Monday, March 15, 2004

BORTZ & HENNESSY SELECTED AS COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE
PLAYER & PITCHER OF THE WEEK

ANNVILLE, PA --- Junior shortstop Heather Bortz (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS) of the Moravian College softball team has been named the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week for the second consecutive week announced Monday while sophomore pitcher Meagan Hennessy (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township HS) was honored as the Commonwealth Pitcher of the Week for a second straight week for her performance last week.

Bortz led Moravian to a 6-0 record last week, the championship of the 2004 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Leadoff Classic and extended her school-record hitting streak to 27 consecutive games. Bortz hit .542 at the NFCA leadoff classic with 13 hits in 24 at-bats. She opened the tournament with a three-for-four performance and a run scored in Moravian’s 3-0 win against defending national champion and second-ranked Central (IA) College and then went three-for-five with two runs scored and a stolen base in a 13-6 victory versus Roanoke (VA) College. Bortz was two-for-four in both games on the second day of the tournament as Moravian defeated #21 Capital (OH) University, 4-0, and #12 Methodist (NC) College, 11-3 in five innings. Bortz added an RBI and a run scored in the game versus Methodist. She was one-for-three with a double and a run scored in Moravian’s 4-0 victory over #11 and previously unbeaten Alma (MI) College. Bortz finished the tournament with a two-for-four game, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Moravian’s 7-3 win over previously unbeaten East Texas Baptist University. Bortz was also perfect in the field in 24 chances in the field with 16 putouts and eight assists.

Hennessy was named the Most Valuable Player of the NFCA Leadoff Classic after posting a 4-0 record, a 0.75 ERA, 21 strikeouts and shutouts of three of the top 21 teams in the country. Hennessy began the tournament with 3-0 shutout of Central (IA). She allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out three batters. Hennessy then defeated Capital (OH), 4-0, with a three-hit shutout. She did not allow any walks to the Crusaders and struck out six batters. Hennessy earned her third straight shutout with a 2-0 victory versus Alma (MI) in the semifinal game. She allowed five hits and two walks while striking out nine batters. Hennessy completed the NFCA Leadoff Classic by defeating East Texas Baptist, 7-3, in the championship game. She allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three batters. Hennessy also had one putout and nine assists in ten chances last week.

Moravian, which is ranked tenth in the nation, is 9-1 overall and will return to action on Saturday, March 20th in a non-conference doubleheader at Haverford College beginning at 1:00 p.m.