Monday, May 8, 2006

MORAVIAN SOFTBALL TEAMS PREPARES FOR NINTH STRAIGHT NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE
AT SALISBURY REGIONAL

BETHLEHEM, PA --- The Moravian College softball team will be heading to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the ninth consecutive season as the Greyhounds have the fourth seed in the 2006 Regional Tournament hosted by Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland.

The tournament begins on Thursday, May 11th with fourth seeded Moravian (33-7), the champions of the Commonwealth Conference, taking on fifth seeded King’s College (36-7), the Freedom Conference Runner-Up and an at-large berth to the tournament at 10:00 a.m. Third seeded Ramapo College of New Jersey (32-12), the New Jersey Athletic Conference Runner-Up and an at-large bid to the tournament, will play sixth seed Neumann College (25-9), the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Champion, at 12:00 p.m.

The second seeded and host Sea Gulls (32-6), one of five independent schools to earn a bid to the tournament, will play seventh seed Haverford College (26-15), the Centennial Conference Champion, at 2:00 p.m. The winner of the Moravian-King’s game will take on top seeded Methodist College (38-6), the champions of the USA South Conference, at 4:00 p.m.
The tournament will run through Sunday with the champion earning one of eight berths in the NCAA Division III World Series in Raleigh, North Carolina, which begins on Friday, May 19th. Friday’s action will begin at 10:00 a.m. as well while Saturday and Sunday will begin at 12:00 p.m.

The Greyhounds under the direction of 13-year head coach John Byrne, who as a career mark of 403-132, have posted a 33-7 overall record this spring, the 13th consecutive season that Moravian has won at least 23 games, and a 13-1 mark in Commonwealth Conference action. The Greyhounds, which have won over 30 games eight times under Byrne including the last six years, are in the NCAA Tournament for the ninth straight year and the postseason for the 12th consecutive season. Moravian, which is 18-16 in NCAA games, won an NCAA regional championship in 2004 and had a national runner-up finish at the 2004 Division III World Series.

One of the keys for the Greyhounds again this season has been their pitching staff, which has a 0.86 ERA, 18 shutouts, 317 strikeouts, 147 hits allowed and 85 walks allowed in 277 2/3 innings.

Senior All-American Meagan Hennessy (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township HS) is 22-5 in the circle this season with a 0.45 ERA, 14 shutouts, five saves, two no-hitters, 237 strikeouts and just 83 hits, 49 walks and 20 runs (13 earned) in 200 2/3 innings of action. Hennessy, who already owns every Moravian pitching record, is continuing to climb the NCAA Division III record books. She is 6th in career strikeouts with 834, 2nd in shutouts with 51, 7th in wins with 89, tied for 9th in career ERA at 0.86, 8th in innings pitched with 785.2, tied for 6th in complete games with 100, tied for 11th in games started with 109, and 13th games with 124. Hennessy, who has been the Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Week six times this season and was the Commonwealth Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, has one hit at the plate this spring and has scored 11 runs.

Freshman Kristie Pellicani (Sparta, NJ/Sparta HS) is 9-2 on the year with two shutouts, 23 walks, 67 strikeouts and a 1.58 ERA in 66 2/3 innings. Freshman Katie Agnew (Doylestown, PA/Lansdale Catholic HS) had a 2-0 record with 11 walks and 13 strikeouts in ten innings in the circle for the Greyhounds. Pellicani has one hit, an RBI and three runs scored while Agnew has a hit and an RBI.

As a team at the plate, Moravian has a .321 batting average this season with 361 hits, 57 doubles, four triples and a team record 22 home runs. The Greyhounds have scored 169 runs and drawn 57 walks while striking out just 104 times in 1,248 plate appearances. Moravian also has a .965 fielding percentage this spring.

Freshman Erica Klepeisz (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth HS) leads the Greyhounds with 53 hits to go with a .366 average, 17 RBIs, 19 runs, seven doubles, a triple, two homers and 12 stolen bases. Junior Justina Black (Orefield, PA/Parkland HS) is hitting .343 with 37 hits, 12 runs, 20 RBIs, two homers, five doubles and a triple while sophomore Beth Paly (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall HS) has 41 hits, a .311 average, 19 runs, 14 RBIs, six doubles and a homer.

Sophomore Kelly Santry (Hatboro, PA/Upper Moreland HS) has a .358 average with 39 hits, 19 runs, 14 RBIs, nine doubles and three homers, all hit in one game at Haverford College to set the single game school record. Senior Richelle McWilliams (Riegelsville, PA/Easton HS) is hitting .355 with 38 hits, 23 RBIs, ten runs, eight doubles and seven home run while freshman Jordan Oplinger (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS) has 37 hits, 20 runs, eight RBIs, six doubles, a triple and six stolen bases.

Junior Lauren Homa (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks West HS) has contributed 36 hits, 12 runs, nine RBIs, two doubles and a .316 average while freshman Sheri Bienick (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley HS) has 28 hits, 11 runs, 17 RBIs, seven doubles, four home runs and a .326 average. Junior Danielle Carrione (Bloomfield, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic HS) has 21 hits, 13 RBIs, nine runs, a homer and four doubles, and she has become the school's all-time leader in putouts and has a career total of 770 putouts.

Freshman Deanna Mangieri (Pleasantville, NY/Byram Hills HS) has 12 hits, four runs, a double, a triple and five RBIs while sophomore Megan Ritchey (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown HS) has added ten hits, 13 runs, four RBIs and two home runs including the first one at Blue & Grey Field with the new six-foot fence. Sophomore Keri Traficante (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks West HS) has added four hits and six runs while junior Becky DeJulio (Vineland, NJ/Sacred Heart HS) has two hits, both doubles, with a run.

Methodist will be competing in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time and the first time since 2003. The Monarchs, who are 38-6, have not played since winning the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament title on April 15th. Rebekah Kelly leads Methodist with a .409 average, 47 hits, 32 runs, 14 stolen bases, 14 RBIs, eight doubles, two triples and a homer while Kristen Kennedy has added a .379 average, 50 hits, 25 runs, 37 RBIs, 16 doubles, a triple, two home runs and 12 walks. Sara Poling and LaTiana Headen each have 43 hits on the year with Poling adding a .358 average, 17 runs, 19 RBIs, 16 walks, nine doubles and five homers and Headen contributing 28 runs, 29 RBIs, seven doubles, two triples, five home runs and five stolen bases. Adrienne Acosta has stolen 30 bases and added 33 hits, 37 runs, 16 walks, five doubles three triples and nine RBIs. In the circle, Jennifer Sorensen has a 16-3 record with a 1.91 ERA, three shutouts, four saves, 97 strikeouts and 23 walks in 122 2/3 innings while Lesley Hewitt has a 10-1 mark, a 2.24 ERA, 51 strikeouts and 13 walks in 72 1/3 innings of action.

Salisbury is making its tenth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 12th overall. The Sea Gulls, who have played in the NCAA World Series in each of the last four seasons, are 32-6 overall and were the champions of the Capital Athletic Conference. Salisbury is led by All-American Lacey Lister, who is 17-3 this season with a 0.93 ERA, eight shutouts, two saves, 214 strikeouts and just 69 hits, 47 walks and 24 runs (17 earned runs) allowed in 127 1/3 innings. Kirsten Wells is 14-3 with 66 strikeouts, two saves, four shutouts and a 1.14 ERA in 104 1/3 innings. Erin Ruest has a .535 average with 61 hits, 33 runs, 45 RBIs, ten doubles, three triples and 11 home runs to lead the Sea Gulls while Kristy Shaffer is hitting .333 with 44 hits, 47 runs, 28 RBIs, 16 walks, six doubles, a triple and seven homers. Nichole Fuqua has a .352 average with 38 hits, 24 runs, 19 RBIs, five doubles, a triple and a homer while Wells is hitting .306 with 37 hits, 27 RBIs, 15 runs, 12 doubles and a homer. Stacey Malarkey has contributed a .396 average, 36 hits, 29 runs, 22 RBIs, ten doubles, a triple and four home runs.

Ramapo will be competing in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years. The Roadrunners, who earned one of 15 at-large berths across the country, have a 32-11 record. Erin Moore leads the team with a .427 average, 56 hits, 36 runs, 37 RBIs, 14 walks, seven doubles a triple and 14 home runs while Lauren Cascino has contributed a .400 average, 52 hits, 35 runs, 29 RBIs, 14 doubles, three triples and five homers. Andrea Pastiglione has added a .378 average, 51 hits, 32 runs, 30 RBIs, 11 doubles, three triples and six home runs while Michelle Rossi and Lisa Rizzo are each hitting .330 with 36 hits. Rossi has added 32 runs, 22 RBIs, ten doubles, a triple and six homers while Rizzo has 19 runs, 24 RBIs, nine doubles and five home runs. In the circle, Katie Norton is 10-4 with a 2.36 ERA, two shutouts, two saves, 71 strikeouts and 20 walks in 99 1/3 innings while Marissa Marino is 13-5 with a 2.39 ERA, two shutouts, a save, 47 strikeouts and 34 walks in 105 1/3 innings of action.

King’s is making its seventh consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large berth. The Monarchs fell to Wilkes University, 4-3, in the Freedom Conference Championship game, and are 36-7 this spring. Mari Valonis is hitting .432 for King’s with 60 hits, 41 runs, 57 RBIs, ten doubles, four triples and 11 home runs while Abbey Knoblauch has a .407 average, 55 hits, 43 runs, 26 RBIs, 16 walks, ten doubles, six triples and a homer. Justine Maggio has contributed 43 hits, a .387 average, 42 runs, 21 RBIs, 13 walks, ten stolen bases, five doubles, a triple and a homer while Nikki Kotula has 40 hits, a .339 average, 35 runs, 34 RBIs, ten walks, nine doubles, four triples and a home run. Kotula has also posted a 12-3 record in the circle with a 2.51 ERA, three shutouts, 81 strikeouts and 73 walks in 104 innings of action. Kelsey Shreaves has an 11-2 mark with two saves, a shutout, a 2.26 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 16 walks in 71 2/3 innings and Amanda Rizner is 8-0 with two shutouts, a save, a 1.86 ERA, 19 strikeouts and seven walks in 53 1/3 innings.

Neumann will be competing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The Knights are 30-11 on the year and also captured their first-ever Pennsylvania Athletic Conference title last weekend. Angela Sebasto leads Neumann with a .495 average 45 hits, 31 RBIs, 17 runs, nine doubles and seven homers, and she has a 16-2 record with three shutouts, a 1.67 ERA, 116 strikeouts and 38 walks in 121 2/3 innings. Danielle Hayes is hitting .400 with 42 hits, 36 runs, 27 RBIs, 11 doubles and four home runs while Kim Zlupko has a .353 average, 49 hits, 37 runs, 21 RBIs, ten doubles and two homers. Caitlin Hanrahan has contributed a .371 average, 43 hits, 43 RBIs, 31 runs, 13 doubles, four home runs and six stolen bases. Kelli Ann Meehan has a 13-8 record, a 1.82 ERA, six shutouts, 115 strikeouts and 38 walks in 126 2/3 innings of action in the circle.

Haverford is making its inaugural trip to the NCAA Tournament as well this spring. The Fords captured their first-ever Centennial Conference Championship last weekend and are 26-15 on the year. Lindsey Sullivan is hitting .381 with 43 hits, 24 runs, 27 RBIs, 13 doubles, two triples, two homers and seven stolen bases while Dana Irshay has a .367 average with 51 hits, 32 runs, 15 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, two doubles and two home runs. Nora Spriggs has contributed a .333 average with 37 hits, 25 RBIs, 11 doubles and a homer, and she is 7-6 with a save, a 2.95 ERA, 20 strikeouts and seven walks in 57 innings of action. Sarah Nagle is hitting .314 with 43 hits, 24 runs, ten stolen bases, a double, three triples and seven RBIs while Natalie Richman has a .314 average with 33 hits, 19 runs, 20 RBIs, five doubles and a homer. Erica Davis has contributed 41 hits, 28 runs, 19 RBIs, eight doubles, four triples and a homer. In the circle, Becky Garibotto is 11-3 with five shutouts, a 2.47 ERA, 17 strikeouts and 16 walks in 109 1/3 innings while Samantha Fontinell is 6-2 with a 1.79 ERA, 24 strikeouts and 12 walks in 62 2/3 innings. Julia Iodice has contributed four saves for the Fords.