May 12, 2008

PENSACOLA, Fla. - UWF third basemen Nicky VanCamp has been selected for the 2008 Daktronics All-South Region Second Team for her contribution to West Florida's season. The senior from Davenport, Iowa has had quite the two-year stint under Head Coach Tami Cyr, earning several awards in her final season with the Argos. In addition to her All-South recognition, VanCamp was named to the All-GSC First Team and captured Player of the Week earnings twice in 2008. She was also named to the NCAA South Region Tournament team in recognition of her play in Miami Shores.

"Nicky was phenomenal all year long," says Head Coach Tami Cyr. "Several opposing coaches approached me throughout the season and made comments that Nicky is the type of kid that you can build a program around." VanCamp transferred to West Florida from Kirkwood Community College, and spent two years with the Argonauts. In the 2007 season, she split time behind the plate and at third base and finished the season leading her team in batting average homeruns and walks. The 2008 season, however, would prove to be an even better one for Nicky as she earned her role as the cleanup batter in the lineup, and a starting position at third base.

The slugger was a threat in every way at the plate, resulting in opposing pitchers attempting to pitch around Nicky. Often times, pitchers made attempts to catch her swinging out of the strike zone, but a patient eye attributed to VanCamp finishing the regular season leading the Gulf South Conference with 45 walks. "Nicky was so disciplined at the plate. She was aware that opposing teams would be trying to pitch around her, and she used that to her advantage, knowing that she could still reach base," said Cyr. Nicky also finished the regular season among the top ten in the GSC in both on-base percentage and runs batted in.

VanCamp led the Argos all season at the plate, finishing out 2008 leading her team in hits (61), RBIs (53), homeruns (12), walks (45), slugging percentage (.625), and batting average (.362). Coach Cyr continued to rave on VanCamp saying, "Nicky was a clutch player offensively all season, hitting when we needed hits and using her discipline to reach base when pitchers wouldn't give her anything to hit." Coach Cyr's comments certainly ring true as Nicky led her team in two out situations with a .313 batting average with two outs, as well as knocking in an impressive 22 RBIs with two outs.

"I just played with the mentality that every game was my last, every at bat was my last," said the senior powerhouse when asked about her success this season. An asset to the West Florida team both in the lineup and in the field, VanCamp will certainly be missed among the Argos. "She was unselfish all season," said Cyr. "She did what she had to do to help out her team."