MSU Softball's Bramlett, Bures Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-Region
May 14, 2008 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Mississippi State sophomore Chelsea Bramlett and senior Courtney Bures have been named Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-South Region. The pair was named to the first team for the second time each, and both are now eligible for All-America honors which will be announced May 28 prior to the start of the Women's College World Series.
Bramlett and Bures join former MState standouts Keri McCallum, Kellie Wilkerson and Iyhia McMichael as the only players in program history to earn multiple first team all-region honors.
"This is a tremendous honor for both Chelsea and Courtney, especially being the second time that each has been named to the first team," State head coach Jay Miller said. "Both are very deserving of All-America honors, and they have the opportunity to continue their tremendous seasons here in postseason play."
Bramlett earned first team catcher honors after hitting a team-leading and sophomore-best .444 (12th best in the nation) with three doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 23 RBI. The 2007 first team all-American has scored a sophomore-best 48 runs, and her 44 stolen bases, fifth-best nationally, are the best ever for a second-year player and two behind the MSU single season record 46 she set last season.
The Cordova, Tenn., native earned First Team All-SEC after rating tops in the league in hits (84) and second in stolen bases and batting average. She also earned SEC Player of the Week honors following State's undefeated run through the season-opening Cathedral City Kickoff in Palm Springs, Calif.
Bures is swinging at a team second-best and SEC sixth-highest .403 clip this season, the best average of her four-year Bulldog career. The first team All-SEC shortstop has reached base at a .488 clip, the highest on the team and seventh-best in the league. Her slugging percentage is a team-best .591.
A second team all-region selection in 2006 and first team all-region and all-America selection in 2005, Bures claimed the school's career RBI record with 189. She has also contributed a team-leading 14 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 39 runs while starting every game this season at shortstop. In conference games, the Haymarket, Va., native and draft selection of National Pro Fastpitch's Washington Glory topped the squad with a .453 average which ranked third in the conference. Her .548 on-base percentage in the SEC was second only to fellow first team all-region performer Tonya Callahan of Tennessee.
Bures and Bramlett lead the 40-20 Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 25 nationally this week, into the NCAA Tempe (Ariz.) Regional where they will meet 23rd-ranked Hawai'i (38-19). First pitch on the Arizona State campus is set for 6:30 p.m. CST on Friday.
