RICHARDSON, Texas – The Lone Star Conference recognized four members of the softball program Wednesday night with All-LSC nods.
Mikenzey Patterson earned second team All-LSC after a stellar senior season with Eastern New Mexico.
The Roswell, N.M. native paced the team in batting average (.320), runs (43), hits (57), steals (20), and on base percentage (.418). She helped the team win a series over Cameron after hitting seven-straight singles and tied a program record for most hits (5) in a ball game in a road contest at Midwestern State.
"Mikenzey has been a table setter for us all year," said head coach
Amanda Fefel on the speedy outfielder. "She has the speed and is able to read a defense. I am excited for her to come back next year and be a leader for this team. She definitely deserves this award."
Brook Leger,
Ashley Nickerson, and
Alondra Vasquez earned third team All-LSC for their efforts on the diamond for ENMU.
Nickerson is only a freshman and earned a valuable spot on the team immediately. Because of her tremendous work all year long, LSC coaches selected her as a member of the All-LSC freshman team. She started in 53 games and lead the team with 22 walks and 16 doubles. Over the season she drove in 29 runs and held a .988 fielding percentage with 319 putouts. That equals the eighth most putouts by a Hound in program history.
"She is very deserving and has done a great job coming in as a freshman," said Fefel on the first baseman. "I am looking forward to seeing her grow a lot more in this conference."
Vasquez came to Portales by way of the Dominican Republic. She has a team-best seven homers over 54 games and 52 starts. She starred behind the plate as a catcher and was a useful asset to the team at the plate as a designated player when needed. Vasquez also helped ENMU earn a spot into this weekend's LSC tournament with a bunt single in the bottom of the sixth against Texas A&M-Kingsville last weekend. The junior holds a .290 average and a .986 fielding percentage.
"Alondra has had a great presence for us behind the plate and been able to stop a lot of the aggressive run games we see in the LSC," said Fefel on the junior college transfer. "She has worked very hard catching up with the speed of the game and building relationships with her pitchers."
Leger not only earned third team honors, but she also was named to the All-Academic team. As an undergrad she carried a 3.95 GPA and holds a 4.0 in graduate studies. She plans on becoming a teacher in the Albuquerque area. In the circle, she has been dominate for the Greyhounds over her career. In 2023, she finished with several single season bests including wins (13), ERA (2.89), appearances (33), innings (143.0), and shutouts (4). She struckout 117 batters and held opponents to a .244 batting clip.
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Brook Leger has been able to prioritize her time in the classroom and graduate early," said Fefel on the awards for Leger. "I am proud for her to be going out with a conference honor."
ENMU softball is set to take on St. Mary's at 10 a.m. MT in the 7/10 matchup of the 2023 Lone Star Conference tournament. If the Greyhounds advance, they will play West Texas A&M at 3 p.m. MT.
