Moravian College Magazine

For the eighth consecutive year, the Moravian softball team finished its 2005 season at the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament, falling to Salisbury University in the regional championship round. The Greyhounds also won the Commonwealth Conference Tournament for the fifth straight year and the Commonwealth Conference Championship for the sixth straight season.

Under the guidance of 12- year head coach John Byrne '82, who has a career record of 370-125, the 2005 team posted a 37-8 overall record, the 12th consecutive season that Moravian has won at least 23 games. The Greyhounds, who have won more than 30 games in a season seven times under Byrne, including the last five years, were in the postseason for the 11th consecutive season. Byrne was named Commonwealth Conference Co-Coach of the Year.

His squad was led by two outstanding players. Junior pitcher Meagan Hennessy was 29-6 in the circle this season, a school record for wins, with a 0.64 ERA, 18 shutouts, three saves, three no-hitters, 277 strikeouts-all season school records-and just 131 hits, 44 walks, and 37 runs (23 earned) allowed in a school record 250 innings of action. Hennessy continued to collect honors this season, being named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association/ Louisville Slugger Division III All-American Second Team, NFCA All-East Region First Team, NCAA Division III Salisbury Regional All-Tournament Team, and Commonwealth All-Conference First Team. She also was Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Year, Commonwealth Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Southern Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-Star.

Senior shortstop Heather Bortz led Moravian with a .428 batting average and a team high 62 hits, 30 runs, six doubles, five triples, and 21 RBIs. Bortz set a school record with 253 hits in her career and school records for career atbats (567) and career batting average (.446). She led the team with 79 assists in the field and had 307 assists in her career, second all-time. Bortz was named to the NFCA/ Louisville Slugger Division III All-American Second Team, ESPN: The Magazine Academic All-America College Division First Team, NFCA All-East Region First Team, NCAA Division III Salisbury Regional All-Tournament Team, and Commonwealth All-Conference First Team. She also was Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year, ECAC Division III Southern Player of the Year, and First Team All-Star.