FORMER MORAVIAN PITCHER MEAGAN HENNESSY OFFERED PROFESSIONAL SOFTBALL CONTRACT

MIDLAND, MI --- Former Moravian College All-American pitcher Meagan Hennessy (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township HS) has been offered a contract and a roster spot by the Michigan Ice, an independent team that will be joining the National Pro Fast-Pitch League in 2007.

The Michigan Ice season includes 28 games against other pro and national teams such as Arizona, Chicago and Texas of the National Pro Fast-Pitch League, the Japanese National Team, the Canadian Elite and the Venezuelan National Team. The National Pro Fast Pitch League currently has seven teams, and Michigan’s games, although technically independent for one season, will count as toward league standings. The season began on June 7, 2006 with a four-game series in Texas and ends on August 20.

Hennessy was expected to join the team for the entire season; however, a nagging injury may keep her on the bench for the entire summer. While checking out her injury before leaving for Michigan, Hennessy learned that she had pitched the final five weeks of her collegiate career with a stress fracture in her left leg. Now on crutches, Hennessy expects to join the Michigan Ice for a fall tournament and tryouts for the 2007 team that will play a full National Pro Fast-Pitch season.

“It is a wonderful honor to be offered a professional contract and given the chance to continue playing softball at a high level similar to the program at Moravian,” Hennessy said. “I hope my leg heals quickly, and I have the opportunity to play for the Michigan Ice this season.”

The full 18 woman roster includes four NCAA Division III players including Hennessy, former Salisbury University All-American pitcher Lacey Lister and former All-American pitcher Janet Nagle and catcher Nikki Conway of the University of St. Thomas, which won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2004 & 2005.

Hennessy, who is a finalist for an NCAA Division III Postgraduate Scholarship, was 25-7 in the circle this season with a 0.66 ERA, 16 shutouts, five saves, two no-hitters, 267 strikeouts and just 115 hits, 53 walks and 30 runs (22 earned) in 234 2/3 innings of action.

Hennessy, who already owns every Moravian pitching record, also finished her career with her name throughout the NCAA Division III record books. Hennessy, who also earned a spot on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III East Region First Team for the fourth straight season in 2006 and was a First Team NFCA All-American in 2004 and a Second Team honoree in 2005, 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 had 11 saves, five no-hitters and 233 assists in her career.

Hennessy was a four-time Commonwealth All-Conference First Team selection and a four-time Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Year honoree. She was also on the NCAA Division III Regional All-Tournament Team each of her four seasons while leading Moravian to the regional championship game each season. Hennessy led Moravian to the national title game in 2004 and was on the World Series All-Tournament Team.

More information about the Michigan Ice and the National Pro Fast-Pitch League is available on the Internet at www.michiganice.net and www.profastpitch.com.