Cantler And Martinez Named To Preseason All-Sun Belt Team

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 02/09/2010

Share |

Courtesy: Rick Yeatts

NEW ORLEANS (2/9/10) – North Texas first baseman Mallory Cantler and outfielder Mariza Martinez were named to the 2010 Preseason Softball All-Sun Belt Team as the conference office announced its preseason softball coaches poll and team on Tuesday. North Texas was picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll for the second straight year.

Cantler and Martinez are being named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Team for the first time in their careers. The two selections are the most ever by a North Texas team. Only Louisiana-Lafayette had more players selected with five.

Cantler was a first-team All-Sun Belt honoree for the second straight year in 2009 after leading the team with a .404 batting average, setting a school record. The first baseman recorded 13 doubles in 2009, which is tied for third on the single-season record list. The 13 doubles tied for third in the conference. She was named the conference player of the week twice. Other honors include being named the Quality Inn & Suites MVP.

Martinez was the first player in school history to be named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Central Region First Team following the 2009 season. She was also named second-team All-Sun Belt in the outfield. She finished second on the team and 13th in the conference with a .316 batting average. Martinez led the team with 11 home runs, 34 RBI and 33 runs scored and was third in the conference in hits and home runs.

Louisiana-Lafayette was chosen as the favorite to win the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Championship after taking the title last year. The Ragin’ Cajuns tallied 80 points, receiving eight first-place votes. Troy was second with 70 points and received one first-place vote. FIU and Florida Atlantic followed, and North Texas came in fifth with 41 points.

FAU’s Blair Bodenmiller and ULM’s Brianna Love were named Co-Preseason Players of the Year. For the second year in a row, ULL’s Donna Bourgeois was voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

The poll and team were voted on by the nine Sun Belt head coaches. The top eight teams will advance to the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Championship, held in Mobile, Alabama.

North Texas opens its season on Thursday, Feb. 11 against Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena, Miss. at 4 p.m. The Mean Green finished last year with an overall record of 26-28 and an 11-12 conference mark.

Sun Belt Conference Preseason Softball Coaches Poll
(As voted on by the league’s nine head coaches – first place votes in parenthesis)

1. Louisiana-Lafayette-80 (8)
2. Troy-70 (1)
3. FIU-58
4. Florida Atlantic-50
5. North Texas-41
6. WKU -39
7. South Alabama-36
8. Louisiana-Monroe -19
9. Middle Tennessee-12

Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team
Donna Bourgeois (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., P)
Ashlyn Williams (Troy, Jr., P)
Lana Bowers (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., C)
Mallory Cantler (North Texas, Jr., 1B)
Kelsey McCauley (WKU, Sr., 2B)
Melissa Verde (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., 3B)
Blair Bodenmiller (Florida Atlantic, Sr., SS)
Vallie Gaspard (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., OF)
Brianna Love (Louisiana-Monroe, Jr., OF)
Mariza Martinez (North Texas, Jr., OF)
Gabriele Bridges (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., DP)

Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Blair Bodenmiller (Florida Atlantic, Sr., SS)
Brianna Love (Louisiana-Monroe, Jr., OF)

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Donna Bourgeois (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr.)