University of Tennessee Athletics
SEC Announces Softball Awards
May 10, 2000 | Softball
In All-Southeastern Conference voting released on May 10, Kentucky's Beth Kirchner was tabbed as Coach of the Year after the Wildcats claimed the Eastern Division crown for the first time. LSU infielder Ashlee Ducote nabbed Player of the Year accolades, while Alabama catcher Lacy Prejean was chosen as the League's Rookie of the Year. Tennessee did not place any members on the 24-member squad, marking the initial time that the Lady Vols did not have an All-SEC pick.
Western Division winner LSU led the squad with seven overall selections, including four on the First Team. Alabama, which finished one game back of the Tigers, placed six members on the squad. Florida and Mississippi State managed three choices apiece, followed by Arkansas and Kentucky with two each. A total of seven teams of the league's 11 were represented. Under the direction of Jim Beitia, Tennessee was 5-22 in league play one campaign after capturing the East with a 17-11 mark.
2000 SEC SOFTBALL AWARDS FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC Shelley Laird P Alabama Britni Sneed P LSU Keri McCallum C Mississippi State Ginger Jones IF Alabama Ashlee Ducote IF LSU Stephanie Hastings IF LSU Tara Asbill IF LSU Mary Petrie DP/UTL Auburn Kelly Kretschman OF Alabama Ashley Boone OF Florida Leslie Kwiatkowski OF Kentucky Kellie Wilkerson OF Mississippi State SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC Ashley Lewis P LSU Tammy Kincaid P Arkansas Lacy Prejean C Alabama Suzanne Olcott IF Alabama Brett Erickson IF Arkansas Shaunte' Fremin IF LSU Karrie Rider IF Mississippi State Lora Pinkerton IF Florida Emily Marino DP/UTL Florida Christy Kyle OF Alabama Tiffany Kruse OF Kentucky Stephanie Newton OF LSU COACH OF THE YEAR Beth Kirchner, Kentucky PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ashlee Ducote, LSU ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Lacy Prejean, Alabama
