FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-4-00

Sells, McDaniel Named PBAC Softball Player and Coach of the Year
McCracken, Saccomanno and Wiewel join Sells as All-Conference Players

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Sophomore Annie Sells was named the Peach Belt Athletic Conference's Softball Player of the Year and head coach Marty McDaniel was named the PBAC Coach of the Year today as the conference office released its yearly All-PBAC softball team.

A pitcher/designated player for the Pirates, Sells is 21-2 with an 0.57 ERA and 250 strikeouts in 160 2/3 innings pitched this season and also is hitting a team-leading .387 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI. She was named the PBAC's Pitcher of the Week four times this season and once was named Player of the Week. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native is the first Player of the Year honoree for the softball program at AASU.

Head coach Marty McDaniel was named the PBAC's Coach of the Year for the first time in his career as well. McDaniel, who began the AASU softball program in 1998, has compiled a career 116-37 record over three seasons and led the Pirates to their current No. 1 national ranking and a PBAC co-Championship this year.

Joining Sells as All-Conference honorees this season were junior outfielder Crystal McCracken (.320, 13 HR, 44 RBI), junior second baseman Tesh Wiewel (.387, 6 HR, 37 RBI) and junior catcher Crystal Saccomanno (.336, 5 HR, 37 RBI). The All-PBAC honor is the second for Sells and McCracken, who were also All-PBAC in 1999, and Saccomanno, who was All-PBAC in 1998.

AASU is awaiting word from the NCAA on a South Atlantic Regional bid. The NCAA South Atlantic Regional will be on Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, at a site to be determined.

- Pirates -