NEW ORLEANS – After stellar offensive seasons, South Alabama outfielders Brittani Reid and Victoria Ortiz were named to the first-team all-Sun Belt Conference softball teams, as announced by the league office Tuesday morning.

The postseason accolades are the first for by Reid and Ortiz and mark the seventh straight season that South has had at least two first-team selections. The two all-league honors are the 49th and 50th selections in program history and the 21st and 22nd to be named to the Sun Belt's first team.

Sitting at the top of the Jaguar lineup, Reid ranked among the Sun Belt leaders in several different offensive categories – batting average (.375 – T-sixth), slugging percentage (.625 – T-seventh), on-base percentage (.474 – ninth), runs (40 – T-seventh), hits (60 – sixth) and walks (27 – ninth) – during the 2019 season.

The junior also ended the regular season tied with Ortiz for the league lead in doubles (17), which also set the single-season mark at South Alabama in that category. She started every game this spring seeing time at three different positions – left field, second and as the designated player.

In conference play, Reid was just as strong and consistent as five of her seven home runs, 11 of her doubles and 20 of her RBI – second-most on the team – came against league competition.

Reid led the Jaguars with 17 multi-hit outings this spring, a mark which is tied for fifth-most in a season at South Alabama. Nine of her multi-hit games came against Sun Belt competition, and four of her six multi-RBI games. Reid has also been one of the top two-out hitters on the team as she has 13 two-out hits and 12 two-out RBI, both of which rank second on the team. Her 11 two-out RBI in Sun Belt play are most by a Jag.

She scored at least one run in 14 of her 27 league games, while driving in at least one run in 12 Sun Belt outings. The Kansas City, Mo., native was selected as the Community Coffee Sun Belt Conference Player of the twice during the season.

Since moving back into the starting lineup during week four of the season at the Diamond 9 Citrus II Classic, Ortiz has been a mainstay in right field for the Jags. The freshman has not only been one of the top newcomers in the Jaguar lineup, but also in the Sun Belt Conference as she sits just outside the league leaders in batting average (.357) and home runs (6), while ranking in the top five in slugging percentage (.628 – fourth).

Like Reid, Ortiz ended the regular season leading the Sun Belt in doubles (17), a mark that set both a new single-season and freshman record at South. Her 14 multi-hit games are tied for third-most by a freshman at South and of those, 11 have come against SBC foes – a total which leads the Jaguar squad. Four of her five multi-RBI games have also come against league competition, while 12 of her doubles – most on the team – and 19 of her RBI – third-most on the team – came in SBC play.

Ortiz has been one of the most consistent Jaguar at the plate in conference action as she has recorded a hit in 22 of her 27 Sun Belt Conference games, and ended the regular season on a career-best 10-game hit streak. Her .383 SBC batting average leads the Jaguar roster. The freshman was named the Community Coffee Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week after batting .636 in the three-game series at ULM. Of her seven hits in the series against the Warhawks, six went for extra bases – three doubles and three home runs. In the series finale against the Warhawks, Ortiz became the 17th player to record multiple home runs in the same game as she had a pair of solo shots to lead off a pair of innings.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear.  All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub.

2019 SUN BELT SOFTBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
First Team
Kenzie Longanecker, Appalachian State (Jr., P, Sanford, Fla.)
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana (Jr., P, Lafayette, La.)
Leanna Johnson, Troy (Fr., P, Brantley, Ala.)
Julie Rawls, Louisiana (Jr., C, Hallsville, Texas)
Katie Webb, Troy (Jr., 1B, Salem, Ala.)
Keeli Milligan, Louisiana (Sr., 2B, Vidor, Texas)
Hannah Farrell, Georgia Southern (Sr., 3B, Jesup, Ga.)
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (Jr., SS, Cypress, Texas)
Whitney Walton, UTA (Jr., SS, Lake Jackson, Texas)
Sarah Hudek, Louisiana (Jr., OF, Sugar Land, Texas)
Sydney McKay, ULM (Sr., OF, Pearland, Texas)
VICTORIA ORTIZ, SOUTH ALABAMA (Fr., OF, Mobile, Ala.)
BRITTANI REID, SOUTH ALABAMA (Jr., OF, Kansas City, Mo.)
Laura Curry, UTA (Sr., OF, Temecula, Calif.)
Lexie Comeaux, Louisiana (Sr., DP, Tomball, Texas)

Second Team
Kaitlin Beasley-Polko, Coastal Carolina (So., P, Leonardtown, Md.)
Randi Phillips, UTA (So., P, Jefferson, Texas)
Meagan King, Texas State (So., P, Mont Belvieu, Texas)
Reagan Wright, UTA (Jr., C, Mansfield, Texas)
Kourtney Gremillion, Louisiana (So., 1B, Gonzales, La.)
Aileen Garcia, UTA (Jr., 1B, Houston, Texas)
Taylor Sweigart, Coastal Carolina (So., 2B, Mertztown, Pa.)
Kara Gremillion, Louisiana (Sr., 3B, Gonzales, La.)
Keri White, Appalachian State (Jr., 3B, Hampstead, N.C.)
Tara Oltmann, Texas State (So., SS, Giddings, Texas)
Courtney Dean, Coastal Carolina (So., OF, Indian Trail, N.C.)
Raina O'Neal, Louisiana (So., OF, Richmond, Texas)
Krista Rude, UTA (Sr., OF, Arlington, Texas)
Christiana McDowell, Texas State (Jr., OF, Round Rock, Texas)
Bailey Taylor, Troy (So., DP, Winnsboro, S.C.)

Sun Belt Player of the Year
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (Jr., SS, Cypress, Texas)
 
Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana (Jr., P, Lafayette, La.)

Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
Leanna Johnson, Troy (Fr., P, Brantley, Ala.)

Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year
Sarah Hudek, Louisiana (Jr., OF, Sugar Land, Texas)

Sun Belt Coach of the Year
Gerry Glasco, Louisiana

—USA—