MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (May 15, 2007) --- After setting the Milligan College softball career and season home run records, senior Megan Aldridge (Johnson City, Tenn.) has been selected as the 2007 NAIA Region XII Player of the Year. She was also named the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Year award after the regular season.

Aldridge finished her senior season with 16 home runs, an AAC best and seventh best nationally. For her career, Aldridge hit 31 home runs. Her .374 batting average was second on the team and tenth in the conference. Aldridge also ranked fourth in the conference in slugging percentage, runs scored and RBIs with a .737 slugging percentage, 44 runs scored and 53 RBIs. To go along with her power numbers, Aldridge drew 18 walks to help her have a .451 on base percentage. She also stole six bases in seven attempts.

Sophomore first baseman Jessica Blevins (Elizabethton, Tenn.) also earned a spot on the All-Region XII team. Blevins hit 14 home runs and hit .412 this season, her first at Milligan. She also led the team and ranked second in the conference with a .765 slugging percentage. Blevins also had a .451 on base percentage this season. In the field, she only committed six errors during the season to give her a .988 fielding percentage.

“I am very happy that Megan and Jessica have received the recognition and awards from the AAC and Region XII,” said Milligan head coach Wes Holly. “They are both very deserving players and have been very instrumental in our success as a team this year.”

With the 16 home runs from Aldridge and Blevins’ 14 home runs, the rest of the team hit 13 to give Milligan a new school record of 43 home runs in a season, the total ranks seventh in NAIA history. The Lady Buffs finished the season with a 35-26 record and NAIA Region XII Tournament runner up.