GREYHOUND SOFTBALL SQUAD PREPARES FOR TRIP TO 2007 DIVISION III WORLD SERIES

BETHLEHEM, PA --- The Moravian College softball team will be heading to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second time in four years as the Greyhounds won the Montclair, New Jersey Regional to advance to the 2007 World Series that begins on Friday, May 18th at the James I. Moyer Complex in Salem Virginia.

The tournament begins on Friday with eighth fourth seeded Emory (GA) University (32-6) taking on top seed Linfield (OR) College (40-6) at 11:00 a.m. The fifth seeded Greyhounds (35-5) will play fourth seed DePauw (IN) University (36-5) at 1:30 p.m. Third seeded University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (35-12) will play sixth seed Rhode Island College (41-5) at 4:00 p.m. Second Seed Washington University-St. Louis (32-5) will take on seventh seeded SUNY Plattsburgh (35-12) at 6:30 p.m.

The tournament will run through Tuesday, May 22nd if needed. Saturday’s action will begin at 11:00 a.m. as well while Sunday and Monday will begin at 12:00 p.m. Tuesday’s if necessary game will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Seven of the eight schools were ranked in last week’s National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll with Linfield listed second, Moravian fifth, Rhode Island 12th, Washington-St. Louis 13th, Emory 16th, Wisconsin Eau Claire 21st and Plattsburgh ranked 23rd.

The Greyhounds under the direction of 14-year head coach John Byrne, who as a career mark of 442-139, have posted a 35-5 overall record this spring, the 14th 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 nine times under Byrne including the last seven years, are in the NCAA Tournament for the tenth straight year and the postseason for the 13th consecutive season. Moravian, which is 25-18 in NCAA games, also 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 1.22 ERA, 18 shutouts, 283 strikeouts, 147 hits allowed and 124 walks allowed in 274 1/3 innings.

Sophomore Maria DeBonis (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame HS), who was named the Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Year and to the Commonwealth Conference and NFCA All-East Region First Team, is 18-2 with a 0.95 ERA, 11 shutouts, a no-hitter of Eastern University on April 24th, 173 strikeouts and 52 walks in 133 1/3 innings of action.

Sophomore Kristie Pellicani (Sparta, NJ/Sparta HS), who was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Commonwealth Conference Tournament as well as earning spots on the Commonwealth All-Conference Second Team and the NFCA All-East Region Third Team, has posted a 17-3 mark and a 1.24 ERA with seven shutouts, a no-hitter of Hunter (NY) College to begin the season on March 2nd, a save, 99 strikeouts and 62 walks in 129 1/3 innings. Pellicani also has a hit and a run scored. Pellicani and DeBonis were named to the Montclair Regional All-Tournament Team.

Junior Megan Ritchey (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown HS) has tossed 3 1/3 innings for the Greyhounds with two strikeouts and six walks while sophomore Katie Agnew (Doylestown, PA/Lansdale Catholic HS) has pitched 8 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and four walks.

As a team at the plate, Moravian has a .319 batting average this season with 337 hits, 64 doubles, five triples and 23 home runs. The Greyhounds have scored 209 runs and drawn 86 walks while striking out just 87 times in 1,225 plate appearances. Moravian also has a .975 fielding percentage this spring.

Sophomore outfielder Erica Klepeisz (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth HS) has a team high 46 hits to go along with 31 runs, 11 doubles, seven stolen bases, a triple, three home runs, ten RBIs and a .387 batting average. Klepeisz, who became the 24th player in school history to reach 100 career hits during the NCAA Regional, was named to the Commonwealth All-Conference First Team and the NFCA All-East Region Second Team this season. Junior second baseman/shortstop Beth Paly (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall HS) has added 43 hits to go with 29 RBIs, 21 runs, eight doubles, two triples, five homers and a .347 average this spring. Paly was on the Commonwealth All-Conference and NFCA All-East Region First Teams while Paly and Klepeisz each earned spots on the Montclair Regional All-Tournament Team.

Sophomore catcher/designated player Deanna Mangieri (Pleasantville, NY/Byram Hills HS) has 31 hits, six doubles, two homers, 14 runs and 14 RBIs, and Mangieri was named to the Commonwealth All-Conference Second Team. DeBonis, who hits as the designated player when not pitching, has 32 hits, 21 runs, six doubles, a triple, four home runs and 23 RBIs this year while senior first baseman/outfielder Lauren Homa (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks West HS) has contributed 26 hits, 20 runs, 14 RBIs, three doubles, a home run, six stolen bases and a team high 19 sacrifices bunts. Homa was on the Commonwealth All-Conference Team for the third straight year this season.

Junior third baseman Kelly Santry (Hatboro, PA/Upper Moreland HS) has added 30 hits, 19 RBIs, seven doubles, a triple, two home runs, both of which are grand slams, and 13 runs, and Santry was on the Montclair Regional All-Tournament Team. Sophomore shortstop/outfielder Jordan Oplinger (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS) has 24 hits, 19 runs, two doubles, eight RBIs and nine stolen bases while sophomore first baseman Sheri Bieniek (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley HS) has 24 hits, 16 runs, six doubles and four home runs to go with 21 RBIs and a team high 15 walks.

Senior catcher Danielle Carrione (Bloomfield, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic HS) has 17 hits, seven runs, a double and nine RBIs this year, and she became the 25th player in school history with her 100th career hit in the championship game of the Montclair Regional while Agnew, who has also seen action at second base, has 12 hits, six runs, five doubles and seven RBIs. Senior outfielder Justina Black (Orefield, PA/Parkland HS) has contributed 16 hits, six runs, four doubles and three RBIs while Ritchey has 13 hits, nine runs, two doubles, two homers, four stolen bases and 11 RBIs.

Freshman Chrissy McGlinn (Lansdale, PA/Gwynedd Mercy HS) has scored seven runs this season and added five hits including a double and three RBIs while freshman Kelly Maressa (Allentown, PA/William Allen HS) has three hits, three runs, a double and three RBIs.

Senior first baseman Rebecca DeJulio (Vineland, NJ/Sacred Heart HS) has three hits and three runs while freshman outfielder Katie Flood (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville HS) has crossed the plate eight times as a pinch runner and has one hit. Freshman Danielle Massa (Livingston, NJ/Livingston HS) has contributed seven hits, four runs and an RBI while freshman Anastasia Morris (Annville, PA/Palmyra HS) has two his and classmate Jackie Seidler (Feasterville, PA/Mt. St. Joseph HS) has added one hit with an RBI.