BATON ROUGE — Four LSU softball players were named to the inaugural Preseason All-Southeastern Conference teams, it was announced by the league on Wednesday.
Dani Hofer, an ESPN preseason second-team All-American, Jazz Jackson and Rachel Mitchell were selected to the first team, while ESPN preseason first-team All-American Killian Roessner was named to the second team. The quartet was four of 25 players selected to the teams. The four selections were second among SEC schools, behind only the seven selections from Alabama.
A first-team All-SEC selection and second-team NFCA All-South Region selection last season, Hofer was a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Week and a four-time Louisiana Pitcher of the Week. The junior from Safety Harbor, Fla., ranked 20th in the NCAA in earned run average as part of a Tiger pitching staff that ranked second in the nation in ERA. In addition, with a 24-3 record Hofer ranked 29th nationally in wins. Hofer threw a pair of no-hitters last season and ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in wins, ERA and strikeouts.
Last season, Jackson was just the third LSU freshman since 1997 to earn All-SEC honors and only the third Tiger freshman since 1997 to earn All-South Region honors. The 2007 Louisiana Freshman of the Year, Jackson led the team and ranked in the top 10 in the league in batting average and hits. Having earned SEC Freshman of the Week and Louisiana Hitter of the Week honors last season, the Houston, Texas, native recorded team-best 23 multiple-hit games, including three games with three or more hits.
The NCAA Palo Alto Regional Most Valuable and member of the NCAA Tempe Super Regional all-tournament team, Mitchell hit five home runs in her final seven games last season. The sophomore outfielder hit .481 in eight postseason games, including four doubles, five home runs, eight RBIs and nine runs scored. For the season, she ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in slugging percentage, runs scored, home runs and walks. The LaPorte, Texas, native, also recorded 14 multiple-hit games and nine multiple-RBI games.
A first-team NFCA All-American and All-South Region selection, while also earning second-team All-SEC honors, Roessner was named the SEC Player of the Week once and Louisiana Hitter of the Week twice last season. The senior catcher broke the LSU single-season record and leads the SEC with 19 runners caught stealing, while allowing just 28 stolen bases on the year. She also tied for the league lead and the school single-season record with four runners picked off.
At the plate, she recorded the third most hits in consecutive at-bats in NCAA history, posting 10 straight hits in 10 consecutive at-bats. The Manasquan, N.J., native ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in doubles with a career-best 15, while also posting career highs with six home runs, 36 RBIs and 23 runs scored last season. With 17 multiple-hit games and nine multiple-RBI games, she knocked in the game-winning run in six games, including a win over nationally ranked Florida.
Preseason All-SEC First Team
Name
School
Pos.
Ht.
Cl.
Hometown
Charlotte Morgan
Alabama
IF
5-10
So.
Moreno Valley, Calif.
Lauren Parker
Alabama
IF
5-4
Jr.
Port Neches, Texas
Courtney Bures
Mississippi State
IF
5-5
Sr.
Haymarket, Va.
Tonya Callahan
Tennessee
IF
5-8
Sr.
Holden, Mo.
Brittany Rogers#
Alabama
OF
5-6
Jr.
Dacula, Ga.
Kim Waleszonia#
Florida
OF
5-4
Jr.
Fontana, Calif.
LSU
OF
5-4
So.
Houston, Texas
LSU
OF
5-3
So.
LaPorte, Texas
Stacey Nelson
Florida
P
5-10
Jr.
Los Alamitos, Calif.
LSU
P
5-11
Jr.
Safety Harbor, Fla.
Chelsea Bramlett
Mississippi State
C
5-8
So.
Cordova, Tenn.
Jordan Praytor
Alabama
DP/UT
5-5
Sr.
Vancouver, Wash.
Preseason All-SEC Second Team
Name
School
Pos.
Ht.
Cl.
Hometown
Kelly Montalvo
Alabama
IF
5-0
Jr.
Miami, Fla.
Natalie Smith
Kentucky
IF
5-5
So.
Glendale, Ariz.
Lauren Grill
Ole Miss
IF
5-6
So.
Tualatin, Ore.
Tiffany Huff
Tennessee
IF
5-7
So.
Saugus, Calif.
Jessica Bachkora
Arkansas
OF
5-8
So.
Overland Park, Ks.
Mary Ratliff
Florida
OF
5-8
Sr.
Mt. Sterling, Ky.
Hayle Guess
Mississippi State
OF
5-8
Sr.
Moss Point, Miss.
Jessica Josker
South Carolina
OF
5-6
Sr.
San Jacinto, Calif.
Chrissy Owens
Alabama
P
6-0
Sr.
Miami, Fla.
Anna Thompson
Auburn
P
5-10
So.
Huntsville, Ala.
LSU
C
5-7
Sr.
Manasquan, N.J.
Shannon Doepking
Tennessee
C
5-7
Sr.
Acton, Calif.
Dani Woods
Alabama
UT/DP
5-5
Sr.
Cockeysville, Md.