San Antonio – Malissa Magee was named Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year for the fourth straight season, while Sade Moore picked up Player of the Year honors and Donna Fields was named Coach of the Year for the sixth time in the Heartland Conference Postseason Honors, which were announced on Friday. In all, nine Rattlers were named All-Heartland Conference this season.

Magee (Sr., Katy) finished the 2008 season with a 36-8 overall record and a 1.22 ERA. She saw action in 48 games, including 38 starts, and had 35 complete games and 18 shutouts. She tossed 280.2 innings this season, striking out 336 and limiting opposing batters to just a .167 average against her. She was nearly unhittable in conference play this season, going 15-1 with a 0.21 ERA, including nine shutouts in 13 starts. She struck out 114 batters in 98.0 innings. She is the only pitcher in Heartland Conference history to earn Pitcher of the Year honors four times. She was also named first team All-Heartland Conference for the fourth straight season.

Fields earned Heartland Conference Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time in the league’s eight-year history. She led the Rattlers to a 53-12 overall mark, the second most wins in school history, and their eighth straight Heartland Conference Tournament title. The Rattlers rolled through the Heartland Conference this season, posting a 26-2 record to win the regular season title. Fields recently won her 500th game as a coach and is 504-180 in 11 seasons as coach at St. Mary’s.

Moore (Jr., Angleton) was nearly unstoppable as the lead-off hitter for the Rattlers this season and was rewarded with not only her first first-team All-Heartland pick, but co-Player of the Year honors. She shared the award with Kristen Lozano of St. Edward’s University. For the season she hit .423 with five doubles, three triples, 21 RBI, 53 runs scored and 32 stolen bases. She was even tougher in Heartland play, hitting .527 with 23 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 2 games. Moore was a second team All-Heartland pick in 2007.

In addition to Magee and Moore, two other Rattlers earned first team All-Heartland Conference honors: Lindsay Barnes (Sr., San Antonio) and Nikki Flores (Jr., Angleton).

Barnes was second on the team in hitting with a .381 average, eight doubles, six homeruns, 40 RBI and 16 runs scored. She drew 19 walks to post a .460 on-base percentage. Barnes was especially tough in Heartland Conference play, hitting .464 with six doubles, five homeruns and 26 RBI in just 28 games. Barnes earned All-Heartland Conference honors for the fourth straight season.

Flores saw action in 61 games this season and hit .286 with seven doubles, 19 RBI and 33 runs scored. She committed just one error all season. The all-conference honor was the first for Flores.

Five Rattlers were named second team All-Heartland Conference this season: Kelly Baker (Fr., Arlington), Arlynda Flores (So., Uvalde), Sarah Cooper (Sr., Houston), Taryn Munoz (So., Bulverde) and Kelcy Walker (Sr., San Antonio).

Baker made her first season in San Antonio a memorable one, hitting .278 with seven doubles, six homeruns, 36 RBI and 24 runs scored. She had a sizzling .992 fielding percentage in 372 chances this season. Baker was even tougher against Heartland competition, hitting .377 with five doubles, four homeruns, 19 RBI and 16 runs scored.

Flores, a transfer from Ohio State University, made a smooth transition into Division II play this season and was rewarded for her play. She hit .362 with eight doubles, two triples, six homeruns, 35 RBI and 40 runs scored. She was also 13-of-18 in stolen base opportunities this season. Against Heartland competition she was even better, hitting .475 with five doubles, two triples, two homeruns, 22 RBI and 25 runs scored in just 28 games.

Cooper finished her Rattlers career in style, earning All-Heartland Conference honors for the second straight season. She hit .312 with seven doubles, two homeruns, 31 RBI and 19 runs scored this season. She hit .358 against Heartland foes in 2008.

Munoz had a break-out season in 2008 and was rewarded as a second team All-Heartland Conference pick. Munoz went 14-3 with a 1.52 ERA, nine complete games and six shutouts this season. She tossed 110.1 innings with 74 strikeouts against just 19 walks. Opposing batters hit just .212 against her this season. The All-Heartland honors were the first for her as a Rattler.

Walker wrapped up her Rattler career with her second straight All-Heartland Conference selection. She hit .310 with eight doubles, a team-high eight homeruns, 32 RBI, 23 runs scored and a .979 fielding percentage. She was even tougher against Heartland Conference pitching, hitting .400 with five doubles, four homeruns, 18 RBI and 13 runs scored.

The Rattlers ended the 2008 season with a record of 53-12 overall and 26-2 in Heartland Conference play. The Rattlers won the Heartland Conference regular season and tournament titles for the first time. They won the Heartland Conference Tournament for the eighth straight season and also advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament for the eighth straight season. The 53 wins is the second most in school history.

Back to top