DAHLONEGA, GA – After a banner season that saw the Saints reach the final four of the Division II Women’s College World Series, Easton Incorporated has honored the North Georgia Softball Program as one of six schools to be named “Cover Team of the Year” by the prestigious company, while two players earn All-American honors.

With a project that started in the fall of 2008 and ended up as the cover of the 2009 North Georgia Softball Media Guide, Easton Inc., has honored the Saints with a “Cover Team of the Year” award announced last week.

Two North Georgia players were also thrown in a category as the best in the nation for any level by Easton Inc., as Sophomore Sarah Phillips and junior Courtney McGuire earned Easton Second-Team All-American awards.

Sarah Phillips has been named an Easton Second-Team All-American after posting a record of 39-3 overall and taking home PBC Tournament and Southeast Dahlonega Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player Honors, while being named First-Team Peach Belt All-Conference, and First-Team All-Southeast Region. The sophomore ace finished the 2009 season with an earned run average of 1.39 with 260 strikeouts in 271.0 innings of work. The Powell, Ohio, native recorded four complete game shutouts on the season, including a no-hitter in the Region Championship game against Augusta State. Phillips has allowed no earned 20 different times during the season, her last coming in the World Series clincher in a 1-0 victory over Carson-Newman in the Super Regional Championship game.

Courtney McGuire has been named an Easton Second-Team All-American after hitting .354 as a right fielder with 12 home runs, 48 runs batted in, and 11 doubles. The junior slugger was named First-Team All Peach Belt Conference before earning First-Team All-Region honors for Daktronics and NFCA. McGuire had a season high four RBI in back-to-back games against Eckerd on March 14, and recorded a season high three walks against Carson-Newman in the first game of the 2009 Super Regional in Dahlonega. The Atlanta, Ga., native led the Peach Belt Conference with 57 runs scored, while sitting second in runs batted in with 48, and second in home runs with 12.

The Saints finished their historic season with the program’s best winning percentage in school history with a record of 50-5. North Georgia captured the Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Championship, PBC Tournament Championship, NCAA Southeast Dahlonega Regional Championship, and the NCAA Southeast Super Regional Dahlonega Championship to advance to their first-ever Division II College World Series.

2009 Easton Cover Teams of the  Year

Cal Poly
Creighton University
University of Hawai'i
University of Northern Iowa
North Georgia
University of Texas, Arlington

2009 Easton First Team All-American

Brandice Balschmiter, University of Massachusetts, Senior

Stephanie Brombacher, University of Florida, Sophomore

Kelsey Bruder, University of Florida, Sophomore

Kelsi Dunne, University of Alabama, Sophomore

Francesca Enea, University of Florida, Junior

Alisa Goler, University of Georgia, Sophomore

Cheyenne Jenks, Florida Gulf Coast University, Senior

Megan Langenfeld, University of California, Los Angeles, Junior

Charlotte Morgan, University of Alabama, Junior

Stacey Nelson, University of Florida, Senior

Carly Normandin, University of Massachusetts, Junior

Aja Paculba, University of Florida, Sophomore

Brittany Rogers, University of Alabama, Senior

Taylor Scholpy, University of Georgia, Sophomore

Katie Schroeder, University of California, Los Angeles, Sophomore

2009 Easton Second Team  All-American

Valerie Arioto, University of California, Berkeley, Sophomore

Sharon Bell, St. Gregory's University, Senior

Tory Ferreira, California Baptist University, Freshman

Amanda Kamekona, University of California, Los Angeles, Senior

Beth Lawson, University of Alabama-Huntsville, Junior

Caitlin Lee, University of Alabama-Huntsville, Sophomore

Courtney McGuire, North Georgia, Junior

Bianca Mejia, Long Island University, Sophomore

Tara Oltman, Creighton, Junior

Sarah Phillips, North Georgia, Sophomore

Kristina Prater, University of Alabama-Huntsville, Junior

Jessica Purcell, BYU, Sophomore

Kirsten Shortridge, Louisiana State University, Junior

Sage Woodham, University of Alabama-Huntsville, Senior

Whitney Wyly, University of Texas-Tyler, Sophomore

2009 Easton Third Team All-American

Ashley Boyd, California Baptist University, Junior

Lauren Brenneman, Salisbury University, Junior

Anna Cahn, Cal Poly, Sophomore

Strohm Fouty, Southern Oregon University, Senior

Whitney Haller, Georgia Tech, Senior

Ryanne Hill, North Carolina A & T State University, Sophomore

Loryn Johnson, University of Texas, Junior

Nikki Lowe, California Baptist University, Senior

Meaghan O'Gara, Salisbury University, Senior

Cortney Reynaga, St. Gregory's University, Sophomore

Megan Roo Richardson, University of Texas-Tyler, Senior

April Setterlund, Boston University, Sophomore

Kaila Shull, University of California, Los Angeles, Junior

Kelly Waskewicz, Salisbury University, Junior

Jen Yee, Georgia Tech, Junior