Ramsey, Tyler Tabbed Preseason All-Conference; Lady Braves Picked Second in East
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Ramsey, Tyler Tabbed Preseason All-Conference; Lady Braves Picked Second in East

LORMAN, Miss. – Returning three of its top four hitters in batting average and its top-two pitchers in ERA, the back-to-back SWAC East Division champion Alcorn State University softball program was picked to finish second in the division this year, released by the league office Friday.
 
Alcorn landed a pair on the Preseason All-Conference Teams. Sophomore shortstop Amari Ramsey earned a spot on the First-Team, while senior Victoria Tyler – who is transitioning to first base – was voted to the Second-Team.
 
Alabama State has been named the favorite in the East Division, gaining 82 points and 9 of the 18 first-place votes. The Lady Braves were close behind with 75 points and seven first-place votes. Alabama A&M was predicted to finish third, Mississippi Valley State fourth and Jackson State fifth.

"You know our football team has set a standard when it comes to what you want to do in your division. Our outlook is always about where we finish at the end of April. The preseason recognition is great for the conference and young ladies who get those honors," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin, who enters his fifth season. "Alabama State has been picked first every year since I've been here. They had a lot of players picked for preseason awards, so you can't really expect them not to be picked to win it. But I am pretty certain that MVSU, Jackson State and Alabama A&M are working to win the East as well."
 
Over the last two seasons, Alcorn has gone 24-12 in the division which is four games better than Alabama State. The Lady Braves are 35-18 over the last three seasons which is also the best in the division.
 
"We appreciate those that voted us to finish first. I believe it says a lot about where we are headed, but we will continue to work and compete to give ourselves that opportunity to reach one our goals of going back-to-back-to-back. But ultimately, we want the opportunity on the second Saturday of May," Rankin said. 

Texas Southern and Prairie View were tied atop the league's votes in the West Division.
 
Ramsey, from Gulfport, Mississippi, had a breakout freshman season in 2018. She was one of two student-athletes to start in all 49 games and hit for a .338 batting average including .390 in conference. Ramsey tallied 12 doubles, six homers and a .592 slugging percentage. She led the team with 37 runs scored and drove in 26 RBI's.
 
Ramsey was one of four players in school history to register at least six homers and 12 doubles in a single season. She posted 12 multi-hit games including a trio of three-hit outings. Ramsey was a perfect 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts. She went on an 18-game hitting-streak and 20-game on-base streak in the middle of the season.
 
Tyler, who is also a Gulfport, Mississippi product, will be moving from third base to first base. She led Alcorn with 30 RBI's last year from the clean-up position. Tyler hit for a .311 average with 13 extra-base hits including eight doubles, two triples and three homers.
 
Tyler ranks 11th all-time in school history in career RBI's with 61. She needs two more to move into the top-10. Tyler notched 13 multi-hit games including a pair of three-hit performances last year. She started in 48 of 49 games.
 
Also returning for the Lady Braves is 2018 SWAC Newcomer of the Year Paige Taylor. The senior did not allow a home run the entire season and led the Lady Braves in ERA. Junior Ambria Dorsey pitched in 20 games last year including seven starts and was second on the team in ERA.
 
Other returning starters for Alcorn include sophomore outfielder Desirea Lindsey, sophomore second baseman Ashley Arnold and sophomore outfielder Malea Dickerson.
 
The Lady Braves open the season Friday, Feb. 8 when they host North Alabama in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
 
Eastern Division Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes)
Alabama State, 82 points (9)
ALCORN, 75 POINTS (7)
Alabama A&M, 52 points (1)
Mississippi Valley State, 42 points (2)
Jackson State, 34 points (0)

Western Division Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes)
Prairie View A&M, 82 points (9)
Texas Southern, 82 points (9)
Southern, 53 points (0)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 41 points (1)
Grambling State, 27 points (0)
 
Preseason First-Team All-SWAC Softball
1B – Laurisa Hernandez, Prairie View A&M
2B – Tamia-Lee Barbadillo, Alabama A&M
3B – Kristin Gunter, Alabama State
SS – Amari Ramsey, Alcorn
C – Marissa Padron, Texas Southern
OF – Kelsey Smith, Jackson State
OF – Kailyn Dunn, Mississippi Valley State
OF – Amira James, Alabama State
DP – Charlene Castro, Alabama State
P – Lauren Hayden, Alabama A&M
P – Justine Jean, Alabama State
P – Crystal Castillo, Prairie View A&M

Second-Team All-SWAC Softball
1B – Victoria Tyler, Alcorn
2B – Ebony Wiltz, Texas Southern
3B – Jodeci Afoa-Tuia, Mississippi Valley State
SS – Alexandria Taylor, UAPB
C – Alyssa Garcia, Prairie View A&M
OF – Tevanae Tate, Texas Southern
OF – Julia Bilbao, Texas Southern
OF – Kaylee Davis, Alabama State
DP – DeShonte Smith, Mississippi Valley State
P – Aubrion James, Southern
P – Juliana Dominguez, UAPB
P – Tyra Williams, Texas Southern

SWAC Softball Preseason Hitter of the Year
Laurisa Hernandez, Prairie View A&M

SWAC Softball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Justine Jean, Alabama State
 
#FearTheBrave
 
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