May 23, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina softball player Casey Testa has been named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) All-Southeastern Region second team as a designated player. Testa, a freshman from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., had a strong rookie season for the Tar Heels before being sidelined by a season-ending injury in mid-April.

"Casey was a threat at the plate and was always a tough out," UNC coach Donna J. Papa said. "Unfortunately her season ended earlier than we would have liked and she would have liked, but it's an honor that the region's coaches thought enough of her to vote her to the second team."

The all-region teams are named by position and selected by a vote of the region's coaches. A total of 241 Division I players from 117 teams in nine regions around the nation were honored and are now eligible for All-America selection.

Testa led the Tar Heels in slugging at .504 and was second in batting average at .294 . Her six home runs - including a grand slam - tied her for the team lead and she had the squad's best on-base percentage, .418. She started 45 games (38 at designated player and seven at first base) before suffering a fractured ankle in practice in mid-April. She missed the spring's final 17 games after playing in the first 50.

The Tar Heels wrapped up the season at 38-29 with a loss to top-ranked Michigan Sunday in the NCAA Tournament regional championship in Ann Arbor, Mich. Making its fourth NCAA appearance and third in a row, UNC went 2-2 in postseason play, marking the first time in program history that the team had won more than one game in NCAA Tournament play. Testa is part of a solid group of young players returning next season for the Tar Heels, who had just two seniors, Ashley Allen and Jessica Young, on this year's roster.

2005 All-Southeastern Region Teams
First Team
Pitcher (2) - Jessica Sallinger (Georgia Tech), Michelle Green (Georgia)
1st Base - Kim Wendland (Georgia)
2nd Base - Aileen Morales (Georgia Tech)
3rd Base - Melissa Wiggins (Stetson)
Shortstop - Amber Jackson (Bethune-Cookman)
Catcher - Jenn Wynn (Virginia)
Outfielders (3) - Lindsey Cameron (Florida), Tiffany Stewart (South Florida), Courtney Knight (Georgia)
Utility - Megan McAllister (Georgia)
Designated Player - Mandi Nichols (East Carolina)
Second Team
Pitcher (2, plus ties) - Lindsay Enders - Central Florida, Rachel Stern (College of Charleston), Keli Harrell (East Carolina), Abbie Sims (NC State), Jessica Moore (Liberty)*
1st Base - Kate Manuse (East Carolina)
2nd Base - Elena Crockett (Virginia)
3rd Base - Sara Larquier (Virginia)
Shortstop - Stephanie Best (Central Florida )
Catcher - Kristen Butler (Florida )
Outfielders (3 plus ties) - Janiva Willis (Winthrop) , Jessica Josker (South Carolina), Shawna Wiggs (Stetson), Melanie Johnson (Bethune Cookman)
Utility - Holly Harris (Campbell)
Designated Player - Casey Testa (North Carolina)
* - Conference players of the year and Pitchers of the year are added to second team if they are not voted on to the first or second team. Moore was the Big South Player of the Year.

A complete listing of the 2005 Louisville Slugger/NFCA all-region teams is available here.