LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Coker College softball senior first baseman Maria Williamson was one of 50 players in the entire country named to the watch list for the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the Year. Williamson joined junior pitcher Lacie Rinus of Carson-Newman as the only two selections from the South Atlantic Conference.
Williamson, a senior from Laurens, South Carolina, continued her run as one of the standout softball players in Coker history last year by leading the South Atlantic Conference in batting average (.454), on base percentage (.526), and hits (74). Williamson also finished third in the conference in RBIs (52) and fifth in homeruns (10). This will be Williamson's second preseason all-conference selection after being selected to the first team last year. Along with her preseason selection, she was named the the South Atlantic Conference All-Tournament Team, First Team All-South Atlantic Conference, NFCA DII First Team All-Southeast Region, D2CCA Southeast Region Second Team, and to cap it off Williamson was named an NFCA All-American.
Prior to this season, Williamson was a Preseason First Team All-South Atlantic Conference selection along with fellow Cobra Christine Carver. Williamson has appeared in two games this season with a hit and a walk in a pair of wins over Mount Olive
The Cobras take on Erskine in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday (Feb. 9) for their home opener with game one set to begin at 1:00 PM.