#SWACSB All-Conference Honors Announced
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference revealed its 2019 All-Conference Softball teams and awards on the eve of the 2019 SWAC Softball Tournament, with Alabama A&M’s Tamia Lee-Barbadillo and Cassandra Brown, Alabama State’s Alexis Sydnor, Prairie View A&M’s Crystal Castillo and Grambling State’s Rikkelle Miller earning individual honors.
The All-SWAC team was determined based on a vote by the league’s coaches and sports information directors.
Lee-Barbadillo earned Player and Hitter of the Year honors after a standout season highlighted by a SWAC-best 11 home runs and 35 runs scored. The first-team All-SWAC shortstop hit a team-best .371, amassing 46 hits, nine doubles, a .726 slugging percentage and 30 RBIs as she led the Bulldogs to its second-straight Eastern Division championship.
Brown garnered Coach of the Year honors after leading Alabama A&M to a 22-17 record (11-7 SWAC) in her first year at the helm. This is the second-straight season Alabama A&M has had the Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs ranked top five in the conference in several offensive categories, including home runs, doubles, RBIs, slugging percentage and overall fielding percentage.
Sydnor hit .405 on her way to Newcomer of the Year honors. The Hornets’ leading hitter, the junior ranked top two in steals, hits and batting average. The Opelika, Ala. native posted 49 hits, scored 31 runs and drove in 24 RBIs with a .570 slugging percentage.
Castillo was named Pitcher of the Year after posted a 12-4 record in the circle. The league leader in victories, Castillo also picked up four saves. Castillo held opponents to a .204 batting average and led the conference with 90 strikeouts, posting a 2.62 ERA.
The entire first and second team – which honors 22 players over eight teams – is listed below. Texas Southern led with six total selections, and Prairie View A&M followed with five. Alabama State picked up four selections, Alcorn State had three players honored. Grambling State and Alabama A&M each received a pair of honorees, and Southern and Mississippi Valley had one selection each.
2018-19 All-SWAC Softball Teams
Player/Hitter of the Year:
Tamia Lee-Barbadillo, Alabama A&M
Pitcher of the Year:
Crystal Castillo, Prairie View A&M
Newcomer of the Year:
Alexis Sydnor, Alabama State
Freshman of the Year:
Rikkelle Miller, Grambling State
Coach of the Year:
Cassandra Brown, Alabama A&M
FIRST TEAM:
C- Danielle Hansell, Alabama A&M
1B – Laurisa Hernandez, Prairie View A&M
2B – Destinee Williams, Prairie View A&M
SS – Tamia Lee-Barbadillo, Alabama A&M
3B – Amari Ramsey, Alcorn State
OF – Shelby Williams, Prairie View A&M
OF – Alexis Sydnor, Alabama State
OF – McKenzie Johnson, Grambling State
P – Crystal Castillo, Prairie View A&M
P – Destiny Ricks, Texas Southern
P – Paige Taylor, Alcorn State
DP – Charlene Castro, Alabama State
SECOND TEAM:
C- Marissa Padron, Texas Southern
1B – Lauryn Banks, Texas Southern
2B – Ebony Wiltz, Texas Southern
SS – Kristin Gunter, Alabama State
3B – Jade Arroyo, Mississippi Valley State
OF – Zariah Robins, Texas Southern
OF – Amira James, Alabama State
OF – Simone McKinney, Alcorn State
P – Naomi Reyes, Texas Southern
P – Aubrion James, Southern
P – Vannessa Castro, Prairie View A&M
DP – Rikkelle Miller, Grambling State
About the SWAC:
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at
www.swac.org.