June 19, 2008

Lubbock, Texas – The Lubbock Christian University Athletic Department and softball head coach Shanon Hays are excited to announce that Marissa Gonzalez and Raquel Hawkins, who are each members of the LCU 2008 NAIA Softball National Championship team, will suit up for the ASA Regional All-Stars to face the USA National Softball Team on Friday, June 27th in Midland.

 

The Midland RockHounds professional baseball team along with Bill Williams Tire Center, Midland Memorial Hospital Sportscare and the Midland Softball Association (MSA) are hosting the event as part of Team USA’s preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in August. The Olympic team will be facing an ASA (Amateur Softball Association) Regional All-Star team at Citibank Ballpark. The national team is making over 40 stops this summer throughout the United States as part of their KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour to prepare for another gold medal run. Only three of the 40 stops are in Texas (Fort Worth, Killeen & Midland).

 

This season, Gonzalez was 38-9 in the circle with a 1.08 ERA.  She completed her senior season throwing three no-hitters, including one in the program’s inaugural game, and had 342 strikeouts.  The Rancho Palos Verdes, California native is a First Team All-Region and All-Sooner Athletic Conference member.  She was a four-time SAC Pitcher of the week, and claimed the NAIA National Player of the Week on March 25th.  Her 38 wins and 342 strikeouts each ranked third in the NAIA.

 

Hawkins, an Easton All-American, had quite a junior season this past season, claiming the Region VI and Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year honor after batting .462 with 15 home runs and 87 runs-batted-in.  The three-time SAC Player of the Week recipient led the NAIA in runs-batted-in (87), while ranking second in hits (96) and tied for second in home runs (15). She also received the NAIA National Tournament Most Valuable Player award after batting .500 with 14 hits and 13 runs-batted-in in the tournament.  This will be a big experience for her since she is a native of nearby Monahans.