Monday, May 13, 2002

FIVE GREYHOUNDS NAMED TO NFCA ALL-REGION TEAMS;
BREY EARNS FIRST TEAM HONORS

COLUMBIA, MO --- The Moravian College softball team had five member s named to the 2002 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region Teams announced Friday. Sophomore third baseman Janelle Brey (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS) was a First Team All-East Region selection and is now eligible for All-American honors to be announced later this week. Senior pitcher Rachel Mowrey (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS), senior second baseman Laurie Rentschler (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh HS) and freshman shortstop Heather Bortz (Allentown, PA/Parkland HS) were each Second Team honorees while sophomore outfielder Jessica Esposito (Madison, NJ/Madison HS) was a Third Team selection.

Moravian finished the 2002 season with a 34-8 overall record, a school record for wins by any sport. The Greyhounds also won their third straight Commonwealth Conference Championships and competed in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year.

Brey, who was the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Star, led the Greyhounds this season with school records of 52 RBIs, 92 total bases, 15 doubles and ten home runs. Brey also added a .366 batting average with 45 hits, 13 walks and she tied for the team lead with 32 runs scored.

Mowrey, the Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-Star, paced the Moravian pitching staff with a 1.13 ERA and a 16-4 record. Mowrey also had seven shutouts and 51 strikeouts in 136 2/3 innings to lead Moravian. Mowrey's final career victory, which won Moravian the Commonwealth Conference Championship, was the 50th of her career, a mark only two other Greyhound pitchers have reached.

Rentschler, a Second Team Commonwealth Conference All-Star, set the Moravian record for games played in a career at 167.  She only missed two games in her four seasons. Rentschler had a .330 batting average this season with 29 hits, 19 runs scored, 13 RBIs and a team leading ten sacrifices. She also added four doubles and nine walks. Rentschler had a .983 fielding percentage with just three errors in 172 chances.

Bortz, the Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-Star, was an at-large selection on the All-Region Second Team. Bortz led Moravian in her first season with a .410 batting average with 50 hits. She added 32 runs scored, 13 RBIs, ten walks, 12 stolen bases and two triples. Bortz led the Greyhounds with 89 assists in the field and she helped Moravian turn 16 double plays during the season.

Esposito, a Commonwealth Conference Second Team All-Star, was also an at-large selection on the All-Region Third Team. Esposito hit .372 for Moravian this spring with 43 hits, 30 runs scored, 28 RBIs, ten doubles and two homers.

For the complete NFCA All-Region Teams from all eight regions, go to the NFCA website at www.NFCA.org.