Collins, Collom named First-Team All-SLC
5/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2011
Arlington, Texas -
2011 Southland Conference All-Conference Teams 
2011 Southland Conference Tournament Bracket
In her first season at UT Arlington, true freshman Callie Collins earned the recognition of Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year by vote of the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, the league office announced Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference softball teams.
In 35 appearances in the circle, Collins helped the Mavericks to a 33-23 overall record after posting an 18-9 record with a 1.60 ERA in 188.1 innings pitched. The true freshman also recorded the second most strikeouts in the conference with 197 and held her opponents to a .187 batting average.
"Callie did an outstanding job on the mound for us this year," said head coach Debbie Hedrick. "She is a talented pitcher and a competitor who doesn't like to lose. She had a great year and is deserving of First Team All Conference and Pitcher of the Year. She will continue to get even stronger as she continues in her career. I'm very pleased and fortunate to have her in our program here at UTA."
A first-team all-conference selection, Collins is the first UT Arlington freshman to earn the superlative award since former Maverick Katy Cox (2003).
Three-time All-SLC award winner Rebecca Collom was a first-time all-SLC selection for the first time in her career. The senior finished the regular-season leading the team in batting with a .340 average. Collom connected on a team high 12 home runs, bringing her career total to 36. Collom's 36 homers is first in UTA's all-time list.
"I'm very excited for Rebecca's first team all-conference honor. She's the rock and leader of our team. She's dealt with an illness all year and has battled and stayed strong day in and day out even when she was in terrible pain."
"She is the most loyal competitor that I've ever had the honor of coaching. I'm so proud of her and so thankful that I have had the opportunity to get to know such a wonderful young lady and great athlete. She has a big heart, a winner and will be missed next year," said Hedrick.
Juniors Erica LeFlore and Charne Office made their way onto the third team all-conference team for their first time in their careers.
LeFlore finished the regular-season batting .282 with eight doubles, five home runs and drove in 29 RBI. LeFlore's last homer came in game one of the A&M-Corpus Christi series to lead the Mavericks to a 7-0 shutout victory.
"Erica had to fill in and play third for us last year and this season moved back to her catching position in which she had a solid year. We've changed her swing a bit so I expect she will have even a greater senior year. I'm very proud of her and I look for her be a strong leader for us next year as well," said Hedrick. Office collected her first all-conference honor after finishing the regular-season batting .232 with eight doubles, five long balls and 31 RBI. The right fielder also connected on a homer in game one of the A&M-Corpus Christi series.
"Charne worked extremely hard for two years with a positive attitude and this year earned the opportunity to play in the outfield for us. She played solid defense and had a solid year offensively. I'm very proud to have Charne on my team and I believe she will have a great senior year," Hedrick said.
Four Mavericks also made their way onto the honorable mention list as junior Courtney Zink, junior transfer Kersti Rowan, freshman Stephanie Gonzalez and sophomore Teri Lyles all represented UT Arlington.
Second baseman Courtney Zink finished the regular-season batting .284 as she connected on a career high 42 hits. She drove in 16 RBI and had 24 runs scored.
In her first season, Rowan has made 45 starts at left field where she connected on 34 hits and had 17 runs scored.
Gonzalez has started every game for the Mavericks in center field where she has yet to commit an error. The freshman has connected on 39 hits, three doubles, triple, two home runs and drove in 18 RBI for a .271 average.
Lyles was a big part of the Mavericks success this season as she finished the regular-season with a 14-13 record in the circle. The sophomore recorded a 2.48 ERA in 169.2 innings pitched and had 18 complete games. She also led the pitching staff with five shutouts, her last coming in game one against A&M-Corpus Christi.
The No. 2 seeded Mavericks will face the winner of No. 3 Texas State and No. 6 Northwestern State on Thursday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Huntsville. Texas.
