MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama pitcher Hannah Campbell, outfielder Blair Johnson and infielder Kaitlyn Griffith were named to the 2014 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference softball team, and the Jaguars were picked to finish second in the league by the conference’s coaches.
It is the second straight year South Alabama has placed at least three players on the preseason team. The Jaguars’ three selections tie Western Kentucky for the most in the league this season.
Hannah Campbell
Campbell, a senior left-hander, made the preseason team for the second consecutive year. Last season she became the first All-American in South Alabama softball history, earning the honor from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association after going 22-9 with a 1.08 earned run average, second best in the nation.
She set school single-season records with six saves and 10 shutouts and threw three no-hitters, including a perfect game against Mississippi Valley State in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Mobile Regional.
Blair Johnson
Johnson, a junior outfielder, was also a preseason pick for the second time after helping South Alabama win back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Tournament championships. She led the team in hits for the second straight season with 61 and added 43 runs scored and 38 RBIs.
Johnson was a second-team All-Sun Belt selection as a freshman in 2012 and a first-team pick last season.
Kaitlyn Griffith
Griffith, a junior, earned her first preseason selection and is moving from second base to shortstop to replace Brittany Fowler.
She was second on the team last season with 10 home runs, posted a .577 slugging percentage and a .417 on-base percentage, and was hit by a pitch 16 times, second most on the team. She fielded at a .984 clip. Filling in at shortstop for an injured Fowler against No. 9 UCLA last season, she recorded five assists and two putouts.
Griffith was a second-team All-Sun Belt selection last season, made the conference all-tournament team and helped lead the Jaguars past Troy in the league tournament.
Preseason Poll
Louisiana-Lafayette was picked to win the conference with six first-place votes and 62 points. South Alabama received the other two first-place votes and 57 points.
- Louisiana-Lafayette (6) – 62
- South Alabama (2) – 57
- Western Kentucky – 47
- Texas State – 33
- Georgia State – 30
- Troy – 27
- UT Arlington – 21
- Louisiana-Monroe – 11
Last season, South Alabama finished second to regular-season champion Western Kentucky, with Louisiana-Lafayette third. The Jaguars and Ragin’ Cajuns met in the conference tournament championship game.
Season Opener
The No. 20 Jaguars open the 2014 season Thursday, Feb. 6, against No. 21 UAB at Jaguar Field in the first game of the Mardi Gras Invitational.
