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Utah State Softball's Lenzora and Uchida Selected To Preseason All-WAC Team
Jan. 31, 2012
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State softball had two players selcted to the preseason all-WAC team, sophomore short stop Allison Lenzora and sophomore outfielder Kassy Uchida, announced Tuesday by the Western Athletic Conference office. Their selection to the preseason all-conference squad is the first time since 2006 when third baseman Sara Flemming was selected; it was also USU's first year in the WAC. "Kassy Uchida is a five-foot person but plays like she is a six-foot player. I expect for her to supersede what she did last season. She is growing in her game and getting better," said Aggies head coach Carissa Millsap-Kalaba. Allison (Lenzora) achieved something that at the beginning of the year if you would have asked me if she could have achieved, I would have said no. I am very proud of the hard work she put in to achieve what she has. She has become a very even-keeled player and always manages to come up with what we need in a pinch. She did a great job of that last year." Utah State was also selected to finish eighth in the WAC for the third season in a row in the WAC Preseason coaches poll. Defending WAC champion Fresno State was picked to finish first by the coaches with 44 votes and three first place votes. Hawai'i was selected to finish second with 42 votes and two first place votes. New Mexico State finished third in the voting with 37 votes and also received two first place votes. The WAC coaches welcomed newcomers Brigham Young with 35 votes and one first place vote, which put them fourth in the poll. Nevada was selected to finish fifth with 20 votes, tied for sixth with 17 votes apiece were Louisiana Tech and San Jose State. USU received 12 votes. The Aggies played their best softball in conference action last season and finished a school best fifth in the WAC. Utah State returns six starters from last year's squad including Lenzora, Uchida, all-time home run leader senior Kelley Kaneshiro and pitchers Mandy Harmon and Shelbi Tyteca. USU has nine newcomers joining the effort for 2012, including junior transfer Christine Thomsen who brings a big bat to the middle of the lineup for the Aggies.
"We are going to have a very good team this year, the challenges that we have bene trying hurtle over the last two seasons are going to come to fruition. We have all the pieces that we need offensively, defensively as well as in the circle. We have a good balance between athleticism and maturity on this team," said coach Millsap of the upcoming season. The Aggies will open its season in the Red and Black Showcase Softball Tournament on Feb. 10 hosted by Georgia, the team opens against Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina State at 9 a.m. (MT) Fans can follow Utah State athletics, including softball, at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.com.
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