It was another fine season for college softball players from Coweta County representing NCAA Division I programs this spring.
Lisaira and Shirley Daniels (Syracuse), Kate Kuzma (Georgia Tech) and Allison Owen (Mississippi State) all found themselves among Big East, SEC and ACC schools after helping turn their high school programs into state contenders.
The Daniels sisters, who played high school ball at East Coweta, saw their softball seasons come crashing down for Syracuse University last week after falling to Arizona State University 4-0 in the finals of the Tempe Regional of the NCAA tournament.
For Lisaira, it was also the end of her college career.
She didn’t go down without a fight.
Lisaira finished as Syracuse’s leading hitter this season with a .331 batting average. She also belted 10 home runs and 33 RBIs.
Shirley, who just completed her sophomore season at Syracuse, hit .265 with four home runs.
In its loss to Arizona State, Shirley helped give Syracuse its best chance to score in the fourth inning with a single to load the bases, but the Lady Orange were unable to produce a run.
Earlier in the tournament, the sisters helped their team beat Arizona State 1-0 to force a winner-take all game between the two teams.
Syracuse also beat Long Beach State in the Tempe Regional.
The Lady Orange was ranked 23rd in the latest NCAA poll.
Kate Kuzma (Georgia Tech):
Kate Kuzma, who played high school ball at Northgate, ended her college career at Georgia Tech after her team’s loss to South Alabama at the Tuscaloosa region.
The highlight of Kuzma’s final season at Georgia Tech was her walk-off single to give the Lady Yellow Jackets the ACC title against Florida State and to help secure their Lady Yellow Jackets’ bid to the NCAA Tournament.
With its ACC title, Georgia Tech won its third conference tournament in the last four years.
Kuzma finished as the Lady Yellow Jackets leader in RBIs with 41 this past season.
Tech finished 47-23 this past season.
At Northgate, she helped lead Lisa Skelton’s squad to the 2007 Class AAAA title.
The former Lady Viking, played in 56 games, starting 51.
Kuzma, who played catcher and in the outfield for Georgia Tech, had one of her best seasons with the Lady Yellow Jackets as a sophomore in 2010, earning second team All-ACC honors and also being selected to the All-ACC Tournament team.
She has also been selected to the All-ACC Academic team for the past three seasons.
Next season, Georgia Tech will again have a former Northgate standout on its roster with the addition of Lady Viking pitcher Ashley Clifton.
Another current Northgate senior, Ansley Smith, will join the University of Kentucky’s program in the fall, also on a scholarship.
East Coweta seniors Brandi McGregor (University of Minnesota) and Haley Parkerson (Nicholls State) will also be attending Division I programs next year on scholarships.
Allison Owen (Mississippi State):
After starting her career at the University of Georgia, the former East Coweta the right-handed pitcher has transferred to SEC rival Mississippi State.
At Georgia last season, she finished with a 15-5 record and a 1.93 ERA and 159 strikeouts.
Owen didn’t appear in any games at Mississippi State this season after moving from Athens.
While playing for high school coach Franklin Deloach, she helped led East Coweta to four straight Class AAAAA Elite 8 tournaments, as also a runner-up finish in 2007.
Mississippi State lost to BYU and Portland State at the NCAA Regionals in Oregon.
Molly Garmany (Mercer University):
Garmany, the 2010 Times-Herald Softball Player of Year, completed her freshman season as a catcher at Mercer, appearing in 42 games and starting 32 of them. The former Newnan High standout finished with five doubles, a homer and 13 RBIs while also drawing 18 walks.
Paige Martin (Towson University):
The former Northgate star pitcher made four relief appearances as a senior, but went 2-0 for Colonial Athletic Conference program with a 2.33 ERA.
DIVISION III
Forrest Skelton (Rhodes College):
In just her freshman season, Skelton led Rhodes in most major categories both at the plate and on the mound. The former Northgate standout pitcher led the team with a 9-6 record and a 2.52 ERA in 20 appearances. She also led Rhodes with 108 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings pitched.
Skelton also led Rhodes with a .396 average in 23 games and her .438 slugging percentage was also tops on the team.
NAIA
Kelsey Floyd (Reinhardt College):
Floyd, a 5-11, senior pitcher and infielder who played at Northgate, wrapped up her college career this spring by helping Reinhardt to a 36-12 season and a 33rd national-ranking in the NAIA while just missing out on the school’s first Elite 8 berth.
Floyd earned Appalachian Athletic Conference All-Academic honors.
JUNIOR COLLEGE
Mak Fletcher (Chattanooga State):
Fletcher, a Newnan resident, got a chance to experience a championship at the junior college level with Chattanooga State after winning a GISA state title during her varsity career at Arlington Christian.
On Saturday, Chattanooga defeated Salt Lake Community 4-1 to win a NJCAA Division I championship. In 22 games this season, Fletcher batted .292 with 3 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 22 at bats.
Amber McIntyre (Georgia Military):
In her freshman season at Georgia Military, McIntyre appeared in 34 games, pitching 10 innings and batting .239 with 12 runs and 4 RBIs.
