Cook's Stellar Career Ends with Second NFCA/Louisville Slugger Honor
Senior named to second team as second baseman
Erika Cook earned second team NFCA/Louisville Slugger honors Friday
Scranton, PA - Senior Erika Cook closed her storybook career with yet another honor as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced that the second-baseman from Wyalusing has been named to the NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-East Region second team. Cook, who earned first-team honors in 2008 as an at-large selection, did not commit an error during 2009 and was one of three Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) softball players to be honored, joining Neumann College's Angela Sebasto (second team) and Jen Goslin (third team).
Cook, who earlier today learned that she also repeated as a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II selection, led the Pacers to a school-record 27 wins in her senior year while establishing several new single-season and career records from 2006-2009. Cook established new career school records for highest batting average (.435), games played (146), runs scored (153), hits (218), doubles (45) and triples (19). In 2009, she set single-season marks for triples (10) while having set four other single season records in 2008 (runs scored - 47; hits - 66; triples - 10; highest batting average - .524).
Six of the eight Division III regions saw a wide distribution of first-teamers among teams as the NFCA announced its 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Region teams Monday.
The Atlantic and West regions were both dominated by one team, as Salisbury and Linfield placed five players each on the first team all-region squads. Salisbury was led by two three-time first-team all region performers in shortstop Kelly Waskewicz and second baseman Stacey Malarkey. Joining them were pitcher Stacy Davis and her battery-mate Lauren Brenneman, as well as outfielder Meaghan O'Gara.
Four-time all-region pitcher Brittany Miller again headlines the Linfield all-region squad, and she is joined by what could arguably be the country's best infield, as second baseman Alex Hartmann, third baseman Emily Keagbine and shortstop Staci Doucette all received first-team nods. Emilee Lepp, her battery-mate, received a first-team at-large selection.
Midwest perennial power St. Thomas again boasted a strong individual showing, placing four individuals on the first-team squad, led by three-time all-region outfielder Alison Wright. Fellow outfielder Missy Bruggeman, as well as catcher Steph Moores and first baseman Colleen Owen, join her for the Tommies.
Tufts, who nearly completed a perfect regular season with just one loss, placed four on the New England first team, as well. Shortstop Casey Sullivan is again a first-team nod after receiving those honors in 2007, and she is joined by outfielders Maya Ripecky and Laura Chapman, as well as designated player Lena Cantone.
The four remaining regions had several teams placing three individuals on the first team squads, including Ohio Northern in the Central region. ONU was led by three-time all-region outfielder Amanda Fought and two-time all-region shortstop Liz Decima and pitcher Cortney Cash. Cortland State had three first-teamers on the Northeast region squad, led by three-time pitcher Katie Finch. Joining her were second baseman Donnalyn Cross and outfielder Brooke Weidman.
In the East and Great Lakes regions, both first-team squads were filled by two teams with three individuals, including William Paterson and Messiah in the East and Wisconsin-Whitewater and Illinois Wesleyan in the Great Lakes.
To view the first, second and third teams, please visit the nfca.org/pagebank/.