RICHARDSON, Texas – UT Tyler senior utility player Katelyn Thomason was vote the East Division Player of the Year and junior third baseman Ashley Endsley was named Newcomer of the year, highlighting the 2012 American Southwest Conference softball awards following a division-only vote by head coaches, the conference office announced on Wednesday.

UT Tyler head coach Mike Reed and his assistants, Megan Dobrinski, Christy Shipley-Gipson, Coby Gipson and Whitney Wyly, earned the East Division coaching staff of the year awards after winning the division and league crowns this season.

In addition to Thomason and Endsley, juniors Joey Cronin and Heather Abshire were selected to the first team. Second team All-Division selections included junior first baseman Rachel Howell and junior designated player Taylor Petrick. Outfielder Lauren Robenalt, a sophomore, was named honorable mention. 

Thomason (Spring, TX / Southeastern Louisiana) was named East Division Player of the Year after hitting .437 with three home runs, nine doubles and 42 RBIs, while going 13-3 with a 1.85 ERA in the circle. The outfielder/right-hander helped fuel the Patriots to conference and division titles.

Endsley (Paris, TX / Paris JC), who was named newcomer of the year after batting .412 with a league-leading 49 RBIs.

The Patriots are awaiting word from the NCAA on their first round opponent in the 2012 NCAA Softball Championships. UT Tyler is serving as one of eight host sites for regional competition beginning May 11. 

[Note: ASC softball awards are given only at the division level.]

-ASC EAST DIVISION SOFTBALL AWARDS-

East Division Player of the Year: Katelyn Thomason, RHP/OF, Sr., Texas-Tyler
East Division Pitcher of the Year: Courtney Nunn, RHP, Sr., Mississippi College
East Division Newcomer of the Year: Ashley Endsley, 3B, Jr., Texas-Tyler
East Division Freshman of the Year: Amber Rollins, RHP, Fr., Ozarks
East Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: Kristina Cordova, 3B, So., East Texas Baptist
East Division Coaching Staff of the Year: Texas-Tyler (Mike Reed, Megan Dobrinski, Christy Shipley-Gipson, Coby Gipson, Whitney Wyly)

(Listed in order of voting point totals; # indicates tie in voting at
that position)

ALL-EAST DIVISION FIRST TEAM
1B    Brooke Smitherman    So.    Mississippi College    Prattville, AL (PHS)
2B    Christin Mickelboro    Sr.    LeTourneau    Longview, TX (LHS)
SS    Danielle Wilson    Jr.    Louisiana College    Destrehan, LA (C-Lincoln CC)
3B    Ashley Endlsey    Jr.    Texas-Tyler    Paris, TX (Paris JC)
C    Sarah Smaltz    Sr.    Mississippi College    Houston, TX (Miss. Gulf Coast CC)
OF    Joey Cronin    Jr.    Texas-Tyler    Celina, TX (CHS)
    Hannah Creech    Fr.    Texas-Dallas    Lake Jackson, TX (Brazoswood HS)
    Kayla Garcia    Fr.    East Texas Baptist    Navasota, TX (NHS)
DP    Avery McHugh    Fr.    Texas-Dallas    Uvalde, TX (UHS)
UTL    Katelyn Thomason    Sr.    Texas-Tyler    Spring, TX (SE Louisiana)
P    Courtney Nunn    Sr.    Mississippi College    Jonesboro, LA (East Miss. CC)
    Heather Abshire    Jr.    Texas-Tyler    Lafayette, LA (LSU-Eunice)
    Kaylee Davis    So.    East Texas Baptist    Carthage, TX (Texas Woman’s)

ALL-EAST DIVISION SECOND TEAM
1B    Rachel Howell    Jr.    Texas-Tyler    Bossier, LA (Airline HS)
2B    Macey Lee    Fr.    Mississippi College    Pearl, MS (PHS)
SS    Megan Colvin#    Sr.    Mississippi College    Wiggins, MS (Gulf Coast CC)
    Jessica Delgado#    Fr.    East Texas Baptist    Arlington, TX (Martin HS)
3B    Brittanie Knowles    Jr.    Texas-Dallas    Celina, TX (CHS)
C    Kayla Moore    Sr.    Texas-Dallas    Orange, TX (Orangefield HS)
OF    Juliana Tuel    Jr.    LeTourneau    White Oak, TX (WOHS)
    Meggie Burkett    Jr.    Louisiana College    West Monroe, LA (W. Ouachita HS)
    Tiffany Fuller    Sr.    Mississippi College    Vicksburg, MS (Miss. Gulf Coast CC)
DP    Taylor Petrick    Jr.    Texas-Tyler    Argyle, TX (AHS)
UTL    Ashton Brey    Sr.    East Texas Baptist    Lindale, TX (LHS)
P    Heather Foust    So.    Texas-Dallas    Highland Village, TX (Marcus HS)
    Ashton Brey#    Sr.    East Texas Baptist    Lindale, TX (LHS)
    Amber Rollins#    Fr.    Ozarks    Searcy, AR (SHS)

ALL-EAST DIVISION HONORABLE MENTION
1B    Sara Whitehead    So.    LeTourneau    Coppell, TX (CHS)
    Kelsey Stephens    Sr.    Ozarks    Anna, TX (AHS)
2B    Stephanie Jaeger    So.    Louisiana College    Haughton, LA (HHS)
3B    Devan Greene    Sr.    Louisiana College    Kaplan, LA (KHS)
    Anna Winter    So.    LeTourneau    Southlake, TX (Carroll HS)
C    Jourdan Glover    So.    LeTourneau    Fort Worth, TX (SW Christina HS)
OF    Brooklyn Greene#    Fr.    LeTourneau    Longview, TX (Hallsville HS)
    Lauren Robenalt#    So.    Texas-Tyler    San Antonio, TX (Brandeis HS)
UTL    Ashley McPhail    Sr.    LeTourneau    Katy, TX (Faith Academy HS)