May 16, 2005

ABILENE, Texas - Three Hardin-Simmons softball players - Nicole Cortez, Sayde Hill and Arin Spence -- have been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region team.

Cortez was named a first-team outfielder and Hill was named to the first team as a utility player. Spence earned second team honors as a utility player.

Hill was named co-ASC freshman of the year after leading the conference with a ,472 average with eight home runs and 47 RBIs. Cortez led the team with 11 stolen bases, was perfect in the field had a team-best 17 doubles, hit .368 with two home runs and 25 RBIs.

Spence went 22-5 on the mound with 183 strikeouts in 157 innings of work. She also hit .339 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs and played left field, third base and shortstop when she was not pitching.

HSU was the only ASC school to have a player named to the first team. First team selections go on the national ballot for All-American honors. HSU went 32-9 and won the American Southwest Conference West Division in just its second season of competition.