Wednesday, April 28, 2004

GREYHOUND SOFTBALL SQUAD PREPARES FOR ITS TENTH STRAIGHT
POSTSEASON APPEARANCE

BETHLEHEM, PA --- The Moravian College softball team will be heading to the postseason for the tenth consecutive season as the Greyhounds have the top seed in the 2004 Commonwealth Conference Tournament at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania for the third straight year.

The tournament begins on Friday, April 30th with three-time defending champion Moravian playing fourth seeded Juniata College at 11:00 a.m. Second seeded and host Lebanon Valley will battle third seed Susquehanna University at 1:00 p.m. and the winners of the first two games will play at 3:00 p.m. Friday, with the winner of that game earning a berth in the championship game at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. The losers of Friday’s first two games will open Saturday’s action at 9:00 a.m. The tournament champion earns an automatic berth into the 2004 NCAA Division III National Tournament.

The Greyhounds under the direction of 11-year head coach John Byrne, who as a career mark of 324-114, have posted a 31-3 record this spring, the 11th consecutive season that Moravian has won at least 23 games. The Greyhounds, which have won over 30 games six times under Byrne including the last four years, are in the conference tournament for the fifth straight year and the ninth time in ten years. Moravian has also been in the NCAA Tournament the last six years.

One of the keys for the Greyhounds again this season has been their pitching staff, which has a 1.12 ERA, 14 shutouts, 207 strikeouts, 151 hits allowed and just 71walks allowed in 231 innings.

Sophomore pitcher Meagan Hennessy (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township HS) has posted a 16-1 record with a school record nine shutouts and three saves. Hennessy, who started the season 15-0, has a 0.69 ERA in 122 innings of work, and she has allowed just 70 hits and 29 walks while striking out 131 batters.

Senior hurler Donna Weiner (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park HS) is 13-1 this season, having won her last 13 decisions. Weiner has a 1.76 ERA, five shutouts, 72 strikeouts and just 72 hits and 39 walks allowed in 99 2/3 innings of action. Freshman Becky Thomas (Laureldale, PA/Muhlenberg Township HS) has a 2-0 record, a 0.75 ERA and four strikeouts in nine 1/3 innings.

As a team at the plate, Moravian has a .311 batting average this season with 286 hits, 51 doubles, seven triples and 14 home runs. The Greyhounds have scored 180 runs and drawn 79 walks while striking out just 73 times in 1,064 plate appearances.

Junior shortstop Heather Bortz (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS) is leading the Greyhounds at the plate with a .5122 batting average. Bortz has 63 hits on the season and has tied the school record for career hits with 180. Bortz, who had an NCAA all-division record 44-game hitting streak from April 15, 2003 to April 17, 2004, has also contributed 39 runs scored, 15 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, seven walks, seven doubles and two triples.

Senior third baseman Janelle Brey (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS) has continued to rewrite the Moravian record books this spring. Brey currently holds 14 Moravian game, season and career records and ranks in the top five of the career offensive categories she doesn’t own the record. Brey is hitting .417 this season with 45 hits, 39 RBIs, 31 runs scored, 11 walks, 12 doubles, a triple and seven home runs.

Senior outfielder Melissa Soroka (Newton, NJ/Pope John XXIII HS) has contributed a .352 batting average this spring with 37 hits, 18 RBIs, 27 runs scored, seven stolen bases, eight walks, eight doubles, two triples and two homers. Sophomore designated player Richelle McWilliams (Riegelsville, PA/Easton HS) is hitting .312 with 20 hits, 20 RBIs, nine runs, seven doubles and four home runs.

Freshman catcher Danielle Carrione (Bloomfield, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic HS) is hitting .303 in her debut season with 23 hits, ten RBIs, nine runs, five walks, two doubles and a triple while senior outfielder Jessica Esposito (Madison, NJ/Madison HS) has contributed 17 hits, eight runs, six RBIs and three doubles. Senior designated player Jenn Hastings (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts HS) and freshman first baseman Lauren Homa (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks West HS) each had 16 hits on the year with Hastings adding 13 RBIs, four runs and three doubles while Homa has 15 runs, 11 walks, four RBIs, four doubles and a homer.

Junior outfielder Krissy Cianfichi (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks East HS) has 15 hits on the season with seven runs, nine walks, five RBIs, a double and a triple while junior second baseman Leah Holmes (Clarks Green, PA/Abington Heights HS) has added 12 hits, 14 runs, nine walks, seven RBIs and two doubles. Sophomore catcher Kira Weller (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson West Lawn HS) has contributed nine hits, eight walks, four runs, four RBIs and a double while senior second baseman Megan Smith (Phillipsburg, NJ/Belvidere HS) has seven hits, seven runs, seven walks and three RBIs.

Junior outfielder Stephanie Eddinger (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS), and freshmen infielder/outfielder LeeAnna Roberts (Meshoppen, PA/Elk Lake HS) and infielder Rebecca DeJulio (Vineland, NJ/Sacred Heart HS) each have two hits on the year. Roberts has added four runs and an RBI while DeJulio has two RBIs, two runs and a double.

Juniata is making its second straight appearance in the conference playoffs after returning to the postseason for the first time since 1982 last spring. The Eagles have posted a 20-11 overall record this spring and tied with Lebanon Valley and Susquehanna at 7-7 during the Commonwealth Conference regular season.

Senior Becky Herr leads Juniata with a .400 batting average, 30 hits, 18 runs, 18 RBIs, ten doubles, two triples and a home run. Junior Allison D’Ambrosia has 22 hits, 11 RBIs, seven runs and six doubles while senior Amy Gable has contributed 21 hits, 14 runs and seven RBIs. Sophomore Renae Hobbs has 19 hits, 13 runs and 11 RBIs while senior Amber Helsel has contributed 18 hits, 12 runs, ten RBIs, six doubles and two homers. In the circle, Hobbs is 10-4 with a 1.39 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 106 innings while sophomore Lizzie Bartosik is 7-4 with a 2.23 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 69 innings.

Lebanon Valley is returning to the Commonwealth Tournament after missing the playoffs the last two seasons. The Flying Dutchmen are 13-18 overall this season and earned the second seed with doubleheader sweeps of Juniata and Susquehanna in Commonwealth Conference action.

Freshman Amy Batz leads Lebanon Valley with a .349 batting average, 37 hits, 15 runs, 12 RBIs, four doubles and a homer while freshman Audrey Benner has contributed 29 hits, 18 runs, six RBIs and a triple. Senior Kristin Crouse has added 28 hits, 15 RBIs, 14 runs, eight doubles and a home run while freshman Jenn Parks has 20 hits, six runs, four RBIs and two doubles. Junior Ilyse Resnick has added 18 hits, 16 runs, three RBIs and three doubles while freshman Jenn Roberts has 16 hits, eight runs, eight RBIs, two doubles and a homer. On the mound, Roberts is 5-9 with a 2.06 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 85 innings while freshman Kelly O’Toole is 5-2 with 25 strikeouts and a 2.44 ERA in 63 innings of action. Sophomore Alisa Albers has a 2-5 mark, a save, a 3.96 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings while senior Jess Cooney is 1-2 with a 2.37 ERA and six strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.

Susquehanna is back in the postseason after missing the Commonwealth Tournament last year. The Crusaders, who are participating in the postseason for the fifth time in seven seasons, are 17-11 this spring.

Freshman Sarah Shaffer leads Susquehanna with a .319 batting average, 30 hits, 13 runs, 12 RBIs, a double and two triples while senior Becky Mann has contributed 26 hits, 14 RBIs, 13 runs, five doubles two triples and a homer. Senior Melissa Bird has added 25 hits, 14 runs, 11 RBIs and six doubles while junior Deanna York has 19 hits, 14 runs and nine RBIs. Sophomore Kris Brown and freshman Kristin Boccafola each have 18 hits on the season with Brown adding three runs, three RBIs and a double while Boccafola has contributed 11 runs, nine RBIs, three doubles and two triples. In the circle, freshman Jess Savino is 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18 innings while classmate Kelly McHale is 2-2 with a 1.19 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings of action. Junior Heather Litzebauer has posted a 6-5 record with 77 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA in 78 innings while sophomore Jess Nastelli is 6-4 with a 1.98 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings.