2006 SOFTBALL
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
 


PITT-BRADFORD PICKED FOR A
FOURTH SOFTBALL TITLE
 


The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball dynasty is expected to roll on and earn its fourth straight championship in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in 2006.  Six out of  10 AMCC coaches voted the Panthers to finish first.  Last season's tournament runner-up La Roche College edged out Medaille College for the #2 spot.  The winner of the AMCC tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Sophomore catcher Amanda Baker (Lyons, NY/Newark HS) is the coaches' selection as Preseason Player of the Year.  Baker was the AMCC Player and Newcomer of the Year in 2005, and a third team All-American.  She was ranked in the top 25 in the nation in 5 offensive categories, and in the top 5 in 2 categories.  Baker hit .473 with a .955 slugging percentage, 11 HR and 45 RBI.

La Roche College sophomore Bethany Perrachino (Sidman, PA/Forest Hills HS) is the conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year.  A first-team all-conference selection last season, Perrachino boasted a record of 15-3, leading the league in most wins.  She also led the AMCC in ERA (.99) and held opposing teams to a conference-low batting average of  .186.  For the season Perrachino struck out 81 in127 innings pitched.
                            

AMCC
SOFTBALL POLL
Preseason Rankings*

1 - Pitt-Bradford (2)
2 - La Roche (1)
3 - Medaille (3)
4 - Frostburg State (4)
5 - Penn State Behrend (6)
6 - Penn State Altoona (8)
7 - Hilbert (5)
8 - Lake Erie (7)
9 - Pitt-Greensburg (9)
10 - Mount Aloysius (10)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2005


Preseason Player of the Year
 AMANDA BAKER, MEDAILLE COLLEGE

 Preseason Pitcher of the Year
 BETHANY PERRACHINO, LA ROCHE COLLEGE

 

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH...

FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
Head Coach Wes Landrum (2nd year)
2005:  11-7 AMCC, 17-19 overall

SR 1B Trish Brown (Manchester, MD/North Carroll HS)...Two-time first team all-conference...hit .415, .673 slugging percentage, 4 HR, and 38 RBI...started every game last season.

SR P/1B Jen Cook (Cresaptown, MD/Allegany  HS)...First team All-AMCC in 2005...8 wins last season, 5 in conference play...ERA of 2.36 with 5 shutouts...87 Ks in 87.1 IP.
 

HILBERT COLLEGE
Head Coach Bill Goc (4th year)
2005:  9-9 AMCC, 11-14 overall

SR C Amber Fie (Olean, NY/Olean HS)...Second team all-conference in 2005...led team with .425 BA, 3 HR’s, 20 RBI’s, 1.00 SB pct., .458 OB pct.

JR SS Kaitlyn Miller (Depew, NY/Depew HS)...Had 15 RBI’s from the lead-off position.  .397 BA, team leader in hits (31), stolen bases (9), and runs (22).
 

LA ROCHE COLLEGE
Head Coach Orie Gentile (10th year)
2005:  16-2 AMCC, 27-8-1 overall

SO P Bethany Peracchino (Sidman, PA/Forest Hills HS) ...Record of 15-3 last season, league high for wins...first team all-conference selection...also led the AMCC in ERA (.99) and opposing BA (.186)...struck out 81 in127 IP.

 JR 3B/C Kim Moore (Warren, OH/Howland HS)...All-AMCC honorable mention in 2005...hit .302 with 24 RBI, 14 doubles and 4 HR.
 

LAKE ERIE COLLEGE
Head Coach Gary VanCauwenberge (4th Year)
 2005:   7-11 AMCC, 10-23 overall

JR P/C/OF Jen Dodge (Painesville, OH/Riverside HS)...Pitched first no-hitter in school history last season...earned AMCC player of the week and ECAC player of the week honors...conference era of 1.15 with just 9 earned runs in over 54 innings...also batted .361 with 7 doubles...voted team co-mvp.

JR 1B/P Sarah Miller (Covington, KY/Holmes HS)... Batted .411 in the conference with 3 HR’s, 13 RBI’s, and a .661 SLG%...AMCC pitcher of the week selection...voted team co-mvp.
 

MEDAILLE COLLEGE
Head Coach Robyn Ventura (4th Year)
2005:  13-5 AMCC, 18-17 overall

SO C Amanda Baker (Lyons, NY/Newark HS)...AMCC Player and Newcomer of the Year in 2005...third team All-American...ranked in top 25 in the nation in 5 offensive categories, top 5 in 2 categories...hit .473 with a .955 slugging percentage, 11 HR and 45 RBI.

JR P Michelle Peruzzini (Cheektowaga, NY/John F. Kennedy HS)...Second team All-AMCC last season...14-10 record...105 Ks, 4 shutouts...held opponents to a .261 BA.
 

MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE
Head Coach John Hammond (1st year)
 2005:  0-18 AMCC, 0-24 overall

SO 2B Stacey Hammond (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria HS)...Last season hit .383 with a .750 slugging percentage and .798 fielding percentage...4-5 in stolen base attempts.

FR P Megan Frazier (New Paris, PA/Chestnut Ridge HS)...As a high school senior in 2005 she posted a 1.60 ERA with 63 strikeouts...also hit .378.
 

PENN STATE ALTOONA
Head Coach Brenda Palmer (5th year)
2005:  7-11 AMCC, 10-21 overall

SR P Dana Garman (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg Area HS)...Member of all-conference second team in 2003 and 2004...recorded 5 wins and 1 save in 2005...struck out 84 in 99.2 IP...3.58 ERA.

JR 2B Amanda Shomo (Fallen Timber, PA/Glendale HS)...Two-time All-AMCC second team selection...hit .376 with team-best 23 RBI...also contributed 7 doubles and 2 triples with 5 stolen bases.
 

PENN STATE BEHREND
Head Coach Stacy Pondo (3rd year)
2005:  9-9 AMCC, 11-25 overall

JR 1B/OF Kristin Macha (Export, PA/Franklin Regional HS)...In 2005 hit  .427 with 50 hits, 12 doubles, and 1 triple…Named ECAC All-Star…1st team all-conference and team MVP…Academic All-Conference…majoring in mechanical engineering technology.

SR C Jill Wooldridge (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel HS)...Captain of 2006 team…look for a break-out year… had a .274 batting average along with 26 hits last season…contributed on the field with a .943 fielding average… majoring in electrical engineering.
 

PITT-BRADFORD
Head Coach Tina Phillips (3rd year)
2005:  13-5 AMCC, 26-14-1 overall

JR P Kristy Zavinski (Warren, PA/Warren HS)...All-AMCC second team in 2005...ranked third in conference in wins with a 13-5 record...2.34 ERA.

JR SS Brittany McLean (Emporium, PA/Cameron County HS)...First team all-conference selection last season...ranked second nationally in triples per game (.27), seventh in slugging percentage (.903), and 17th in batting average (.476)...led the AMCC in BA, triples (11) and total bases (112)...also hit 7 HR with 43 runs, 43 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
 

PITT-GREENSBURG
Head Coach Erica Exler (2nd year)
2005:  5-13 AMCC, 8-28 overall

JR OF Jaime Lindner (Midland, PA/Western Beaver HS)...2004 AMCC Newcomer of the Year and first team all-conference...hit .450 with .511 OB%...returning to UPG after one year at Geneva College.

FR 3B Kelly Welsh (Pittsburgh, PA/Oakland Catholic)...No information available.