Thursday,
June 15, 2006
FORMER MORAVIAN PITCHER MEAGAN HENNESSY
OFFERED PROFESSIONAL SOFTBALL CONTRACT
MIDLAND,
MI --- Former Moravian College All-American pitcher Meagan
Hennessy (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township HS) has been offered
a contract and a roster spot by the Michigan Ice, an independent
team that will be joining the National Pro Fast-Pitch League in
2007.
The Michigan Ice season includes 28 games against other pro and
national teams such as Arizona, Chicago and Texas of the National
Pro Fast-Pitch League, the Japanese National Team, the Canadian
Elite and the Venezuelan National Team. The National Pro Fast Pitch
League currently has seven teams, and Michigan’s games, although
technically independent for one season, will count as toward league
standings. The season began on June 7, 2006 with a four-game series
in Texas and ends on August 20.
Hennessy was expected to join the team for the
entire season; however, a nagging injury may keep her on the bench
for the entire summer. While checking out her injury before leaving
for Michigan, Hennessy learned that she had pitched
the final five weeks of her collegiate career with a stress fracture
in her left leg. Now on crutches, Hennessy expects
to join the Michigan Ice for a fall tournament and tryouts for the
2007 team that will play a full National Pro Fast-Pitch season.
“It is a wonderful honor to be offered a professional contract
and given the chance to continue playing softball at a high level
similar to the program at Moravian,” Hennessy
said. “I hope my leg heals quickly, and I have the opportunity
to play for the Michigan Ice this season.”
The full 18 woman roster includes four NCAA Division III players
including Hennessy, former Salisbury University All-American pitcher
Lacey Lister and former All-American pitcher Janet
Nagle and catcher Nikki Conway of the
University of St. Thomas, which won the NCAA Division III National
Championship in 2004 & 2005.
Hennessy, who is a finalist for an NCAA Division
III Postgraduate Scholarship, was 25-7 in the circle this season
with a 0.66 ERA, 16 shutouts, five saves, two no-hitters, 267 strikeouts
and just 115 hits, 53 walks and 30 runs (22 earned) in 234 2/3 innings
of action.
Hennessy, who already owns every Moravian pitching
record, also finished her career with her name throughout the NCAA
Division III record books. Hennessy, who also earned
a spot on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III
East Region First Team for the fourth straight season in 2006 and
was a First Team NFCA All-American in 2004 and a Second Team honoree
in 2005, finished her career with a 92-24 record and as one of the
top pitchers in NCAA Division III history. Hennessy
is ranked in the top 15 in shutouts with 53, complete games with
105, strikeouts with 876, wins with 92, innings pitched with 819
2/3, games started with 114, games with 129 and ERA at 0.91. Hennessy
had 11 saves, five no-hitters and 233 assists in her career.
Hennessy was a four-time Commonwealth All-Conference
First Team selection and a four-time Commonwealth Conference Pitcher
of the Year honoree. She was also on the NCAA Division III Regional
All-Tournament Team each of her four seasons while leading Moravian
to the regional championship game each season. Hennessy
led Moravian to the national title game in 2004 and was on the World
Series All-Tournament Team.
More information about the Michigan Ice and the National Pro Fast-Pitch
League is available on the Internet at www.michiganice.net
and www.profastpitch.com.
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