In their preseason poll, the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate
Conference softball coaches have chosen the defending champion, the
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, to win the league
championship again this season.
The Panthers finished third in the regular season standings last
season before making a dramatic run to the conference title in the
season-ending tournament. They upset top-seeded Frostburg
State University, and the Bobcats were a close second in the
coaches' poll for 2005. Perennial contender La Roche College
was voted to the #3 spot.
Pitt-Bradford sophomore Kristi Zavinski (Warren, PA/Warren)
gets the preseason nod as the conference's leading pitcher. An
honorable mention all-conference team selection as a freshman,
Zavinski will be expected to pick up where she left off
statistically. She had a 12-3 record in 15 appearances last
season, and a league-best 1.81 ERA, while holding opposing batters
to a .249 batting average.
La Roche College shortstop and outfielder Chrystal Delgado (Pittsburgh, PA/
Shaler HS) is the coaches' selection as Preseason Player of the Year.
Delgado, the AMCC Co-Player of the Year in 2004, is a two-time first
team all-conference selection. She hit
.514 with 21 runs scored on 37 hits and 11 RBI. Defensively,
she had a .877 fielding percentage, 63 put-outs and 79 assists.
The AMCC welcomes three new members to the conference this season:
Hilbert College, Medaille College, and Mt. Aloysius College.
The conference will receive an automatic bid to the national
tournament for the first time in Spring 2005.
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Players to Watch
FROSTBURG STATE (11-1 AMCC, 26-14
overall)
1B Trish Brown
(North Carroll HS/Manchester, MD)...JR...2004 AMCC Co-Player of the
Year...batted .468 last season, with 34
runs, 12 doubles, 6 HR and
35 RBI...also
boasted a .780 slugging percentage and
.532 on base percentage.
P/OF Lori Potts (Loudon Valley HS/Purcellville, VA)...SO...first-team
All-AMCC outfielder as a freshman...impressive first year stats included
a .343 batting average, 20 RBI, 18 runs scored...14-6 record on the
mound, with a 3.07 ERA and 5 shutouts.
HILBERT (0-8 NEAC, 12-14 overall)
P Meghan Gallagher (Sepncerport HS/Rochester, NY)...SO...First
Team ECAC Div. III South All-Star selection in 2004...11-11 record with
a 2.37 ERA...hit .361 with 9 doubles and 19 RBI.
SS Kaitlyn Miller (Depew HS/Depew, NY)...SO...2004 stats included
.324 batting average and .988 fielding percentage.
LA ROCHE (8-4 AMCC, 9-14 overall)
SS/OF Chrystal Delgado (Shaler Area HS/Pittsburgh, PA)...SR...AMCC
Co-Player of the Year in 2004...two-time first team all-conference
selection...stats highlights include .514 batting
average, 21 runs scored, 37 hits and 11 RBI...defensively, she had a
.877 fielding percentage, 63 put-outs and 79 assists.
P Beth Peracchino
(Forest Hills HS/Sidman, PA)...FR...
LAKE ERIE (1-11 AMCC, 5-25 overall)
SS/P Jen Dodge (Riverside HS/Painesville, OH)...SO...was Honorable Mention
All-Conference in 2004...batted .323.
C Crystal Limpert (John Marshall HS/Cleveland, OH)...JR...
MEDAILLE (3-5 NEAC, 9-22 overall)
SS Sara Vertalino (West Seneca, NY/Mount Mercy Academy)...JR...impressive
stats in 2004 include a .348 batting average, .427 slugging percentage, and 31 hits...she
also pulled her weight defensively with a .961 fielding percentage.
P Michelle Peruzzini (Cheektowaga, NY/John F. Kennedy)...SO...2004 record
was 8-13...through 80 K's, averaging 1.74 strikeouts per inning...held opponents to a
.288 batting average.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS (0-17 overall)
2B Stacey Hammond (Penn Cambria HS/Cresson, PA)...FR...transferred
from Lock Haven.
C Gloria Straight (Berlin Brothers Valley HS/New Baltimore, PA)...FR
PENN STATE ALTOONA (6-6 AMCC, 18-19
overall)
C/OF Nicole Clapper (Hollidaysburg Area HS/Hollidaysburg, PA)...JR...second
team All-AMCC in 2004...batted .423 including 12 doubles...had 35 RBI
with 21 runs scored.
2B Amanda Shomo (Glendale HS/Fallen Timber, PA)...SO...second
team all-conference selection last season...her .350 batting average
included 38 RBI and 31 runs scored.
PENN STATE BEHREND (6-6 AMCC, 11-26
overall)
2B Shelle Roberts (Iroquois HS/Erie, PA)...SR...coming off an
injury in 2004, when she still managed to hit .259...defensively had
36 put-outs, 18 assists and .885 fielding percentage...majoring in
marketing.
3B Kristin Macha (Franklin Regional HS/Export, PA)...SO...Also
hurt in 2004...can hit for power and average...posted a .387 batting
average and 9 doubles as a freshman...majoring in mechanical
engineering technology.
PITT-BRADFORD (8-4 AMCC, 22-8 overall)
2B/SS Calista Walker (Towanda HS/Towanda, PA)...SR...Second
team All-AMCC last season...hit .328, including 8 doubles, 3 triples
and 2 home runs...also scored 19 runs and 17 RBI.
LF Cassandra Walker (Towanda HS/Towanda, PA)...SR...Second
team All-AMCC in 2004...contributed 10 RBI and 19 runs
scored...batting .313, she had 2 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run.
PITT-GREENSBURG (2-10 AMCC, 2-12 overall)
C/1B B.J. Bertges (Plum HS/Pittsburgh, PA)...SR...the
team's lone senior...hit .286 last season.
P Ashley Garnder (Geibel Catholic HS/Vanderbilt, PA)...JR...returning
veteran pitcher...had only 14 walks in 75 innings pitched. |
