Colleges: Former Lady Indian earns SEC Co-Pitcher of Week honors
From Staff Reportssports@newnan.com
Allison Owen is striking out foes in the Southeastern Conference much the same way she did while leading East Coweta to four consecutive appearances in the GHSA Elite 8 as a star pitcher for the Lady Indians.
The Mississippi State junior was named SEC Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Monday, the right-hander’s first career league honor.
Owen was named to the Blues City Classic All-Tournament Team Sunday night after going 2-0 on the weekend. The righty pitched two complete-game shutouts at the Southaven, Miss., tournament, striking out 31 batters and issuing her first walk of the season in 40.1 innings pitched. Opponents squeezed out three hits and failed to score a run against the Bulldogs’ ace, hitting a minuscule .067.
The right-hander began her weekend in style, breaking the single-game school record with 15 strikeouts in a complete-game, two-hit blanking of Wichita State. The performance came six days after Owen tied the previous mark of 14, which was set twice back in 1998.
One day later, Owen returned to the circle and broke her own school record with a 16-strikeout performance against SIU-Edwardsville. The former Lady Indians standout fanned the entire Cougars’ lineup consecutively to start the game, becoming the first pitcher in school history to record nine-straight strikeouts. The career-high 16 K’s marked the most by a SEC pitcher in a seven-inning game this season.
On the season, the junior is 5-1 and leads the SEC in opponent batting average (.076), strikeouts per seven innings (11.4) and fewest walks allowed (1). Additionally, she is third in the league in ERA (0.52) and ranks fourth in strikeouts (65). Her last three starts have all been complete-game shutouts, including two one-hitters as well as a two-hitter.
“We knew when she said yes to Mississippi State, it was a big yes for our program,” Head Coach Vann Stuedeman said. “With the help of our whole staff, she can make a huge impact. She is good now, but she can be even better.”
BENO MAKES ACC ALL-ACADEMIC FOOTBALL TEAM: Former Newnan All-State offensive lineman Ray Beno backed up his brawn with his brains on Thursday while being selected to this year’s Atlantic Coast Conference All-Academic Team for the first time. The Georgia Tech junior, a business administration major, was one of two Yellow Jackets named among 105 ACC football student-athletes. Beno, who has started at all three positions on the front line at Georgia Tech while playing mostly tackle last fall, was joined by fellow offensive lineman Will Jackson.
STRAKOSE NAMED GULF SOUTH ALL-ACADEMIC: Former Newnan High football standout Adam Strakose was among 10 West Georgia student athletes that were named to the Gulf South Conferences 2012 Fall All-Academic Teams.
Strakose, a junior linebacker, has a 3.29 GPA while majoring in education. He played in all 10 games for the Wolves last season while finishing second on the team with 58 tackles.
LONG PLACES 21st AT MOUNTAIN WEST DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Air Force sophomore diver and Landmark Christian alum Lainie Long placed 21st in the 1-meter competition at this year’s Mountain West Swimming and Diving Championships.
(Have an update from a local athlete playing college sports. Send your item to The Newnan Times-Herald at sports@newnan.com )
