May 17, 2000

Four University of North Carolina softball players-catcher Natalie Anter, outfielder Jen Klesaris, third baseman Kelly Ramsey and shortstop Michelle Semmes-have been named to the All-Southeast Region first team. Two other Tar Heels-second baseman Crystal Henderson and pitcher Radara McHugh-were named to the region's second team. The teams were chosen by a vote of the Southeast Region's coaches.

The first-team players are now eligible for All-America honors. The second-team players may be named to the All-America second or third teams. Those honors will be announced on May 24.

Semmes, a junior from Fayetteville, N.C., led UNC this season with a .394 batting average and was named ACC Player of the Year. Ramsey, a sophomore from Del Mar, Calif., batted .361 and set a team record with 48 RBI. Anter, a sophomore from Upland, Calif., batted .354 and led Carolina with nine home runs. Klesaris, a senior from Garden City, N.Y., batted .344 and had a 1.000 fielding percentage in centerfield.

Henderson, a senior from Severn, Md., batted .351 and led the team in stolen bases with 17. McHugh, a junior from Tulsa, Okla., led the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 1.07 ERA and a 23-6 record.

Anter, Henderson, McHugh and Semmes also were named to the All-ACC team and Henderson was All-ACC Tournament.

"I'm very excited for our players," UNC coach Donna Papa said. "We've never had this many on the all-region teams. They've worked extremely hard this season and they really deserve this recognition. Certainly, we're disappointed that our season is over, but this is great news."

UNC finished the 2000 season with a program-best 47-17 record. The Tar Heels had hoped to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament but found out on Sunday that they did not make the 48-team field. The Tar Heels led the ACC in pitching and hitting throughout the season and set team single-season records for hits, runs, runs batted in, doubles, home runs and total bases.