May 6, 2009
San Antonio – Arlynda Flores was named Heartland Conference Player of the Year to lead 10 St. Mary’s University softball players earning All-Heartland Conference honors in the 2009 All-Heartland Conference Softball Team, released on Wednesday. Kelly Baker, Jenna Saucedo, Chelsea Wenske, Sade Moore and Flores were named first team All-Heartland Conference, while Lauren Miller, Nikki Flores and Lia Provence were picked second team all-conference.
Arlynda Flores (Jr., Uvalde) earned both Player of the Year and first team All-Heartland Conference recognition as a utility player for her work as a pitcher and first baseman. She hit .401 with 15 doubles, 24 homeruns, 72 RBI and 56 runs scored at the plate. On the pitcher’s mound she is 14-13 with a 3.51 ERA, 10 complete games, three shutouts and 88 strikeouts in 199.2 innings of work. Her 24 homeruns currently has her tied for first in the nation and tied the St. Mary’s single-season school record. Flores earned first team All-Heartland honors for the first time after being named second team last season.
Baker (So., Arlington) had a strong sophomore season, finishing third on the team with a .379 batting average at catcher. She started all 64 games at catcher, hitting 14 doubles, 12 homeruns, 57 RBI and 38 runs scored. She had a strong .989 fielding percentage behind the plate for the Rattlers. Baker was a second team All-Heartland pick as a freshman last season.
Moore (Sr., Angleton) was a first team All-Heartland pick for the second straight year and earned all-conference recognition for the third straight year in the outfield. She was the second leading hitter on the Rattler squad, posting a .382 average with eight doubles, four triples, 26 RBI, 55 runs scored a Heartland Conference best 27 stolen bases.
Saucedo (Sr., Elmendorf) earned all-conference honors for the second time as a Rattler, and for the first time as a member of the first team at second base. Saucedo played in 61 games, hitting .256 with six doubles, four homeruns, 26 RBI and 30 runs scored.
Wenske (So., Shiner) was named first team all-conference recognition for the first time at third base. She batted .305 with seven doubles, seven homeruns, 32 RBI and 33 runs scored.
Miller (So., Baytown) was named second team All-Heartland in the outfield after hitting .276, with seven doubles, 25 RBI and 32 RBI. Nikki Flores (Sr., Friendswood) was named All-Heartland Conference for the second straight season, hitting .264 with four doubles, 17 RBI and 27 runs scored. Provence (So., Bastrop) received second team all-conference recognition, hitting .314 with six doubles, three triples, 22 RBI and 42 runs scored.
St. Mary’s had five first team selections, the most for any school, and eight overall picks, which tied with St. Edward’s University for the most, to the All-Heartland Conference team. The Rattlers finished the 2009 season with a 32-32 overall record and were second in the Heartland Conference standings. The Rattlers return six starters for the 2010 season.