Rock Hill, S.C.- The South Atlantic Conference announced its all-conference team this morning and seven Bears were selected to the 2022 All-SAC and Cassidy Wall was voted the Freshman of the Year winner for her performance in her first year as a Bear.  

Savannah Moorefield and Kylee Leonhardt were selected on the first team All-SAC team as it is the duo's fourth all-conference selection for the graduate seniors. Moorefield hit .398 this season with 4 HRs and 20 RBIs including a program-record 22-game hitting streak during the season. Leonhardt finished the regular season with a .379 avg. with 15 RBI and 47 RBI. Leonhardt broke the program record in home runs and RBIs during the season this year. 

Joining Moorefield and Leonhardt on the first team was Lauren Rakes. Rakes earned her second all-conference selection as the junior is 19-3 in the circle to go along with five saves. Rakes has stuck out 276 hitters -- which leads all of Division II --  in her 173 2/3 innings pitch so far this year. 

Wall was joined on the second team by Julia Mardigian and Hannah Jennings. Wall had an impressive initial season playing and starting in all 49 games while hitting .359 to go along with 8 HRs and 48 RBIs. Wall added a team-best 16 doubles in her first season in Hickory. Mardigian, another impact freshman for the Bears, hit .342 with 6 home runs and 37 RBI in her first season. Jennings, a senior from Marshall, N.C. had a career year hitting .329 go along with a career-best 5 HRs and 27 RBIs this season. 

Morgan Beeler was selected as a third team All-SAC pitcher as Beeler earned her second all-conference honor. The junior went 15-9 with a 2.74 ERA in 140 innings pitcher for the Bears in the circle. 

Wall is the fifth player to win Freshman of the Year for the Bears and the first since Leonhardt won it in 2018. 

Seven Bears selected is the most since the Bears had nine all-conference selections after the 2018 season. LR has now had 136 All-SAC selections in program history. 

SAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR 
Sarah Atkins 2009
Alex Smith 2010
Erin Boone 2016
Kylee Leonhardt 2018
Cassidy Wall 2022

2022 SAC Softball All-Conference
 
All-SAC First Team
OF – Savannah Moorefield, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Natalie Corbin, Carson-Newman
OF – Madison Henry, Lincoln Memorial
1B – Kayson Boatner, Anderson
2B – Emily Harris, Carson-Newman
SS – Leah Sohm, Carson-Newman
3B – Heaven Maness, Wingate
DP – Maddie Carpenter, Anderson
UTL/Non-P – Hannah Towery, Newberry
UTL/P - Sydney Kale, Wingate
C – Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Laken Maxwell, Anderson
P – Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
 
All-SAC Second Team
OF – Mary Vandergriff, Carson-Newman
OF – Cassidy Wall, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Mallena Wright, Newberry
1B – Macey Hughes, Carson-Newman
2B – Julia Mardigian, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Hannah Whitaker, Anderson
3B – Hannah Jennings, Lenoir-Rhyne
DP – Anna Alloway, Tusculum
UTL/Non-P – Ashley Parnell, Limestone
UTL/P - Emily Sappington, Tusculum
C – Mackenzie Turner, Newberry
P – Emma Frost, Lincoln Memorial
P – Harlie Duncan, Anderson
 
All-SAC Third Team
OF – Olivia Rose Wheeler, Anderson
OF – Mya Maddox, Tusculum
OF – SieAnna Cameron, Carson-Newman
1B – Sierra Brogdon, Newberry
2B – Sara Stroud, Wingate
SS – Kayla Smith, Queens
3B – Jordyn Thompson, Queens
DP – Carmen Holt, Carson-Newman
UTL/Non-P – Farley Park, Mars Hill
UTL/P - Hali Scott, Wingate
C – McKenzie Henry, Lincoln Memorial
P – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Jordan Dunn, Queens
 
Freshman of the Year
Cassidy Wall, Lenoir-Rhyne
 
Player of the Year
Kayson Boatner, Anderson
 
Pitcher of the Year
Laken Maxwell, Anderson
 
Coach of the Year
Tommy Hewitt, Anderson