O'Gara named CAC Player of the Year, seven players named All-CAC, Knight honored
YORK, Pa. - Salisbury University senior outfielder Meaghan O'Gara became the 15th player in school history to be named Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year on Wednesday. SU head coach Margie Knight won her eighth overall and second-straight CAC Coach of the Year award as the Sea Gulls placed seven players on the 2009 All-CAC Softball Team.
O'Gara, a first-team member in 2006, is one of the seven members from this year's CAC championship team to earn a berth on the all-star squad. The Northport, N.Y., native leads the Sea Gulls in three offensive categories with a .437 batting average, .793 slugging percentage and 13 doubles. O'Gara has scored 29 runs, drove 35 RBIs, connected for 38 hits and has six home runs this season. Her batting average is the best in the conference. O'Gara is the 12th straight SU softball athlete to be named CAC Player of the Year.
Junior catcher Lauren Brenneman, junior first baseman Ali Ritter, senior second baseman Stacey Malarkey and junior shortstop Kelly Waskewicz all make return appearances on the All-CAC team from last season. Malarkey becomes the sixth player in program history to be named All-CAC four times in her career. Brenneman, Ritter and Waskewicz all have been named All-CAC for their third consecutive year. Waskewicz won the previous two CAC Player of the Year honors and was also named the conference rookie of the year in 2007. Stevenson shortstop Lisa Bilski was named the 2009 CAC Rookie of the Year.
Senior pitcher Stacy Davis and sophomore pitcher Kelsey Mills earned All-CAC accolades as well. Mills was selected as one of two pitchers while Davis was an at-large selection. This is the second straight appearance for Davis and the first for Mills. The two have formed a strong one-two punch for the Gulls as Davis-Mills have a combined record of 31-4 in 200 innings of work with ERAs of 1.32 and 1.01, respectively.
Coach Knight, who has led the Gulls (32-4) to their 13th straight CAC title and 14th in program history since 1995, previously won the CAC Coach of the Year award in 1997, '98, 2000, '03, '04, '05 and '08. This is the 13th straight season the maroon and gold have won 30 games in a season.
Also see:
2009 Salisbury University Softball All-CAC Honorees
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Lauren Brenneman | Stacy Davis All-CAC First Team | Stacey Malarkey All-CAC First Team | Kelsey Mills All-CAC First Team | |||
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| Meaghan O'Gara CAC Player of the Year All-CAC First Team | Ali Ritter All-CAC First Team | Kelly Waskewicz All-CAC First Team | Margie Knight CAC Coach of the Year |
