USU places palyers on Big West All Conference team
Sara Fleming and Quela Leonhardt became the first Utah State softball players since 1998 to earn second team all-Big West honors as the league office announced its all-conference team on Tuesday. Leslie Higley also earned all-Big West accolades as she was named honorable mention all-conference. USU’s three all-Big West selections is its most honorees since having a similar three named back in 1993. The honors are voted on by the conference’s head coaches.
“Having three players honored like this is a real testament to how well the team did this year and how hard these individuals worked,” said coach Lonny Sargent. “Once we got the whole team to believe they could win we really saw some great things. All these players will be returning next season and this is an example of where the program is headed.”
Fleming, a junior second baseman from Roseville, Calif., led the Aggies this season in home runs (10), doubles (16) and slugging percentage (.620). Her doubles were also tops in the Big West and placed her 24th in the nation in doubles per game (0.31). Fleming’s 10 dingers helped her tie Sandy Taylor for USU’s single-season home run record and placed her tied for fourth in the conference in that category. She was also fourth in slugging percentage in the conference.
A junior shortstop from Sandy, Utah, Leonhardt led the team in batting average (.322), RBI (29) and on-base percentage (.401). With a .322 average at the plate she became the first Aggie to hit over .300 since Taylor hit .370 during the 2000 season. Her average was good enough for ninth in the conference, while she was also ninth in the in on-base percentage and 10th in RBI.
Higley, a junior from Taylorsville, Utah, becomes the first pitcher since 1993 (DeAnna Earsley, First Team) to earn any recognition from the Big West. Higley finished the season at 14-11 and became the first Aggie pitcher since 1996 to end the season with a winning record, as well as the first 14-game winner since Kelly Martin won 14 games during the 1999 season. Her team-leading 2.95 ERA also marks the first time since 1998 (Tara Thompson, 2.05) an Utah State thrower has garnered an ERA under 3.00. Higley’s ERA was also 10th best in the Big West, while she was sixth in wins (14), fourth in appearances (33) and sixth in total innings pitched (152.2).
The trio also combined to help Utah State tally its most wins (23) since 1996 (33) and led it to finishing first in the nation in double plays per game (0.65), as well as ranking 26th in the country in doubles per game (1.4). The Aggies’ 34 double plays this season was a new school record, shattering the previous record of 26 set back in 1992.