Two Sea Gulls honored on Preseason All-American softball teams
SALISBURY, Md. - The Division III Softball - The Newsletter released its 2009 Preseason All-American teams and the Salisbury University softball team had two players honored. Junior shortstop Kelly Waskewicz was named to the first team and junior catcher Lauren Brenneman received second team laurels.
Waskewicz put together a very impressive sophomore campaign in 2008. The two-time All-American garnered her second straight CAC Player of the Year award last season as she batted .481, scored 53 runs on 64 hits, with 12 doubles and 17 home runs. The Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Atlantic Region shortstop drove in 45 RBI, stole 16-of-17 bases and had a slugging percentage of 1.000. The Sea Gull standout concluded last season ranked nationally in the top five in three offensive categories - home runs per game (0.44, second in the country), runs per game (1.36, fourth) and slugging percentage (1.000, sixth).
Brenneman, a two-time All-CAC first team member, led the Sea Gulls to their 13th Capital Athletic Conference championship in 14 years. She led the team in RBI (47) and triples (four) while she was second on the team in batting average (.419).
The women were two of four players from the Capital Athletic Conference to be distinguished on preseason team. Stevenson's Jess Bandzwolek (second team) and York sophomore third-baseman Kelly Smith (honorable mention) were also on the list. SU will square off with 10 of the 33 members that were on the list including notable names such as DePauw pitcher Megan Soultz (first team) and Rowan outfielder Heidi Smith (second team). SU will face three Ithaca players that received second team laurels in Allison Greaney, Chelsea Feldman, and Kerry Barga.
The release also featured the Division III Softball - The Newsletter Preseason Top-25 and the Sea Gulls will play four teams ranked in the poll. SU is scheduled to play No. 3 DePauw, No. 6 Lynchburg, No. 8 Ithaca, and No. 22 Rowan. Salisbury will also play Kean and Ursinus, both of which collected votes in the poll.
The nominations for the All-American teams were accepted from every Division III school. The team was selected by a committee of Sports Information Directors, representing all eight NCAA Division III Regions.
Salisbury begins its '09 campaign on the road Sunday, March 1, at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against Virginia Wesleyan College.
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