The FIU softball team earned several Sun Belt Conference honors, with first-year coach Beth McClendon winning Coach of the Year and five players being named all-conference.
McClendon, who was hired from the University of Florida in 2007, guided FIU to a 28-32 overall record, including 12-11 in the Sun Belt. FIU was picked to finish eighth in the conference preseason poll, but behind a stout lineup, finished fourth.
''A big part of what drove us to a successful season was being picked eighth,'' McClendon said. ``With a change in coaches, there's always a little uncertainty, but the kids bought into the program heart and soul and I feel that I owe them a lot for that.''
FIU led the Sun Belt in hits (468), doubles (84) and home runs (73). The Golden Panthers were second in the conference in batting average (.289) and runs (299).
Junior outfielder Kim Rodriguez, an integral part of the offense, was named first-team all-conference.
Rodriguez finished the regular season with 17 home runs -- first on the team and second in the conference.
Katie Bell, Amanda Cox, Jessica Landau and MoniqueWhite were named to the second team for FIU.
BARRY
Four Barry University softball players earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americahonors.
Pitcher Amber Jack was named to the first team, and Cristina DeTagle, Ashley Likens and Megan Young earned spots on the second team.
Jack (30-2, 0.56 ERA), who already been named Sunshine State Conference and Daktronics All-South Region Pitcher of the Year, earned her first All-America honor.
Also earning her first All-America honor was DeTagle, a right fielder who led the Buccaneers with a career-high .442 batting average and set the program's career record for hits with 222.
Likens, a second baseman, hit .385 and led the Bucs with eight home runs and 55 RBI.
Young, a designated player, hit .358, with five home runs and 33 RBI. As a pitcher, Young was 10-4 with a 1.36 ERA, and struck out 120 batters in 92 1/3 innings.
BROWARD CC
Broward Community College pitcher Matt Gilson was selected FCCAA pitcher of the week and also was named Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year and first team all-conference.
Other first team all-conference selections for the Seahawks were J.J. Jimenez and Tito Espinosa.
Anthony Mesa was named second team all-conference.
• BCC softball players Amanda Heyl and Iris Kolman were named to the All-Southern Conference second team. Diana Ochoa, SamanthaChristiansen and AliciaAdeimy were honorable mentions.
• BCC tennis player Vanja Mikovic, seeded 17th among 64 players in the main draw of No. 1 singles, finished 3-1 and reached the semifinals at the NJCAA Championship in Tucson.
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN
Four Nova Southeastern University players were named to the All-Sunshine State first team.
Sharks first baseman BryanCook was named the conference's Player of the Year, and also was named to the first team. Cook hit .418 with 17 home runs.
Joining Cook on the first team were left fielder J.D.Martinez, designated hitter Cory Clark and pitcher Ruddy Garcia.
Martinez hit .370 with 12 home runs and a team-high 56 RBI.
Clark hit .385 and Garcia went 8-2 with a 4.22 ERA.
• Women's golfer Sandra Changkija was named the PING NGCA Division II Player of the Year and the Division II Freshman of the Year.
Changkija also was joined on the NGCA Division II All-America first team by teammate Maria Garcia Austt.
Nova has had back-to-back recipients of the National Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards. Garcia Austt swept both awards last season.
