NCCU Duo Voted to NCCSIA All-State Softball Team
By KYLE SERBA
NCCU SID
WILMINGTON, N.C. – North Carolina Central University senior pitcher Courtney Mirabella and sophomore infielder Ava Dolan have been voted to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) 2018 University Division All-State Softball Team, the organization announced on Monday.
Mirabella, a native of Bradenton, Florida, is a member of the NCCSIA All-State First Team after tallying 18 wins with a 1.66 ERA, 306 strikeouts, 10 shutouts and a .194 opponent batting average. All of those numbers were tops in the MEAC and are new NCCU Division I era records (since 2007-08). Her 306 strikeouts are an all-time program record. The Lady Eagles' team MVP was named All-MEAC First Team and NCCU Female Athlete of the Year for her record-setting campaign.
Dolan, hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, is a member of the NCCSIA All-State Second Team after batting .391 with 50 hits, including five doubles, one triple and nine home runs for a total of 15 extra-base hits, along with 37 RBI and 26 runs scored in 44 games. The All-MEAC First Team honoree ranks in the top-five of the MEAC with a .391 batting average (4th), .451 on-base percentage (5th), .656 slugging percentage (5th), 37 RBI (T-4th) and nine home runs (T-4th).
NCCU finished its season at 20-26 overall, which is its first 20-win season in the Division I ranks. The Lady Eagles posted their first winning league record of 8-7 since joining the MEAC in 2011-12 and their 3-2 run in the MEAC tournament is a new best finish of third place.
A total of 24 student-athletes from seven different North Carolina schools were named to the first and second teams. Nominations were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals and voted on by NCCSIA members.
Founded in 2002, the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.
NCCSIA selects all-state teams in the University (Division I) and College (Division II, III, NAIA) divisions for men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball.
-EAGLE PRIDE-
NCCSIA All-State Softball Team Honorees from NCCU
(NCAA Division I Era - Since 2008)
2018 - Courtney Mirabella, pitcher (First Team)
2018 - Ava Dolan, infielder (Second Team)
2016 - Jenny Tracy, infielder (First Team)
2015 - Emerie Germ, catcher (First Team)
2015 - Casey Hargett, outfielder (First Team)
2008 - Sophia Blue, infielder (First Team)