Sports News: Spring 2000

May 14, 2000

AZZOLINO, MILLER & STROUP NAMED TO NCAA EAST REGIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

WILKES-BARRE, PA --- Seniors shortstop Zan Azzolino (Lodi, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy HS) and pitcher Becky Stroup (Palmerton/Palmerton Area HS) and sophomore outfielder Summer Miller (Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional HS) of the Moravian College softball team have been named to the 2000 NCAA Division III East Regional All-Tournament Team.

The Greyhounds, who placed third at this weekend’s tournament, finished the season with a 26-12 overall record. Moravian was making its third straight NCAA Division III National Tournament this season. The Greyhounds also placed third last year and the squad was fourth in its first NCAA appearance in 1998.

Moravian, the fourth seed for the third consecutive year, defeated fifth-seeded John Jay, 8-0, in the opening round before falling to top-seeded The College of New Jersey, 3-0. The Greyhounds eliminated host and second-seeded King’s College, 6-0, before being knocked out of the tournament by third-seeded Western Connecticut State University, 1-0.

Miller was selected as one of the three outfielders on the All-Tournament Team after hitting .462 (6 for 13) in Moravian’s four games. Miller, who had made 11 putouts in right field, scored two runs and drove in another for the Greyhounds.

Azzolino and Stroup, who were at-large selections to the All-Tournament Team, finished their playing careers at Moravian with a career record of 112-52, three NCAA appearances, two Commonwealth Conference Championships and two Middle Atlantic Conference Playoff appearances.

Azzolino had three hits in 11 at-bats for the Greyhounds while scoring two runs and adding a double and a triple. Azzolino, Moravian’s career record holder in assists with 320 and games played at 162, had seven putouts and eight assists in four games to lead the Greyhounds’ defense that did not commit an error in the tournament.

Stroup had a 1-1 record in the tournament with the loss to The College of New Jersey and the win over King’s. The victory over King’s was the 50th of Stroup’s career and her 19th career shutout. Stroup allowed just ten hits in 13 innings with seven strikeouts and only one walk. Only two of the three runs Stroup allowed were earned.

The College of New Jersey, the East Regional Champion, led the five schools at the East Regional with seven selections while runner-up Western Connecticut State had four honorees. King’s, who placed fourth, had one selection while John Jay did not have a player on the All-Tournament Team.

The Lions of The College of New Jersey, who had six national championships and 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, defeated Western Connecticut State, 1-0, in Sunday’s championship game. The Lions are now one of eight teams to advance to the NCAA Division III College World Series in Salem, Virginia.

 2000 NCAA Division III East Regional All-Tournament Team     

Pitchers – Mandy Schenck (TCNJ); Kate Manning (WCSU)    
Catcher – Kim Lynch (WCSU)   
First Baseman – Devon Searfoss (TCNJ)
Second Baseman – Jamie Cooperstein (TCNJ)
Third Baseman – Shanna Fairchild (WCSU)
Shortstop – Kristen Coyne (TCNJ)
Outfielders – Summer Miller (Mor); Sarah Negra (WCSU), Lauren Straube (TCNJ)
Designated Player – Sue Phillips (TCNJ)
At-Large Selections – Becky Stroup (Mor); Kate Seguin (King’s); Zan Azzolino (Mor); Krissy Medino (TCNJ)