Brenneman, O'Gara and Waskewicz named to NFCA Division III All-American teams
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced its 2009 Division III All-American teams and three Salisbury University softball players were honored. Senior Meaghan O'Gara and juniors Lauren Brenneman and Kelly Waskewicz were named to one of the three All-American teams.
The SU trio was major contributors to the 11th-ranked Sea Gulls, who advanced to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship this season. Salisbury won its 14th Capital Athletic Conference Championship, compiled a 30-game win streak and finished with a record of 40-7.
This marks the first time in O'Gara's four years that she has been named an All-American as she was named to the third team. O'Gara had a strong senior season in which she was named CAC Player of the Year, All-CAC first team selection and All-Atlantic region first team honoree. The Northport, N.Y., native played and started in 45 games, had a team-high .409 batting average, scored 36 runs, had 45 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs, 39 RBIs, .700 slugging percentage, 11 walks, .455 on-base percentage and four steals. O'Gara was as equally impressive in the field where she had a fielding percentage of 1.000 with 29 putouts and five assists in left field.
This is also the first time that Brenneman has garnered All-American status as she was named to the second team. The junior catcher has been named Division III Regional Player of the Week twice this season, named a preseason All-American, was a first team All-CAC and a first team All-Atlantic Region honoree. The York, Pa., native has played and started in 47 games this season with a batting average of .399, 44 runs scored, 55 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 48 RBIs, 100 total bases, .725 slugging percentage, 16 walks, .459 on-base percentage and finished with five steals. Defensively, Brenneman posted a .986 fielding percentage with 266 putouts, 21 assists and just four errors.
Waskewicz joins Brenneman on the second team as the junior shortstop makes her third appearance on the All-American team in her career. She was a third-team member in 2007 and a first teamer in '08. She was named a preseason All-American, All-CAC first team selection and a first-team All-Atlantic Region honoree. The Olney, Md., native has played in 47 contests where she started 46 and has a batting average of .390, scored 48 runs, 60 hits, 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 41 RBIs, 104 total bases, .675 slugging percentage, 21 walks, .463 on-base percentage and seven stolen bases. In the field, Waskewicz has a fielding percentage of .922 with 65 putouts and 88 assists. Next season, Waskewicz will try and become only the second Sea Gull to ever to earn All-American honors all four years in her career. SU pitching great Lacey Lister was the first from 2003-06.
The three All-Americans honorees matches a program high as the program had three All-Americans in 2003. The SU softball program now has 21 All-Americans to date as all 21 athletes have played under SU head coach Margie Knight, who completed her 13th season at the helm.
Also see:
