Bulldogs named to IEL softball team

SANDPOINT — Senior clean-up hitter Stephanie Ferguson was named to the Inland Empire League first team as the coaches announced their all-league selections for the 2007 softball season on Monday. Ferguson was one of three Bulldogs named to the team, as voted on by the league's coaches.

Ferguson hit .375 on the season, tied the school record with 22 RBIs and provided a powerful threat in the middle of the Bulldogs batting order. She is the first player in coach Derek Dickinson's three years as coach to be named to the first team.

"I'm really excited about that, it's a positive step for the program," said Dickinson of Ferguson's honor. "The other coaches recognized her abilities. She was a clutch hitter, respected by everyone in the league."

Catcher Macaela Brady was named to the second team after hitting .387, with 18 runs, 17 RBIs, a school record three triples and some stellar defense behind the plate.

"Her defensive abilities stood out with a lot of coaches," said Dickinson. "Her play behind the plate kept us in games."

Sophomore second baseman Kim Guercio broke her own team record by hitting .388 on the season, and used her speed to leg out a team-high seven doubles. She also scored 14 runs and drove in 10.

"Her strength is hitting," said Dickinson, "She's the most consistent hitter we had on the team."

ALL-INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

SOFTBALL

MVP — Jenna DeLong, sr., Coeur d'Alene.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Brigitte Lowe, fr., Moscow.

COACH OF THE YEAR — Jessica Shawley, Moscow.

FIRST TEAM

PITCHER — Blake Meredith, so., Post Falls. CATCHER — Lauran Nagrone, jr., Post Falls. INFIELDERS — Nicole Smith, so., Moscow; Lindsey Stark, sr., Coeur d'Alene; Sean Topp, sr., Post Falls; Chantal Waide, sr., Lake City; Amanda Krier, jr., Lake City; Harmony Chapman, sr., Lewiston. OUTFIELDERS — Sarah Hawley, sr., Moscow; Lauren Bender, sr., Moscow; Amber Coburn, so., Coeur d'Alene; Kylie Chandler, sr., Coeur d'Alene; Stephanie Ferguson, sr., Sandpoint. DESIGNATED PLAYER — Bri Harbour, sr., Lake City.

SECOND TEAM

PITCHER — Jessica Ulrich, so., Lewiston. CATCHER — Nancy Charles, jr., Moscow. INFIELD — Macaela Brady, sr., Sandpoint; Amanda Brouillard, so., Coeur d'Alene; Jessica Kraft, so., Coeur d'Alene; Brianne Joseph, fr., Post Falls; Amy Woodland, sr., Lewiston; Jamie Klopatek, fr., Lakeland. OUTFIELDERS — Jessica Ross, so., Lake City; Danielle Erickson, jr., Coeur d'Alene; Nicole Redd, fr., Lewiston; Cassie Joseph, sr., Post Falls; Haley Petersen, jr., Lake City.

HONORABLE MENTION: Amanda Hoffman, so., Lewiston; Lauren Horton, jr., Coeur d'Alene; Lisa Steinbach, sr., Post Falls; Lela Work, soph., Lake City; Kim Guerico, soph., Sandpoint; Stephanie Heuett, sr., Lakeland; Angela Fritz, sr., Moscow.