Sports News: Spring 2008

Thursday, May 1, 2008

SEVEN GREYHOUNDS NAMED TO LANDMARK SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS;
Moravian Sweeps Individual Awards

MADISON, NJ --- The Moravian College softball team placed six players on the 2008 Landmark Softball All-Conference First Team and one on the Second Team while senior second baseman Beth Paly (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall HS), pictured at right, was named the inaugural Landmark Conference Player of the Year, junior Maria DeBonis (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame HS) was honored as the Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year, freshman Elizabeth Python (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman HS) earned Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year honors and head coach John Byrne and his staff were named the Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year as released by the conference office.

Paly, DeBonis and Python were all named to the Landmark All-Conference First Team with DeBonis , pictured at left, earning spots at both pitcher and designated player.  Senior third baseman Kelly Santry (Hatboro, PA/Upper Moreland HS), senior outfielder Megan Ritchey (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown HS) and junior outfielder Erica Klepeisz (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth HS) also earned Landmark All-Conference First Team honors.  Freshman outfielder Amanda Paulus (Easton, PA/Easton HS) earned a spot on the Landmark All-Conference Second Team.

The Greyhounds under the direction of 15-year head coach John Byrne, who as a career mark of 472-147, have posted a 30-6 overall record this spring, the 15th consecutive season that Moravian has won at least 23 games, and a perfect 12-0 mark in Landmark Conference action.  The Greyhounds, which have won over 30 games nine times under Byrne including the last seven years, are in the conference tournament for the ninth straight year and the 13th time in 14 years.  Moravian has also been in the NCAA Tournament the last ten years including a regional championship and berth in the 2007 NCAA Division III World Series last year and a national runner-up finish at the 2004 Division III World Series. Bryne's staff includes Ron Cardinal, Rachel Mowrey, Geoffrey Deen, Mark Bentz and Heather Bortz, the staff is pictured at right.

DeBonis, this week’s Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time this season and the ECAC Division III South Pitcher of the Week, is 16-3 with a 0.83 ERA, 160 strikeouts, 41 walks allowed, nine shutouts and four no-hitters including three perfect games in 127 innings.  DeBonis also has 28 hits with 23 runs, 25 RBIs, eight doubles, a triple, five home runs, nine walks and a .333 average

Python, pictured at left, has posted a 1.65 ERA, a 14-3 record, a save, eight shutouts, two no-hitters, a perfect game, 76 strikeouts and 17 walks allowed in 110 innings of action. 

Paly has a team leading 48 hits, a .425 average, 28 runs, eight doubles, two triples and 22 RBIs.  She has seen action at second base, shortstop, designated player and catcher this season.

Santry, pictured at right, has a .375 average with 36 hits, eight doubles, a homer, 21 RBIs and 16 runs scored. Santry will miss this weekend's Landmark Conference Tournament after suffering an injury in the final doubleheader of the regular season against Drew University on April 26th.

Ritchey, pictured at left, has contributed 28 hits, 23 runs, nine doubles, two homers, 14 RBIs, five stolen bases, nine walks and a .333 average. Ritchey has started in left field as well as designated player this season.

Klepeisz, pictured at right, has added 35 hits, 26 runs, seven doubles, two triples, a .337 average, five stolen bases and 19 RBIs. Klepeisz is the Greyhounds' starting center fielder.

Paulus, pictured at bottom left, has added 26 hits, 14 runs, a double, two triples, three home runs, five stolen bases, 18 RBIs and a .329 average. Paulus starts in right field and has seen action as shortstop this spring.

The Greyhounds are the top seed in the 2008 Landmark Conference Tournament and will host the event beginning on Friday, May 2nd with Moravian playing fourth seeded Drew University at 11:00 a.m.  Second seeded The University of Scranton will battle third seed The Catholic University of America at 1:00 p.m. and the winners of the first two games will play at 3:00 p.m. Friday, with the winner of that game earning a berth in the championship game at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.  The losers of Friday’s first two games will open Saturday’s action at 9:00 a.m.