May 14, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. –

Junior shortstop Molly Johnson and sophomore catcher Megan Yocke have been named to the All-Southeast Region team it was announced Thursday. This is the first such honor for both players in their careers.

Johnson and Yocke have been an integral part in leading UK to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. The duo leads Kentucky in nearly every offensive category and they are the team’s leaders on the defensive side of the ball as well.

The shortstop from Tucson, Ariz., continues to rack up post-season honors after earning All-SEC First Team accolades a week ago. Johnson is having perhaps the most prolific season of her already magnificent career. She has career-bests in batting average (.434), runs scored (50), hits (75), triples (4), home runs (9), total bases (123), slugging percentages (.711), on-base percentage (.497) and stolen bases (22).

Yocke, an All-SEC Second Team member, has enjoyed a break-out season behind the plate with three game-winning walk-off hits in SEC play. The Sunnyvale, Calif., native paces the team with 35 RBI, five triples, 26 walks and 13 sacrifice hits. She ranks second on the team in batting average (.331), runs scored (31), home runs (6), total bases (86), slugging percentage (.581), on-base percentage (.433), and put outs (282). Additionally, she has an incredible .997 fielding percentage from her post behind the plate.

Brooke Marnitz was the last player to earn All-Region players when she tabbed to the team in 2007 following her senior season.

The pair will lead UK into their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance this afternoon when Kentucky takes on BYU at 5 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information about the UK softball team.

Southeast Region

Pitchers
Stacey Nelson, University of Florida
Sarah Hamilton, Florida State University
Stephanie Brombacher, University of Florida
Lisa Norris, University of North Carolina
Amanda Reyes, Florida A&M

Catchers
Kaleigh Rafter, Florida State University

Megan Yocke, University of Kentucky

First Base 
Tiffany Huff, University of Tennessee
Whitney Haller, Georgia Tech

Second Base

Aja Paculba, University of Florida
Jen Yee, Georgia Tech

Third Base 
Alisa Goler, University of Georgia
Jessica Spigner, University of Tennessee

Shortstop 
Molly Johnson, University of Kentucky
Megan Bush, University of Florida

Utility / Pitcher
Danielle Spaulding, University of North Carolina
Tiffany Johnson, Georgia Tech
Brittany Stanley, Campbell University

Utility
Jill Semento, University of South Carolina
Katie Kelly, Jacksonville University

Outfield
Francesca Enea, University of Florida
Kelsey Bruder, University of Florida
Taylor Schlopy, University of Georgia
Lisa Kingsmore, Winthrop University
Kelly Grieve, University of Tennessee
Breanna Brown, University of North Carolina
Ryanne Hill, North Carolina A&T