ROLLA, Mo. – The University of West Alabama’s Kelli Hartley became the softball program’s first All-American, as the Tiger second baseman was named to the Daktronics All-American Third Team announced on Thursday.

Hartley was tabbed to the Daktronics All-Region First Team, making her eligible for All-American honors.  Hartley, a two-time All-Gulf South Conference honoree, finished the year second on the ballclub in hitting with a .390 mark.  The Northport, Ala.-sophomore drove in a team-best 70 runs and scored 57 times.  Hartley and Valisha Fincher shared team home runs honors with 15.  The tandem paced UWA’s school-record 80 home runs during the 2009 season.  Hartley led the Tigers in doubles with 17 along with an astounding .776 slugging percentage.

In just two seasons in the Red and White, Hartley ranks third all-time in home runs with 28.  She ranks second on UWA’s career batting average list with a .368 career mark at the plate.  Hartley ranks second in record books in RBI with 117.

The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc. an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.  The team is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Hartley was one of four players from the Gulf South Conference named to one of the three All-American squads.  Caitlin Lee from UAH joined her on the Third Team, while UAH’s Beth Lawson and Valdosta State’s Marti Littlefield earned Second Team honors.