STARKVILLE, Miss. – The post season accolades continue to roll in for three members of the University of West Alabama softball team.  The trio of Kelli Hartley, Valisha Fincher and Lauren Mills added 2009 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II All-Region Team honors to their repertoire.  The Three Tigers were named to the South All-Region squad.

Hartley and Fincher claimed spots on the First Team, while Mills was tabbed to the Second Team.  The squads were voted on by the softball coaches within the South Region.  Hartley, Fincher and Mills were named Daktronics All-South Region earlier this week.

Ties were not broken, bringing the total number of student-athletes honored to 107 for this season. All 107 players will be eligible for Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America honors.  The 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-America Teams will be announced on Wednesday, May 20, at the banquet preceding the NCAA Championship Tournament in Salem, Va.

Hartley, a two-time All-Gulf South Conference honoree at second base, finished the year second on the ballclub in hitting with a .390 mark.  The Northport, Ala.-sophomore drove in a team-best 70 runs and scored 57 times.  Hartley and Fincher shared team home runs honors with 15.  The tandem paced UWA’s school-record 80 home runs during the 2009 season.  Hartley led the Tigers in doubles with 17 along with an astounding .776 slugging percentage.

Fincher, a mainstay in left field, finished her sophomore season with a .368 average from the left side of the dish.  The Tarrant, Ala-native connected on 50 hits and 48 RBIs.  Fincher reached base via walk 43 times this season, ranking fifth in the nation in base on balls.  She guided the Tigers in the stolen base department with 18 swipes on the base paths.

Mills, UWA’s primary designated player, claimed the utility spot on the Second Team.  Mills was in the starting line up 42 times this season, turning in a .338 clip at the plate.  The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-product carded 12 round trippers and eight two-baggers in her first season in the Red and White. 

The Tigers finished the season with a 42-17 mark, tying the school record for wins in a season.  UWA also made its first trip to the GSC Softball Tournament since the 1997 campaign.