifth Gamecock to earn this honor.
 
James, a freshman pitcher from Nicholasville, Ky., ranks among league leaders with a 2.58 ERA and 120 strikeouts. She leads the OVC with 29 starts so far this season. The All-OVC second team pick recorded a team-leading 12 win. She has struck out 10 batters twice this season. James is the second Racers to win Freshman of the Year honors.
 
Redburn earns his first OVC coach of the Year honor after leading his team to a share of its sixth OVC regular-season title and first since 1999. The Redhawks lead the league in team ERA (2.62), hits (442) and runs scored (325) while ranking second with a .302 team batting average. Southeast Missouri enters the Conference tourney having won six of its last seven games. It marks the sixth time a coach from Southeast Missouri has won this honor.
 
Joining Anderson and Sims on the All-OVC first team are Austin Peay senior pitcher Morgan Rackel (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), senior catcher Carly Mattson (McHenry, Ill.), redshirt senior outfielder Kacy Acree (Riverside, Calif.) and senior utility/designated player Danielle Liermann (Simi Valley, Calif.); Jacksonville State senior infielder Anna Chisolm (St. Louis, Mo.), freshman infielder Karsen Mosley (Saraland, Ala.), senior outfielder Taylor Beshears (Trussville, Ala.); Southeast Missouri senior pitcher Haley Thogmartin (St. Louis, Mo.) and junior infielder Ashley Ellis (Arnold, Mo.); and Eastern Kentucky senior infielder Hannah Clark (Lakewood, Calif.)
 
Along with James earning second team honors are Eastern Kentucky sophomore catcher Zoe Mihalicz (Parker, Colo.), senior infielder Destinee Lizzmore (Jacksonville, Fla.) and sophomore outfielder Sammi Miller (Huntsville, Ohio); Belmont junior pitcher Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) and senior outfielder Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.); Eastern Illinois sophomore infielder Megan Burton (Danville, Ill.) and junior utility/designated player Haley Mitchell (San Gabriel, Calif.); Austin Peay freshman infielder Lexi Osowski (San Diego, Calif.); Southeast Missouri junior outfielder Claudia Gallo (Arnold, Mo.); SIUE redshirt junior infielder Zoe Schafer (Noblesville, Ind.); and UT Martin sophomore outfielder Paige Clark (Lafayette, Tenn.)
 
Joining James on the All-Newcomer team are Tennessee Tech freshman pitcher Alyssa Arden (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) and freshman infielder Raleigh Lewis (Ringgold, Ga.); UT Martin freshman pitcher Lexi Ray (Louisville, Ky.) and junior outfielder Haylee Short (Hillsboro, Mo.); Austin Peay freshman infielder Lexi Osowski (San Diego, Calif.); Belmont freshman catcher Audrey Lyle (Westlake, Ohio); Eastern Kentucky sophomore outfielder Sammi Miller (Huntsville, Ohio); Jacksonville State freshman infielder Karsen Mosely (Saraland, Ala.); Murray State junior pitcher Taylor Makowsky (Tomball, Texas); SIUE freshman outfielder Kylie Lane (Cape Girardeau, Mo.); and Tennessee State freshman pitcher Raven Loveless (Alexander, Ark.).
  
2019 All-Ohio Valley Conference Softball Teams
 
FIRST TEAM
P - Morgan Rackel (Austin Peay) - Sr - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
P - Faith Sims (Jacksonville State) - Sr. - Jasper, Ala.
P - Haley Thogmartin (Southeast Missouri) - Sr. - St. Louis, Mo.
C - Carly Mattson (Austin Peay)  - Sr. - McHenry, Ill.
IF - Hannah Clark (Eastern Kentucky)  - Sr. - Lakewood, Calif.
IF - Anna Chisolm (Jacksonville State) - Sr. - St. Louis, Mo.
IF - Ashley Ellis (Southeast Missouri) - Jr. - Arnold, Mo.
IF - Karsen Mosley (Jacksonville State) - Fr. - Saraland, Ala.
OF - Kacy Acree (Austin Peay) - R-Sr. - Riverside, Calif.
OF - Rachel Anderson (Southeast Missouri) - Jr. - Edwardsville, Ill.
OF - Taylor Beshears (Jacksonville State) - Sr. - Trussville, Ala.
UTIL/DP - Danielle Liermann (Austin Peay) - Sr. - Simi Valley, Calif.
  
2019 OVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rachel Anderson, Southeast Missouri
2019 OVC PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Faith Sims, Jacksonville State
2019 OVC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Hannah James, Murray State
2019 OVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Mark Redburn, Southeast Missouri
  
SECOND TEAM
P - Hannah James (Murray State) - Fr. - Nicholasville, Ky.
P - Brooklin Lee (Belmont) - Jr. -  Burns, Tenn.
C - Zoe Mihalicz (Eastern Kentucky) - So. - Parker, Colo.
IF - Megan Burton (Eastern Illinois) - So. - Danville, Ill.
IF - Destinee Lizzmore (Eastern Kentucky) - Sr. - Jacksonville, Fla.
IF - Lexi Osowski (Austin Peay) - Fr.  - San Diego, Calif.
IF - Zoe Schafer (SIUE) - R-Jr. - Noblesville, Ind.
OF - Paige Clark (UT Martin) - So. - Lafayette, Tenn.
OF - Baylee Cook (Belmont) - Sr. - Lewisburg, Tenn.
OF - Claudia Gallo (Southeast Missouri) - Jr. - Arnold, Mo.
OF - Sammi Miller (Eastern Kentucky) - So. - Huntsville, Ohio
UTIL/DP - Haley Mitchell (Eastern Illinois) - Jr. - San Gabriel, Calif.
  
ALL-NEWCOMER
Alyssa Arden (Tennessee Tech) - P - Fr. - Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Hannah James (Murray State) - P - Fr. - Nicholasville, Ky.
Kylie Lane (SIUE) - OF - Fr. - Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Raleigh Lewis (Tennessee Tech) - IF - Fr. - Ringgold, Ga.
Raven Loveless (Tennessee State)  - P - Fr. - Alexander, Ark.
Audrey Lyle (Belmont) - C - Fr. - Westlake, Ohio
Taylor Makowsky (Murray State) - P - Jr. - Tomball, Texas
Sammi Miller (Eastern Kentucky) - OF - So. - Huntsville, Ohio
Karsen Mosley (Jacksonville State) - IF - Fr. - Saraland, Ala.
Lexi Osowski (Austin Peay) - IF - Fr. - San Diego, Calif.
Lexi Ray (UT Martin) - P - Fr. - Louisville, Ky.
Haylee Short (UT Martin) - OF - Jr. - Hillsboro, Mo.