Jan. 26, 2012
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By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF senior shortstop Natalie Land (Mayo, Fla.) earned a spot on the 2012 Preseason All-Conference USA Softball first team, the conference office announced on Wednesday.
The league's nine head coaches selected the 15-player team. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Last season, Land finished the year as the Knights' team leader in batting average (.346), runs (31), hits (54), doubles (7), triples (5), slugging percentage (.513), on-base percentage (.436), sacrifice hits (9) and stolen bases (25). At the conclusion of the regular season, she was named to the All-C-USA First Team as well as the C-USA All-Academic Team.
Tulsa sophomore right-hander Aimee Creger was selected C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year while Houston's senior slugger Melissa Gregson was named C-USA Preseason Player of the Year. The Knights open their season on Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. against Florida A&M at the National Collegiate Softball Invitational.
Conference USA Preseason Poll (1st-place votes)
1. Tulsa (7) - 79
2. Houston (1) - 67
3. UAB (1) - 60
4. Memphis - 52
5. East Carolina - 39
6. UCF - 33
7. Southern Miss - 32
8. Marshall - 27
9. UTEP - 16
Preseason All-Conference USA Team
P - Aimee Creger, Tulsa, So.
P - Carly Hummel, Memphis, Jr.
C - Rebecca Gamby, Marshall, Sr.
IF - Samantha Cobb, Tulsa, Jr.
IF - Holly Anderson, Houston, Jr.
IF - Natalie Land, UCF, Sr.
IF - Jessica Phillips, Memphis, Sr.
IF - Jill Barrett, Tulsa, So.
IF - Kristi Oshiro, East Carolina, So.
OF - Caitlin Everett, Tulsa, Jr.
OF - Leslie LeJune, Southern Miss, Sr.
OF - Suzanne Riggs, East Carolina, Sr.
OF - Melissa Gregson, Houston, Sr.
DP - Jill Jelnick, East Carolina, So.
UT - Chelsea Troupe, UTEP, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year
Melissa Gregson, Houston, Sr.
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Aimee Creger, Tulsa, So.