Friday, May 16, 2003

BORTZ NAMED NFCA SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN

COLUMBIA, MO --- Sophomore shortstop Heather Bortz (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS) of the Moravian College softball team has been named to the 2003 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Second Team announced Thursday evening at the banquet prior to the NCAA Division III Softball National Championship in Salem, Virginia.

Bortz, who is the first Moravian player to receive national All-American accolades, is one of 45 players that have been named to the 2003 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-American first, second and third teams. NFCA-member NCAA Division III coaching representatives, based on nominations from the 2003 season, selected all three teams.

Bortz led the Greyhounds to a 32-10 record this season and a runner-up finish at the 2003 NCAA Regional, Moravian’s best-ever finish in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Moravian won its fourth consecutive Commonwealth Conference Championship and earned its sixth straight berth in the NCAA Tournament. Bortz was one of two players from the Middle Atlantic Corporation to earn All-American accolades, the other was Michelle Mumma of Messiah College, also a Second Team All-American, and Bortz was one of five players from the East Region selected as an All-American.

Bortz led Moravian at the plate this season with a .496 batting average, the third highest single season in school history. Bortz set the school record with 67 hits during the year, and she became the fastest player in school history to reach 100 hits. She currently has 117 hits after two seasons. Bortz also contributed 29 runs scored, 18 RBIs, 11 walks, ten stolen bases, six doubles, three triples and a home run, which was an inside-the-park grand slam in the NCAA Regional. Bortz had an on-base percentage of .531 this spring, and she was one of the toughest players in the country to strikeout with just three strikeouts in 135 at-bats this year. In the field, Bortz made 84 putouts and 69 assists while committing just eight errors from her shortstop position.

Other awards for Bortz this spring include the Co-Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year with Mumma, Commonwealth All-Conference First Team, NFCA All-East Region First Team, NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team and Lehigh Valley Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Player of the Year.