Kaitlyn Brennan (near) and Caitlin Hadzimichalis (background) were two of eight Pacers to be honored by league head coaches
Aston, PA - Eight Marywood University softball players have been honored with three Pacers being named to the All-Conference First Team as the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) released their 2009 All-Conference Softball Teams Wednesday evening. Seniors Erika Cook and Mallory Gable and freshman Kaitlyn Brennan were all named to the First-Team to lead the Pacers in voting completed by the league's head coaches.
Cook, a senior, re-wrote nearly every offensive record book for Marywood during her career from 2006-2009. Selected as a First Team honoree for the second consecutive year and third overall, Cook led the Pacers in batting average (.421), runs (36), hits (48), triples (10), total bases (79), slugging percentage (.693) and on-base percentage (.476) during the 2009 season. She also led the Pacers in the field, completing 71 put-outs and adding 75 assists while not committing an error at second base for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
A native of Wyalusing, Pennsylvania and graduate of Wyalusing Valley High School, Cook cemented her future Hall of Fame career this season as she broke single season records for triples (10) and career records for doubles (45), triples (19), games played (146), hits (218), runs scored (153) and highest batting average (.435). She had already owned single season records in runs scored (47 in 2008), hits (66 in 2008) and batting average (.524 in 2008).
Gable, who transferred to Marywood as a junior in 2008, completed her senior season with one of the finest pitching performances in recent Marywood softball history to earn First Team honors. The senior hurler from Hughestown (Pittston Area) threw 12 complete games, finishing with a 10-2 record. She had an ERA of 1.37 and struck out 96 batters in 82 innings of work while limiting opponents to a .190 batting average. Gable picked up several "Pitcher of the Week" awards during the regular season.
Brennan, who was selected to the First Team as a Designated Player (DP), enjoyed an outstanding freshman campaign and was a standout at the plate and on the mound for Marywood. The Riverside High School product from Taylor hit .270 while collecting three doubles, a triple and leading the Pacers with three homeruns. On the mound, Brennan went 9-1 and had a 1.98 ERA in 12 appearances. Brennan struck out 33 batters in 70.2 innings of work while holding opponents to a .252 batting average.
Second Team All-Conference honorees included Caitlin Hadzimichalis (Harmony, NJ) and Kim Lope (Clifton, NJ). A senior three-sport athlete, Hadzimichalis was selected to the Second Team as a Utility Player after splitting time at shortstop and second base. Hadzimichalis had a .955 fielding percentage with 63 put-outs and 65 assists to just six errors. The senior hit .270 and led the team with 122 at-bats. She had a team-leading 11 doubles on the year and was second on the team with 22 RBI.
Lope, a freshman, hit .319 and was selected as an outfielder. Lope and Hadzimichalis were the only Pacers to play in all 38 games during the 2009 season. Lope had 36 hits in 113 at-bats and had a team-leading 23 RBIs. She had seven doubles, two triples and two homeruns. On the base-paths, Lope was a perfect 18-for-18 in stolen bases.
Kim Flanagan (Monroe, NY) and Colleen Regan (Endwell, NY) were both named to the All-Conference team as Honorable Mention selections. Both juniors, Flanagan was the Pacers' mainstay at first-base and had a .986 fielding percentage after completing a team-leading 205 put-outs with only three errors all season. Flanagan added five doubles at the plate and collected 14 RBIs. Regan, a center-fielder, hit .299 with 29 hits and 27 runs scored. She had six doubles and added a triple and was 12 of 13 in stolen bases.
Marywood's final honoree was junior Miranda Sorber (Hunlock Creek, PA). Sorber was Marywood's selection to the Conference's All-Sportsmanship Team. The Northwest Area High School product played right field for the Pacers and had 13 hits and eight RBI.