Dominican's Stathes Named CACC Pitcher Of The Year And Beck Named CACC Rookie Of The Year

New Haven, CT (5/2/06) - Caldwell College senior outfielder Katie Jackson has earned Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Softball Player of the Year accolades in balloting released today. Dominican College sophomore Christine Stathes was picked as the Pitcher of the Year, while teammate Sarah Beck is the selection for Rookie of the Year. Charger head coach Rick Krasny earned Coach of the Year honors and Nyack College is the recipient of the annual Team Sportsmanship award. The balloting for the All-CACC team was done by the league's 12 head coaches.

Jackson, a four-time first-team All-CACC pick from Pennsville, NJ, ranks fifth in the conference in batting average (.395), first in slugging percentage (.736) and on-base percentage (.527) and third in doubles (15) and home runs (9). She also finished the season with 26 RBI, 24 runs scored and 51 hits.

 Stathes, a right-hander from Cornwall, NY, compiled a 12-4 record this season along with a 1.65 ERA, which ranks second in the conference. She allowed only 97 hits in 123.1 innings of work, fanned 83 batters, hurled 12 complete games and three shutouts. Furthermore, she ranks second in the CACC with a .211 opponent batting average.

 Beck recorded a .406 batting average for the year with seven home runs and 38 RBI. The catcher from Milton, NY, added 11 doubles and sported a .629 slugging percentage and a .983 fielding percentage. She ranks third in the conference in batting average, first in hits (58), second in runs batted in and third in runs scored (31)

 Krasny earned Coach of the Year honors after leading his team to a second-place finish during the regular-season. The Chargers, who were picked eighth in the conference's preseason poll, enter the CACC Tournament with a 35-15 overall record and a 15-7 mark in conference play.

Nyack earned the Team Sportsmanship award for the fifth consecutive season. The Warriors are coached by Mandy Aikens.

Fellow Lady Chargers, Kristine Knuth and Katie Farrugia were named to the All-CACC Second Team for their efforts this year.

 Knuth, a sophomore from Staten Island, NY, is second on the team with 57 hits and has recorded 11 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 17 RBIs this season for a .350 batting average.  She has started in all 50 games this year at first base and sported a .985 fielding percentage.  She led the team with a .424 on base percentage, hitting in the lead off spot for DC.  Knuth also leads the team with 19 walks.

 Farrugia, a senior shortstop who hails from Cornwall, NY, has also started every game this year for the Lady Chargers.  She has a .344 batting average, recording 54 hits, a team leading 16 doubles, four home runs and 29 RBIs.  She was a perfect 4-4 in stolen bases, had a slugging percentage of .522 and a .948 fielding percentage.  Farrugia has been a captain for the past three years and was named to the All-CACC First Team in her freshman and sophomore seasons.

The complete All-CACC team is listed below.

FIRST TEAM

1B Kendra Russell Goldey-Beacom So. New Castle, DE

2B Casey Bradford Wilmington Sr. Pennsville, NJ

SS Brittany Cawley Nyack Sr. Peckville, PA

3B Amanda Byrnes Bloomfield Jr. Ringwood, NJ

OF Katie Jackson Caldwell Sr. Pennsville, N.J.

OF Ashley Frange Bloomfield Fr. Staten Island, NY

OF Lauren Armstrong Holy Family So. Williamstown, NJ

OF Tara Debes Holy Family Sr. Erial, NJ

C Jenn Escheman Holy Family Jr. Deptford, NJ

DP Heather Walker Georgian Court So. Hanover, Ontario

P Christine Stathes Dominican So. Cornwall, NY

P Jessica Saunders Caldwell Sr. Glen Burnie, Md.

AL Sarah Beck Dominican Fr. Milton, NY

AL Samantha Sasko Georgian Court Fr. Yardville, NJ

(14 members due to a tie in voting)

SECOND TEAM

1B Kristine Knuth Dominican So. Staten Island, NY

2B Kimberly Griffiths Georgian Court Sr. Tuckerton, NJ

SS Katie Farrugia Dominican Sr. Cornwall, NY

3B Nicole Fortino Georgian Court So. Brick, NJ

OF Anna Leighty Georgian Court Jr. Carney's Point, NJ

OF Vanessa Piepszak Georgian Court Fr. Ewing, NJ

OF Ashley Stapleton Philadelphia Sr. East Brunswick, NJOF Sarina Lavooy USP Jr. Sussex, NJ

C Megan Harper Goldey-Beacom So. Atco, NJ

DP Brandy Ash Goldey-Beacom Sr. Dagsboro, DE

P Crista Holtom Post Sr. Waterloo, Ontario

P Jen Barnes Felician Sr. Saddle Brook, NJ

AL Kim Birmingham Caldwell Sr. Pine Hill, NJ

AL Nicole Bodrog Caldwell So. Laurel, NJ

(14 members due to a tie in voting)

AL = At-Large

Player of the Year: Katie Jackson, Caldwell

Pitcher of the Year: Christine Stathes, Dominican

Rookie of the Year: Sarah Beck, Dominican

Coach of the Year: Rick Krasny, Dominican

Team Sportsmanship Award: Nyack