Haleigh Christopher snagged a pair of honors Thursday for University of Charleston softball, being named Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year and earning a spot on the All-MEC first team.
The catcher from Huntington led the conference in five categories - slugging (.823), total bases (130), RBI (57), doubles (20) and home runs (14). She was also second with a .418 batting average.
Senior first baseman Laura Ashlock joined Christopher on the all-conference first team. She hit .361 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs this season.
The Golden Eagles put three players on the All-MEC second team - freshman shortstop Monica Carter, senior outfielder Rachelle Toppings and senior pitcher Alli Burdette. West Virginia State sophomore Brittany Allison was named a second-team catcher.
West Virginia Wesleyan took the other three individual awards, with Tori Pogue named Player of the Year, Hannah Vet named Pitcher of the Year and Steve Warner named Coach of the Year.
The Golden Eagles begin the MEC tournament at noon Friday against Wheeling Jesuit in Salem, Virginia.
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WVU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: The Mountaineers signed two-time junior college All-American Naomi Davenport on Thursday.
Davenport spent her last two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. The Cincinnati native helped the Cardinals to consecutive national runner-up finishes in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I tournament in 2016 and 2017 and was named a unanimous first-team All-American by the NCJAA and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
As a freshman, she was named to the NJCAA All-America second team and WBCA All-America first team. The 6-foot guard averaged 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists as a sophomore.
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MARSHALL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: MU announced Thursday that post player Talequia Hamilton received an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA and will return to the Thundering Herd next season.
Hamilton, from Huntington, averaged 12.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in 30 games last season. She ranked second on the team in points, first in rebounds, first in blocks (54) and second in steals (33). She finished second in Conference USA in blocks and fourth in field goal percentage.
Hamilton received a seventh year of eligibility after several events stalled her college career, including a knee injury, pregnancy and a transfer year after she left the University of Cincinnati.
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YOUTH BASKETBALL TOURNEYS: Parkersburg and Parkersburg South high Schools will host a shootout for boys and girls basketball teams on May 13-14 in Parkersburg.
Each team will play at least four games at a cost of $195. Boys divisions will include 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade, junior varsity and varsity. Girls divisions will include 6th, 7th, 8th, junior varsity and varsity.
For more information or to register a team, call Bill Camp at (304) 483-8922. Registration ends Tuesday.