FORMER GREYHOUND PITCHER MEAGAN HENNESSY TO PITCH FOR THE NPF’S PHILADELPHIA FORCE

BETHLEHEM, PA --- Former Moravian College All-American softball pitcher Meagan Hennessy (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township HS) is getting a chance to continue her playing career as a professional athlete as a member of the Philadelphia Force for the 2007 National Professional Fastpitch season.

“It is great to be playing competitive softball again,” Hennessy said. “I have the opportunity to play with some of the best players in the country, and it will be a great experience that I will cherish.”

Hennessy, who helped the Greyhounds to 146-33 record, the 2004 NCAA Division III World Series Runner-Up, four straight NCAA Regional Championship game appearances and four Commonwealth Conference regular season and tournament championships, is one of 19 players on the Force roster for 2007; however, she is the only player that played on the NCAA Division III level during her college career and just one of two players not from an NCAA Division I school.

Hennessy had the opportunity to place with an NPF affiliated team last season when she was offered a contract with the Michigan Ice, but Hennessy had unknowingly pitched the final five weeks of her collegiate career with a fractured leg and was unable to compete in 2006.

“My leg has fully recovered,” Hennessy says. “I coached the junior varsity team at my former high school (Freehold Township) and pitched some batting practice to the varsity team to keep in shape. In some ways, last year was a missed chance but now I have the opportunity to pitch closer to home and where my family and friends can see a majority of the home games. I wasn’t going to miss the chance a second time when I was offered the contract.”

While attending Moravian, Hennessy earned a spot on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III East Region First Team for fourth straight seasons and was a First Team NFCA All-American in 2004 and a Second Team honoree in 2005. She 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, who was a four-time Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Year, a four-time Commonwealth All-Conference First Team selection and a two-time Commonwealth Conference Tournament Most Valuable player, had 11 saves, five no-hitters and 233 assists in her career.

The Force have a 51-game schedule this summer including preseason games, and 34 of those games are schedule to be played in Allentown at ECTB Stadium, formerly known as Bicentennial Park. In addition to playing the four of the other five NPF teams, the Force have contests schedule with the Chinese National Team. The team will play four games a week, Thursdays through Sundays, and the members of the Force Team will be staying at Cedar Crest College in Allentown during the summer.

Prior to the start of spring training on May 21st, Hennessy and some of the other Force players were introduced during the Philadelphia Phillies game on May 19th at Citizens Bank Park as part of a Women’s Softball Celebration and Parade. After the fifth inning of the game, Hennessy and Force catcher Rocky Spencer were part of a skit with the Philadelphia Phanatic that saw Hennessy strike out the Phanatic on three pitches.

Hennessy will join Kristina Thorson from the University of California-Berkeley, Ashley DeBuhr from Nebraska University, Emily Turner of Louisiana State University and Jodie Cox from California State University-Fullerton on the Force’s pitching staff in 2007.

“I learned a lot of things from (Moravian College head) coach John Byrne and his staff that have prepared me for the chance to pitch professionally,” Hennessy said. “I also just love being on the field and playing the game. I know pitching for the Force will be a difference mindset than college, but I just want to play and prove that I belong.”

Hennessy won’t have to prove it to one of her coaches as Byrne is serving as one of the Force’s associate head coaches this summer.

“I know Meagan will have a great summer, playing with and against other professional players,” Byrne says. “This is an opportunity for her to show she belongs. I was lucky to get Meagan to come to Moravian since not to many people will recruit a 5’2” pitcher especially when most pitchers in the NPF stand at least 6’2.”

It didn’t take Hennessy long to prove she belonged. In the Force’s first preseason game against the Washington Glory on May 26th, Hennessy pitched two innings and struck out four batters. The Force will host the Glory in another preseason game at ECTB Stadium on May 29th at 7:05 p.m.

For more information about the Philadelphia Force and the National Pro Fast-Pitch League is available on the Internet at www.philadelphiaforce.com and www.profastpitch.com.