CULVER CITY, Calif. - Carson-Newman sophomore pitcher Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) roped in her third All-America honor of the 2018 postseason Monday afternoon.
Rinus received Honorable Mention All-America recognition from Fast Pitch News for a second straight year. She adds that plaudit to All-America honors from both the NFCA and D2CCA.
She joins second baseman Whitney Hickam as the only other two-year All-American since Carson-Newman moved to NCAA Division II. Hickam earned third team honors in 2007 before following it up in 2008 with a second team accolade.
Carson-Newman and SAC Hall of Famers Sammi Hatcher (1992-93) and Carol Zachary (1989-91) were multi-year All-Americans for the Eagles during the program's NAIA days. Zachary is the program's only three-time All-American.
Rinus earns Carson-Newman its 18th all-time All-American honoree.
Rinus adds the accolade to her SAC Player of the Year and SAC tournament MVP honors.
Rinus is just the second pitcher in league history since the SAC began presenting a distinct Pitcher of the Year award in 2004 to be named player of the year. She joins Carson-Newman warhorse Mary Shealy who brought home player of the year honors in 2011.
The sophomore is the first player in league history to win both a pitcher of the year and a player of the year honor in a career. She joins former Carson-Newman pitchers Carol Zachary, Heather Randolph and Marci Mitchell (all three SAC Hall of Famers), who all won the award before the awards split in 2004, as Eagle hurlers who have taken home the Player of the Year honor.
Rinus was formidable both at the plate and in the circle on the year. She finished the year second in the league in batting average at .435. She had 70 hits, 19 doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs. She got on base 52 percent of the time and slugged .656. She lead the conference in hits and doubles, was fourth in triples and fourth in the league with 99 total bases.
Her 19 doubles are top five in the country and were one away from the single-season school record in Carson-Newman history.
Rinus had 19 multi-hit efforts and seven multi-RBI days. She collected her first career four-hit day against Lenoir-Rhyne in the Eagles' home finale.
In the circle, Rinus led the league in starts (36), complete games (25), shutouts (11), innings pitched (232.2) and strikeouts (223). She had the fifth best batting average against in the league at .221 and the fifth best ERA in the conference at 2.12.
She matched her career high for strikeouts on a trio of occasions this year, striking out 12 against Queens, Wingate and Mars Hill.
First Team
- Mariah Jameyson – Sr. – Tex. A&M-Commerce
- Shontel Linnette – Sr. – Virginia Union
- Samantha Reilly – Jr. – Georgian Court
- Marley Parker – Sr. – Saint Augustine's
- Brooke Hodgson – Sr. – Colorado Mesa
- Lani Van Zyl – Jr. – Winona St.
- Christa Reisinger – Jr. – Truman
- Taylor Moran – So. – Lee
- Jessica Mohl – Sr. – Valdosta State
- Hannah Thieroff – Jr. – California Baptist
- Kylee Smith – So. -North Georgia
- Callie Nunes – Fr. – Concordia (CA)
- Victoria Taylor – So. – Southern Ark.
- Allison Lipovsky – Jr. – Grand Valley St.
- Makaleigh Dooley – Jr. – Tampa
Second Team
- Jacqueline Pickering – Sr. – Bowie State
- Starkeira Daniel – So. – Benedict
- Brooke Goad – Sr. – Southern Ark.
- Jenna Witt – So. – Concord
- Maggie Manwarren – Sr. – Colorado Mesa
- Makalya August – So. – Saint Augustine's
- Kelsey Vining – Sr. – Montevallo
- Jamie Johnson – Sr. – UNC Pembroke
- Erikka Burke – Sr. – Eastern N.M.
- Rosa'Lynn Burton – So. – Wilmington (DE)
- Haley Gilham – Sr. – Chico St.
- Amanda Houck – Sr. – West Chester
- Brooke Larsen – Fr. -Academy of Art
- Megan Cook – Sr. – Merrimack
- Jennifer Leonhardt – So. – Southern Ind.
Honorable Mention
- Clara Larson – So. – Colo. Sch. of Mines
- Isis Cabral – Jr. – Minot St.
- Maria Williamson – Jr. – Coker
- Heather Tracy – Sr. – Mont. St. Billings
- Katie Kish – Jr. – Hillsdale
- Tori Zimmermann – Sr. – Minot St.
- Kinsie Hebler – So. – Tex. A&M-Commerce
- Hannah Schmoll – Sr. – Minn. Duluth
- Morgan Atkinson – So. – Salem (WV)
- Makray Odom – So. – Trevecca Nazarene
- Tylia Sylestine – Sr. – Texas Woman's
- Brianna Billie – So. – Benedict
- Carly Esselman – So. – Minnesota St.
- Savannah Karako – Sr. – Lake Erie
- Lindsey Stigler – So. – Chowan
- Jordan Withrow – So. – Tarleton St.
- Ilona Andringa – Sr. – Embry-Riddle (FL)
- Brandy Marlett – Sr. – Angelo St.
- Megan Garst – So. – North Ala.
- Hannah Vet – Sr. – West Va. Wesleyan
- Robyn Wampler – Fr. – UC San Diego
- Morgan Perry – So. – St. Anselm
- Ali Haesele – Sr. – Ill.-Springfield
- Taylor Brandts – Sr. – UVa-Wise
- Lacie Rinus – So. – Carson-Newman