January 20, 2004

BARR NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-SOCON TEAM, LADY PALADINS PICKED SIXTH

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman centerfielder LaKerah Barr was named preseason first team All-Southern Conference by the league's eight coaches the conference office announced on Tuesday. The coaches also released their preseason poll picking Furman sixth in the eight-team race.

Barr, a senior from Stone Mountain, Ga., led the Southern Conference in hitting a year ago with a .395 average. The political science major collected 66 hits, good for third in the SoCon, while stealing 16 bases and posting a .420 on base percentage on her way to earning All-SoCon honors.

The College of Charleston was picked to repeat as league champions after going 16-4 in SoCon play in 2003. Traditional Southern Conference power Chattanooga was picked second followed by UNC Greensboro, Georgia Southern and East Tennessee State. Elon and Appalachian State rounded out the poll in seventh and eighth place, respectively.

Furman, who finished 21-32 and sixth place in the SoCon last season, opens its season under the direction of new head coach Dana Jenkins when it faces Evansville at the Tiger Invitational in Auburn, Ala., on February 13.

2003 Southern Conference Preseason Softball Poll

1. College of Charleston (7)
2. Chattanooga )1)
3. UNC Greensboro
4. Georgia Southern
5. East Tennessee State
6. Furman
7. Elon
8. Appalachian State

2004 SoCon Preseason All-Conference Softball Teams

First Team
P Rachael Stern, College of Charleston
P Tiffany McVay, East Tennessee State
C Samantha Steiner, Georgia Southern
1B Jenny Gustin, Elon
2B Joni Gomez, UNC Greensboro
SS Jennifer Hubbard, UNC Greensboro
3B Melissa Ramirez, Chattanooga
OF Amanda Cone, College of Charleston
OF Janine Sprague, East Tennessee State
OF LaKerah Barr, Furman
DP Julia Chance, East Tennessee State
U Jamie Dupont, Elon

Second Team
P Natalie Smith, College of Charleston
P Jordan Arnold, Appalachian State
C Sarah Gough, Appalachian State
Jessica Losinger, East Tennessee State
1B Miranda Byerly, East Tennessee State
2B Brooke Flowers, College of Charleston
SS Jacquie Rothey, College of Charleston
3B Lindsay Lane, East Tennessee State
OF Jessica Swearengin, Elon
OF Danielle Spetar, East Tennessee State
OF Wendy Lewis, Appalachian State
U Sheryl Clark, East Tennessee State