Lye named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American

2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Div. III All-Americans

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — Williams College junior shortstop Joey Lye earned All-America honors Thursday.

Lye  was selected a 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-American, thus becoming the third Eph ever to earn All-America status. She was named Second Team shortstop and joined Laura Jacobs (1998) and Liz Gluck (2004) as Ephs who have earned the honor.

Previously, Lye had earned First Team Region honors from two different organizations (Louisville Slugger-NFCA/NEISCA), as well as a First Team All-NESCAC honor.

The Ephs starting shortstop and lead-off hitter, Lye led the conference in no less than six offensive categories, including batting average (.504), on-base percentage (.568), runs scored (41), hits (64), triples (3) and total bases (87). Her hits total of 64 set a single-season record at Williams, breaking the mark set by Laura Jacobs (60) in 1999. Her total bases total of 87 also set a single-season record at the institution, surpassing the mark of 82 set by Alana Frost in 2006.

Lye played in and started all 39 games for the Ephs. She is the first Eph ever to record a .500 average or better and at the same time surpass 100 at-bats in a season. In addition to her conference-leading totals, she was third in the NESCAC in slugging percentage (.685), second in walks (18) to teammate Katie Powers, and fifth in stolen bases (12). Her totals led the Ephs in 13 different categories.

Williams finished its season 19-20, earning a bid in the NESCAC Tournament for the eighth consecutive season.