Softball: Four Cajuns Named to All-Sun Belt Team

LAFAYETTE – Four Ragin’ Cajuns were named to the 2018 All-Sun Belt Conference Softball Team and Alissa Dalton was recognized as the Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday.
 
Dalton was joined by pitcher Summer Ellyson and third baseman Kara Gremillion on the All-Sun Belt First Team. First baseman Kourtney Gremillion was selected to the All-Sun Belt Second Team.
 
Kara Gremillion repeated as a first team All-SBC selection, while Dalton, Ellyson and Kourtney Gremillion each received their first career honor.
 
Louisiana’s four all-conference selections were tied for the league lead and increased the program’s all-time All-Sun Belt selections total to 128 (2000-present).
 
Dalton, the first Ragin’ Cajun named SBC Newcomer of the Year since 2008, ranks Top 15 nationally among the toughest to strikeout (only five in 188 plate appearances) and has provided a strong glove at shortstop with only seven errors in 154 chances. She’s had a hit in 37 of 49 games with her 67 hits ranking Top 40 nationally and second-most in the Sun Belt.
 
Ellyson, who completed the regular season 19-7 with a 1.42 ERA, has been at her best down the stretch. Since April 15, she has worked 65 innings and surrendered just eight earned runs (0.86 ERA), 41 hits and limited foes to a.174 average. Nationally she ranks Top 30 in ERA and fewest hits allowed, Top 40 in wins and Top 50 in strikeouts and led all Sun Belt pitchers in opposing batting average.
 
Kara Gremillion continues to provide a lockdown force for Louisiana at third base. She collected 121 fielding assists marking the second straight season surpassing the century mark. Her batting average has been above .320 the entire season, she’s produced 15 multiple-hit games and swiped a career-high 15 stolen bases.
 
Kourtney Gremillion reached the 40-hit plateau in her collegiate debut season. She started at first base all 27 Sun Belt games for Louisiana and was tied for second-most multiple-hit games (8) in conference play. She held a .300-plus average in league play Week 2 through season’s end and totaled multiple hits in seven of the nine Sun Belt series.
 
No. 21 Louisiana (36-13, 21-6 Sun Belt) hosts the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Lamson Park Wednesday-Saturday, May 9-12. The Ragin’ Cajuns, the No. 2 seed for the event, have a bye from opening day action and will begin play on Thursday, May 10 at 12:30 p.m. against an opponent determined by Wednesday’s results.
 
As voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches, joining Dalton in claiming specialty awards was Georgia State’s Ivie Drake who was tabbed Player of the Year, Texas State’s Randi Rupp who was selected Pitcher of the Year and Troy’s Annie Willis who was the Freshman of the Year.
 
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All-Sun Belt First Team
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana (So., P, Lafayette, La.)
Devin Brown, South Alabama (Sr., P, Mobile, Ala.)
Randi Rupp, Texas State (Sr., P, Mont Belvieu, Texas)
Annie Willis, Troy (Fr., P, Huntsville, Ala.)
Ivie Drake, Georgia State (Sr., C/1B, Carlton, Ga.)
Reagan Wright, UTA (So., C, Mansfield, Texas)
Hailey MacKay, Texas State (So., 1B, Leander, Texas)
Kaleigh Todd, South Alabama (Sr., 2B, Bessemer, Ala.)
Kara Gremillion, Louisiana (Jr., 3B, Gonzales, La.)
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (So., SS, Cypress, Texas)
Ariel Ortiz, Texas State (Sr., SS, Waxahachie, Texas)
Courtney Dean, Coastal Carolina (Fr., OF, Indian Trail, N.C.)
Sydney McKay, ULM (Jr., OF, Pearland, Texas)
Laura Curry, UTA (Jr., OF, Temecula, Calif.)
Megan Litumbe, Georgia State (Sr., DP/OF, Grayson, Ga.)
 
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Randi Phillips, UTA (Fr., P, Jefferson, Texas)
Haleigh Davis, Texas State (So., C, Houston, Texas)
Kourtney Gremillion, Louisiana (Fr., 1B, Gonzales, La.)
Katie Webb, Troy (So., 1B, Salem, Ala.)
Sandra Mendoza, UTA (Sr., 2B, Eagle Pass, Texas)
Hannah Farrell, Georgia Southern (Jr., 3B, Jesup, Ga.)
Skylar Mosel, Georgia State (Fr., SS/OF, McDonough, Ga.)
Jayden Mount, ULM (So., SS, Glade Water, Texas)
Logan Calhoun, Troy (So., SS, Dublin, Ga.)
Mekhia Freeman, Georgia Southern (So., OF, Senoia, Ga.)
Hunter Hogan, ULM (Sr., OF, Colwich, Kansas)
Rochelle Roberts, ULM (Sr., OF, Vacaville, Calif.)
Haleigh Lowe, South Alabama (Sr., OF, Prattville, Ala.)
Jenny Dodd, Appalachian State (Jr., DP/C, Mocksville, N.C.)
 
Sun Belt Player of the Year
Ivie Drake, Georgia State (Sr., C/1B, Carlton, Ga.)
Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year
Randi Rupp, Texas State (Sr., P, Mont Belvieu, Texas)
Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
Annie Willis, Troy (Fr., P, Huntsville, Ala.)
Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (So., SS, Cypress, Texas)
Sun Belt Coach of the Year
Ricci Woodard, Texas State