LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola University senior Keena Levert, junior Krista Johnson and sophomore Sara Smith were named to the 2009 All-Golden State Athletic Conference team as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.

The three players were the most to make the all-conference team since the 2005 season for Biola. 

Levert, a third baseman from La Mirada, was one of two seniors on the 2009 Biola squad. She had an impressive final campaign with the Eagles, batting .310 with six home runs, 23 RBIs and 18 runs scored. Levert closes out her career as the all-time leading home run hitter at Biola with 23 in four seasons. 

During the season, Levert was one of Biola's most consistent hitters, reaching base in all but nine of the games she started this season. She led the team with 11 multi-hit games including two three-hit games. The later came against Hamline University (Minn.) in which Levert connected on homers in consecutive at-bats and finished the day with five RBIs.

Johnson, a shortstop from Concord, was not too far behind Levert in the offensive standings. She batted .309 with four home runs, two triples, 14 doubles, 23 RBIs and 24 runs scored. Her 14 doubles marked the third-straight season she has recorded at least that amount and she sits in fifth on the all-time Biola list just 13 behind the record holder.

Johnson led the team with eight multi-RBI games including a season-best five RBIs in a win over Hamline University (Minn.). In that game, Johnson hit a grand slam home run and finished with a pair of runs scored. Earlier in the season, she connected on a three-run home run in a win over the College of Notre Dame (Ohio). 

Smith, a catcher/first baseman from Northridge, solidified herself one of the conference's best catchers this season. She had the highest average on the team at .385, though she played in just 30 games due to an early-season injury. Smith had three doubles, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored, adding a team-best eight sacrifice hits. 

Behind the plate, Smith was impressive. She caught seven of 13 base runners attempting to steal--an impressive .467 stolen-base against percentage--did not have a passed ball and also picked off a runner. Smith committed just one error from the catcher position this season.

Biola heads to the post-season, opening up the GSAC Tournament on Tuesday (Apr. 28) with a play-in game against Azusa Pacific University at Noon. The Eagles drew the No. 5 seed in the tournament after posting a 19-20 overall record this season.

 

COMPLETE 2009 ALL-GSAC SOFTBALL TEAM