May 14, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State softball continues to earn postseason honors as four Spartans were named to the 2008 Great Lakes All-Region Team on Wednesday, May 14. Senior outfielder Nikki Nicosia received first-team honors, while senior utility player Jessica LeFevre, junior shortstop Gina Mondo and redshirt freshman Bianca Mejia garnered second-team nods.

Considered one of the greatest outfielders to suit up in the Green and White, senior captain Nikki Nicosia paced MSU this year batting .397, setting a new career high in her final season; it is also the fourth highest single-season batting average by any Spartan in history. The Plantation, Fla., native, who currently leads the nation in triples per game (0.19), led this year's squad with 73 hits, 38 runs scored, 24 extra-base hits and an impressive .647 slugging percentage. Additionally, Nicosia made good use of her time on base with a perfect 12-for-12 record in stolen bases. With 68 career stolen bags, Nicosia has stolen the second-most bases of any Spartan.

With 10 triples this season, the second most in a single season in MSU's records, Nicosia ends her tenure with 16 triples, which sits in the records as the second-most career triples by a Spartan. Averaging .332 at the plate in her four seasons, Nicosia holds the sixth-best career batting average in MSU history.

Nicosia adds this year's first-team regional honor to her previous awards, including 2008 All-Big Ten First Team, 2007 All-Big Ten Second Team and 2007 Great Lakes All-Regional Second Team accolades.

Senior Jessica LeFevre, a second-team honoree, was a walk-on in 2004 and has since earned her way into the starting lineup as this year's most consistent designated player. Batting .302, LeFevre has accounted for 38 hits as a left-handed slapper - including two doubles - and scored 32 runs for the Spartans. With a team-high 16 stolen bases this year, LeFevre has 52 career bags, good for fifth in MSU's all-time records.

Additionally this year, LeFevre, who hails from Saginaw, Mich., was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection, and was also named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America District IV First Team. With a place on the All-District team, LeFevre is eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.

A gritty fielder with an explosive bat, junior second baseman Gina Mondo picks up her first award with a second-team bid this season. Mondo led the Spartans with 10 doubles this year - matching her career total from her freshman and sophomore campaigns - and along with two triples and seven home runs, Mondo finished the season with 19 extra-base hits. A two-time Big Ten Player of the Week honoree this season, the Orange, Conn., native set a personal best batting average with .377, the second-highest average on the team this year. Her 13 career home runs ranks seventh in MSU's all-time records.

A member of the 2008 captain trio, redshirt freshman Bianca Mejia set an impressive tone for her career with her performance for the Green and White this year. At shortstop, Mejia tallied a team-high 136 assists in the field, though her presence at the plate garnered extra attention from opposing pitchers. The team's most-walked player this year (27 BB), Mejia roped out a squad-high nine home runs and averaged .333 at the dish. Her nine dingers ties for sixth in MSU's single-season record books.

Mejia drove in 38 runs for the Spartans, another team high, while crossing the plate 24 times herself. Hailing from Sylmar, Calif., Mejia also contributed six doubles and a triple for 16 extra-base hits.

Mejia was a 2008 All-Big Ten Third Team selection.

2008 GREAT LAKES ALL-REGION TEAMS
First Team
Pitcher - Jordan Taylor (Michigan)
Pitcher - Nikki Nemitz (Michigan)
Catcher - Samantha Marder (Ohio State)
First Base - Lauren Haas (Southern Illinois)
Second Base - Samantha Findlay (Michigan)
Third Base - Kara Nelson (Illinois State)
Shortstop - Teddi Ewing (Michigan)
Outfield - Jherica Williams (Wright State)
Outfield - Alessandra Giampaolo (Michigan)
Outfield - Nikki Nicosia (Michigan State)
Utility/Pitcher - Amber Smith (Illinois State)
Utility/Non-Pitcher - Brittany Vanderink (Ohio State)

Second Team
Pitcher - Jackie Hill (Penn State)
Pitcher - Amanda Macenko (Cleveland State)
Catcher - Lana Armstrong (Illinois)
First Base - Ashley Strauss (Eastern Michigan)
Second Base - Gina Mondo (Michigan State)
Third Base - Amy Hudson (Central Michigan)
Shortstop - Bianca Mejia (Michigan State)
Outfield - Danielle Kinley (Penn State)
Outfield - Courtney Waters (Ohio University)
Outfield - Angela Findlay (Michigan)
Utility/Pitcher - Hayley Wiemer (Bowling Green)
Utility/Non-Pitcher - Jessica LeFevere (Michigan State)