Former local prep athletes earn college conference honors
Junior outfielder Gracey Kruse has been named the Southern Conference StudentAthlete of the Week following her stellar play on the field last weekend and impressive work in the classroom, the league office announced this past Wednesday afternoon.
Kruse, the former Gordon Lee All-state selection, batted .556 (5-for-9) the previous weekend and slugged at a blistering .889 clip, while recording three doubles and a run scored to help lift the Chattanooga softball program to a berth in the Socon Tournament.
A criminal justice major, Kruse carries a 3.83 overall GPA and has been a frequent member of the Dean’s List, AD’S Honor Roll and Southern Conference Honor Roll.
“It’s always rewarding to see recognition for our student-athletes for their work in the classroom. Academics are our top priority as a program and we couldn’t be prouder to see Gracey’s hard work acknowledged,” said head coach Frank Reed.
For the season, Kruse leads the team with 12 doubles, while ranking first in the SoCon and 33rd in NCAA Division I softball with a 0.34 doubles per game average. She has recorded a combined eight doubles over her last seven games and now ranks third on the team with a .385 slugging percentage.
Kruse’s selection marks the fifth time a Moc has received the weekly academic award in 2020-21 and the first since Nicole Buehrle (women’s track & field) back on March 24.
Hammontree named AllRegion, All-conference
Five University of North Georgia softball players were named to the NFCA All-region Team, the association announced this past Wednesday afternoon, including former Heritage High School standout Shelby Hammontree, who earned a first team selection.
The senior from Ringgold is hitting .349 in 2021 (as of Friday) with 13 homers, having set the record for career homeruns at UNG. Her 42 RBIS is second-most on the squad, and she has earned NFCA Southeast All-region honors for the second time in her career after a second team honor in 2018.
In addition, Hammontree was a first team pick on this year’s Peach Belt All-conference Team. It was the second time Hammontree has been named first team ALL-PBC.
Hammontree and the other All-region honorees will now be eligible for AllAmerican status, which will be announced on May 25.
She was also named MVP of the PBC Conference Tournament over the weekend.
Minghini named to AllAcademic Team
Junior catcher Dylan Minghini of the Lafayette (Pa.) Leopards earned a spot on the Patriot League All-academic team, the league office announced Friday.
To be eligible for the Academic All-league team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key player in his or her sport. Freshmen are not eligible for this honor.
The former Gordon Lee All-state player holds a 3.85 GPA as a Mechanical Engineering major. He has five doubles and three home runs to go with 22 RBIS this season and is also a two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member.
Williams named second team All-american
Former Ringgold High School offensive lineman Bucky Williams was named as a second team FCS Coaches’ All-american pick on Friday by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Williams is a redshirt sophomore at Jacksonville State University.