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Raider softball collects more awards

Thursday, May 20, 2010
Kendall Litton Jensen

Hope Bitzer

Seminole State softball can add two additional awards to its repertoire, thanks to sophomores Hope Bitzer and Natalie Beach.

Bitzer, the Raiders' top pitcher, was named Mid-Florida Conference (MFC) Female Athlete of the Year during the MFC athletic directors' meeting on May 12. Beach, a shortstop, was named MFC Scholar Athlete of the Year.

During the 2010 season, Bitzer, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Third-Team All-American, went 28-8 from the mound and held opponents to a 0.98 earned run average. The Lake Mary High School graduate also struck out 261 batters and was twice-named Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA) Pitcher of the Week.

In April, Bitzer received several other awards from the MFC and FCCAA, including Softball Player of the Year, First-Team All-Conference, First-Team All-State and Atlantic District All-Tournament. She will play for Rollins College in the fall.

Natalie Beach

Beach, who came to Seminole State out of Ridgeview High School in Middleburg, is highly accomplished in the classroom and on the field. She is a three-time member of the MFC's and FCCAA's All-Academic teams, as well as an NJCAA and NFCA Academic All-American.

In April, Beach was named to the MFC's All-Conference Second Team and the FCCAA's Atlantic District All-Tournament Team. She finished the season with a .316 batting average and a .963 fielding percentage.

Beach graduated from Seminole State College in May with a 3.87 GPA and Magna Cum Laude honors. She will continue her softball career at Florida Institute of Technology.

During the 2010 regular season, Seminole State softball went 16-8 in conference play and 39-15-1 overall. The team finished third in the post-season state tournament after falling to Miami Dade College in the Atlantic District Championship. For more information, please visit the Raider softball home page.