Picazo chosen as top newcomer

RICHARDSON, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University sophomore Tori Picazo has been chosen to the All-Lone Star Conference South Division first team in softball as a designated player in selections announced this week by the conference.

Picazo was also chosen the division’s newcomer of the year.

Picazo, a transfer from West Texas College who is from McKinney, Texas, set an ENMU record this season with a .486 batting average and, with a lead of nearly 60 points, is all but assured of leading the conference with only a handful of games remaining. She also tops the LSC with a .586 on-base percentage.

Picazo topped the Zias in runs (52), hits (57), doubles (13), home runs (7) and slugging percentage (.732). She was one of two ENMU players to start and play in every game this season.

Also representing ENMU in postseason selections were freshman outfielder Christina Helland on the second team, and freshman first baseman Elizabeth Whipkey and junior shortstop Jessica Nocas on honorable mention.

Helland, from Rio Rancho, hit .387 in 34 games before missing the final couple of weeks due to an appendectomy. She had three of the team’s seven triples this season.

Whipkey, from Orange, Calif., finished second on the team in batting (.396) and in runs batted in (38). Nocas, a transfer from Midland (Texas) Junior College who is from Riverside, Calif., hit .391 with a team-leading 44 RBIs.

ENMU, which lost coach Armando Quiroz to an ankle injury five games into the campaign, finished its season at 20-29 overall under the direction of graduate assistant and acting head coach Amber Daniel.