Headlining the group from FAMU is senior pitcher Kenya
Pereira, who was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year for the second straight
season. The Kissimmee, Florida native has won the Most Outstanding Player Award
at the MEAC Tournament in 2014 and 2015, and was the regular season 2016
Pitcher of the Year, posted a 14-16 overall record, a 3.36 ERA, with 138
strikeouts in 193.2 innings.
Joining Pereira on the first team from FAMU was fellow senior outfielder Whitney Farris from Coral Springs, Florida, who hit a team-best .382, with a pair of doubles, 10 RBI, 37 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.
The FAMU trio on the Preseason Second Team included senior
outfielder Tashayla Irvis, from Lake Wales, Florida, who hit .356, with three
doubles, a home run, 15 RBIs, 36 runs scored and 21 stolen bases; senior third
baseman Amber Fullwood, from Land O’Lakes, Florida, who hit .278 with eight
doubles, five home runs, a team-high 30 RBIs; and junior first baseman Toni
Anderson, from Dothan, Alabama, who hit .292, with six doubles, four home runs
and 27 RBIs.
The three-time defending MEAC champion FAMU Softball team
was also picked to win the league’s Southern Division, garnering 136 total
points and 15 of a possible 25 first place votes.
FAMU finished ahead of rival Bethune-Cookman (120 points),
which received two (2) first place votes, and two-time defending division
winner Savannah State (115 points), which had eight (8) first place votes.
Delaware State (163 points, 18 first place votes) was picked
to win the Northern Division, with Norfolk State and Hampton selected second
and third.