University of Minnesota Athletics
Alex Davis Named To All-Big Ten Third Team
5/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Park Ridge, Ill. - University of Minnesota softball player Alex Davis has been honored by the league coaches as a Third Team All-Big Ten honoree, announced today (May 19) by the league office.
Just a freshman, Davis is the Gophers' only representative on the All-Big Ten team and was honored as a utility player, while junior Natalie Neal won the Big Ten Sportsmanship award.
Davis led the team in home runs in 2010, banging out 10 in the season, which finished just outside the top 10 of the conference. That mark was also the most for the maroon and gold since Jordanne Nygren set the school record with 15 in 2003. Davis was also among the team batting leaders the entire season, and in conference play she led the Golden Gophers with a .315 mark.
The Harbor City, Calif. native was also a star on defense this season, playing both of the left side infield positions and starting games in three different spots. She opened the season at third base, and was a starter in the hot corner in 38 games, before moving to her left and starting the season's final 14 games at shortstop. Along the way she also logged one start behind the plate, at catcher, and was one of just three players to be found in the starting line-up in every game.
Davis' best game was a 4-for-4 performance on Mar. 21 against Weber State that included two home runs and a double. She scored four runs and knocked in three RBI in the 14-4 win. At the Gopher's recent awards banquet Davis was named Most Valuable Player and shared Rookie of the Year honors (Lacey Middlebrooks).
Neal appeared in 22 games on the season, and was a starter in five. When not in the starting line-up, the Frisco, Texas native was often called upon as a pinch hitter. This is her first Big Ten Sportsmanship honor.
2010 ALL-BIG TEN SOFTBALL TEAMS AND POSTSEASON HONORS
FIRST TEAM
Meredith Hackett, So., Illinois, 1B
Danielle Zymkowitz, Jr., Illinois, 2B
Alicia Herron, So., Ohio State, SS
Maggie Viefhaus, Sr., Michigan, 3B
Angela Findlay, Sr., Michigan, OF
Bree Evans, So., Michigan, OF
Hope Howell, Sr., Illinois, OF
Sam Marder, Sr., Ohio State, C
Nikki Nemitz, Sr., Michigan, UT
Courtney Pruner, Sr., Ohio State, DP
Jordan Taylor, Jr., Michiga, P
Melanie Nichols, Fr., Ohio State, P
SECOND TEAM
Dorian Shaw, Jr., Michigan, 1B
Nicole Pauly, Sr., Northwestern, 2B
Emily Allard, Fr., Northwestern, SS
Molly Garst, So., Purdue, 3B
Jennifer Glueckert, Sr., Indiana, OF
Hollie Pinchback, Jr., Illinois, OF
Taylor Leichsenring, Sr., Iowa, OF
Liz Watkins, So., Iowa, C
Molly Bausher, Sr., Michigan, UT
Michelle Batts, Jr., Northwestern, DP
Monica Perry, So., Illinois, P
Pepper Gay, Fr., Illinois, P
THIRD TEAM
Lindsey Digmann, Jr., Iowa, 2B
Amanda Chidester, So., Michigan, 2B
Roya St. Clair, Sr., Michigan, C
Lindsey Hansen, Jr., Michigan State, SS
Alex Davis, Fr., Minnesota, UT
Adrienne Monka, So., Northwestern, 1B
Brittany Goodchild, Jr., Ohio State, OF
Dee Dee Hillman, Jr., Ohio State, OF
Lisa Akamine, So., Penn State, UT
Liane Horiuchi, Sr., Purdue, SS
Shannel Blackshear, Fr., Wisconsin, 3B
Jennifer Krueger, Jr., Wisconsin, OF
Letty Olivarez, Sr., Wisconsin, UT
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Nikki Nemitz, Michigan
Maggie Viefhaus, Michigan
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Jordan Taylor, Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Melanie Nichols, Ohio State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Terri Sullivan, Illinois
2010 SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Hope Howell, ILL
Monica Wright, IND
Katie Brown, IOWA
Kristin Larsen, MICH
Karen Fox, MSU
Natalie Neal, MINN
Lauren Ackerman, NU
Megan Miller, OSU
Ashley Griffith, PSU
Ashley Barr, PUR
Kendall Grimm, WIS
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