ROCK HILL, S.C. – Five Carson-Newman Lady Eagles have been named to the 2010 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Teams, league officials announced Tuesday.

Junior third baseman Whitney Kee (Knoxville, Tenn.) and outfielder Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) were selected to the preseason All-Conference first team, while first baseman Sarah Little (Calhoun, Ga.), shortstop Jessie Howard (Knoxville, Tenn.), and outfielder Whitney Durham (Rossville, Ga.) were named to the second team.

Kee ranked among the conference leaders in runs scored, walks and on-base percentage. Price hit .349 and was among the conference leaders with 16 stolen bases.

Little led the SAC in RBIs and home runs. She finished the year with 53 RBIs and 12 home runs.

Howard, an NFCA First Team All-American in ’08, hit .378 and led the conference in runs scored with 49. She also stole 24 bases on 26 attempts in starting all 49 games for the Lady Eagles.

Durham hit .336 with 38 RBI last season while patrolling centerfield in ‘09.

Carson-Newman, which won the 2009 Food Lion SAC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Divison II Southeast Super Regional championship, is also the favorite to win the 2010 South Atlantic Conference softball championship.

The Lady Eagles went 32-17 in 2009 and won their ninth South Atlantic Conference Tournament title and finished ranked 21st in the final NFCA poll.

Carson-Newman opens its 2010 season on Feb. 11 with a doubleheader at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.

2010 SAC SOFTBALL ALL CONFERENCE TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Catcher - Sarah Atkins, Lenoir-Rhyne
Pitcher - Amanda Huckestein, Newberry
Pitcher - Brittany Blankenship, Wingate
1st Base - Ashley Seawell, Mars Hill
2nd Base - Rebekah Huff, Mars Hill
Shortstop - Kat Rivers, Lenoir-Rhyne
3rd Base - Whitney Kee, Carson-Newman
Outfield - LaRonda McClain, Wingate
Outfield – Leah Price, Carson-Newman
Outfield - Anna James, Mars Hill
Utility - Debra Grijalva, Wingate

SECOND TEAM
Catcher – Devin Sponseller, Lincoln Memorial
Pitcher - Dawon Millwood, Lenoir-Rhyne
Pitcher – Allison Smith - Wingate
1st Base - Sarah Little, Carson-Newman
2nd Base – Allie Marshall, Catawba
Shortstop – Jessie Howard, Carson-Newman
3rd Base – Maddie Fletcher, Brevard
Outfield - Ashley Angell, Mars Hill,
Outfield – Natalie Haithcox, Mars Hill
Outfield – Whitney Durham, Carson-Newman
Utility – Sara Powell, Newberry