APSU Lady Govs Softball’s Lauren de Castro named to OVC First Team; Morgan Brewer and Paige Neely earn Second Team Honors

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Softball

Martin, TN – Austin Peay State University Sophomore first baseman/pitcher Lauren de Castro saw her breakout season capped off Wednesday night by being named to the Ohio Valley Conference softball First Team, while junior Morgan Brewer and freshman Paige Neely earned second-team honors.

Neely also earned a spot on the All-OVC Newcomer team. The honors were announced Wednesday night at the OVC Softball awards reception in Martin, where the OVC Softball Tournament is being held.

A native of Torrance, CA, de Castro becomes the first Lady Gov to be named first-team All-OVC since catcher Daniella Hooper was named to the 2007 team and the 12th Lady Gov overall to make first team. She also became the first Austin Peay infielder since Jenny Kelley in 2003 to earn such distinction.

Batting leadoff most of 2012, de Castro led Austin Peay in just about every offensive category, including batting average (.385), slugging percentage (.634), on-base percentage (.450), runs scored (30), hits (62), doubles (11), home runs (9), RBI (30), walks (15) and total bases (103).

Those numbers also translated to be some of the OVC’s best as she ranked in the top seven in the conference in batting average (2nd), slugging percentage (5th), on-base percentage (6th), hits (T-7th), doubles (T-6), home runs (T-7th) and total bases (4th).

She also pitched, finishing second on the team in wins (6) and strikeouts (66), while leading the team in ERA (2.54) and tying for lead in shutouts (2).

During the regular season, de Castro earned OVC Pitcher of the Week twice and Player of the Week once.

Meanwhile, Brewer (from Collierville, TN) and Neely (from Nashville, TN) became the 17th and 18th Lady Govs to earn All-OVC second team – and the first since Natasha Anderson after the 2007 season. It is also the first time since the 2004 campaign that Austin Peay placed more than one player on the second team (Anderson/utility, Sarah Longmire and Brianna Venable/infielders).

Earning her spot on the team as a utility/designated player, Brewer was one of the few pitchers in the conference that hit for themselves during games. She finished the season with a .231 batting average – fourth best on the team – with eight RBI, while in the circle led the team in wins (10), complete games (15), innings pitched (165.1) and strikeouts (105). Brewer also tied for the team lead in shutouts (2).

Brewer started 21 games as a pitcher this season, while gaining 25 more starts at first base or designated player for the Lady Govs.

Neely joined Brewer on the second team after enjoying one of the best freshman campaigns in Lady Govs’ history. She finished second on the team behind de Castro in batting (.363), slugging percentage (.452), on-base percentage (.405) runs scored (15) hits (49) doubles (9), RBI (2000) and walks (11). Neely’s 49 hits tied Austin Peay’s freshman record for safeties.

In conference’s rankings, Neely’s batting average ranked 8th overall, while she led the conference in fewest errors made by a shortstop (9).

Also voted onto the All-OVC Newcomers Team, Neely became the third Lady Gov so honored and the first since Tiffany Smith in 2008.