Jan. 24, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Auburn softball players Kaylee Carlson and Alyssa Rivera were selected to the Preseason All-SEC Team, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Auburn is one of five teams with multiple players on the 11th-annual list that consists of 10 seniors, six juniors and Rivera, the lone sophomore.
Carlson, a senior, is coming off a monster 2017 season that included a program-record 27 wins and 1.36 ERA, the second-lowest in school history. The Garden Grove, Calif. product earned All-SEC First Team and Defensive Team honors and was a Third Team NFCA All-American selection. Carlson hurled 21 complete games in 2017, good for fourth in school history and was part of eight shutouts, including six solo efforts.
"I couldn't be prouder for Kaylee, being a senior and putting herself in that position," Auburn head coach Mickey Dean said. "She's earned it and I think she's excited about her senior year."
Rivera, a native of Eagle Lake, Fla., was named to both the All-SEC Second Team and All-SEC Freshman team after an impressive freshman campaign that included a team-leading .371 batting average with 28 RBI. Appearing in 51 games, the outfielder was the only freshman in the SEC to record at least 20 hits in league play and held a .396 on-base percentage in SEC-only games.
"Alyssa worked hard in the offseason playing for the junior national team, getting that experience and exposure," Dean said. "I think it's going to be a big year for her."
The Preseason All-SEC Softball Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and consist of a minimum of 14 players. Each SEC head coach voted for five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, one catcher and one designated player/utility. No ties were broken.
The full list can be found here.