PULASKI, Tenn. - The 2012 TranSouth Conference softball postseason honors have been released. Martin Methodist's Veronika Fukunishi was named Newcomer of the Year, as Fukunishi, Chrissy Darnell, Katlin White, and Cynthia Takahashi earned first team nods. Kandace Christopher and Chrissy Worth were both recognized on the second team. These awards will be presented during a ceremony following Wednesday's 5:00 pm games in the conference tournament, which starts Wednesday, May 2 at the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex in Jackson, Tennessee.
Fukunishi, a junior catcher from Brazil, led the TSAC with 46 RBI during the regular season, and was third in batting average with a .395. In her first season as a RedHawk, Fukunishi was a two-time TSAC Player of the Week, tallying a .619 slugging percentage with 58 hits, 13 doubles and six homeruns.
Darnell led the RedHawk pitching staff with a 17-2 record this season, ranking 32nd in the NAIA, with a 2.14 ERA. Darnell struck out 89 batters during the regular season in 147.0 innings. At the plate, Darnell hit .311 with 38 hits, including nine doubles, a triple, three homeruns and 27 RBI.
White, who compiled a 5-6 record in the circle, hit .416 with 32 hits during her junior campaign. Over the past month, White has gone on a 12-game hit streak since April 10, hitting five of her six season doubles during that time. The junior is 11-for-11 in stolen bases this season.
Takahashi made her RedHawk debut as MMC's leadoff batter, hitting .380 with the team's second-best 52 hits. With six doubles and 11 RBI, Takahashi's speed also paid off for MMC, leading the team with 16 stolen bases.
Christopher, a 53-game starter for the RedHawks, turned in a regular season .302 batting average with 45 hits and 31 runs scored. The senior doubled 12 times, adding a triple, five homeruns, and 40 runs driven in.
Worth's senior campaign included a team-high 1.81 ERA, and a 12-7 record in the circle. In 124.0 innings, the lefty hurler struck out 59 with just 17 walks.
