Boston College Athletics
Speer Named ACC Softball Freshman Of The Year
May 13, 2011 | Softball
May 13, 2011
Greensboro, N.C. - Boston College freshman Tory Speer was recognized as the 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Eagle to receive an individual award since joining the league in 2006. Commissioner John Swofford also announced the naming of Georgia Tech junior Kelsi Weseman as Player of Year and Maryland senior Kerry Hickey as Pitcher of the Year on Friday. Yellow Jacket head coach Sharon Perkins was tabbed as Coach of the Year.
"I am very honored to have been selected as the Freshman of the Year by the coaches in the ACC," Speer stated. "There are a lot of outstanding freshmen among the other seven schools around the conference who are also deserving of this achievement. Awards like this are not possible without the love and support of my teammates, coaches and family. I dedicate this award to my mom, who passed away a year and a half ago. I wish she could be here to share it with us. I am extremely thankful to be recognized in this way."
Speer joins former standout Renee Ramos as the second Eagle to be named to the All-ACC first team. She is the fifth player from BC to garner league honors as the top rookie, as Alexis Beckman (1994), Mary Deitz (1997), Jennifer Perrotta (1998) and Kim Ryan (2000) were named Big East Rookies of the Year.
On the year, Speer ranks fifth in the conference for slugging percentage (.649) and seventh for home runs (11), while both marks are second among freshmen. In conference games, The Trabuco Canyon, Calif. native ranked in the top three in six categories, including batting average (.400), slugging percentage (.873), on base percentage (.492), runs batted in (19), home runs (7) and total bases (48). The leftfielder recently set the Boston College freshman home run record when she tagged Boston University for a pair of long balls and a career-best seven RBI, the most runs driven in during a single game by an ACC student-athlete this season.
"Tory being named ACC Freshman of the Year is a huge honor for her and our program," Head Coach Jennifer Finley said. "There are so many talented players in the conference and for her to be selected as the best rookie speaks volumes about the kind of athlete she is. She's worked really hard this year and we're really excited she received this award. Tory is a great person, the kind you love to have on your team. We are extremely happy for her and her family."
A three-time All-ACC selection, Weseman led the ACC in 10 categories and ranks in the top 10 nationally in five, including batting average (.445), home runs (21) and RBI (64). She is the third athlete ever to win the league's triple crown.
Hickey receives her second conference honor and becomes the first Terrapin to be named the Pitcher of the Year. She led the ACC with a 1.53 earned run average in conference games, while ranking second with an overall ERA of 1.49. The righty from Huntingtown, Md. Picked up 18 wins on the year, tallied 225 strikeouts and limited batters to a .189 batted against average.
The 2011 ACC Softball Championship begins at today at noon with Maryland pitted against NC State. Boston College will meet North Carolina on Mewborn Field at approximately 2:30 p.m. Live streaming and up to the minute statistics will be available throughout the weekend on the ACC's official championship website.
2011 All-ACC Softball Team
First Team
Name Yr. Pos. School
Tory Speer Fr. OF Boston College
Kristen Adkins Sr. P Georgia Tech#
Caitlin Jordan So. DP Georgia Tech
Alysha Rudnik Fr. C/3B Georgia Tech
Kelsi Weseman Jr. SS Georgia Tech%
Vangie Galindo Jr. OF Maryland
Kerry Hickey Sr. P Maryland#
Haleigh Dickey So. 1B North Carolina
Lori Spingola Fr. P North Carolina
Courtney Liddle So. 1B Virginia Tech
Second Team
Name Yr. Pos. School
Sarah Hamilton Sr. P Florida State%
Shayla Jackson Jr. RF Florida State
Jen Lapicki Sr. 1B Florida State
Christy Jones Sr. CF Georgia Tech#
Kristine Priebe Sr. 1B Georgia Tech#
Jessica Sinclair Jr. RF Georgia Tech
Bree Hanafin Jr. INF Maryland
Kelli Wheeler Jr. OF North Carolina
Stephanie Harris Fr. 1B/3B Virginia
Dani Anderson Fr. SS Virginia Tech
2011 ACC Player of the Year: Kelsi Weseman, Jr., SS, Georgia Tech
2011 ACC Pitcher of the Year: Kerry Hickey, Sr., P, Maryland
2011 ACC Freshman of the Year: Tory Speer, Fr., OF, Boston College
2011 ACC Coach of the Year: Sharon Perkins, Georgia Tech
# two-time selection
% three-time selection
