Dzierzynski Tabbed Daktronics East Region Player of the Year

5/13/2014 12:14:00 PM

NEWARK, Del. (May 13, 2014) - On Tuesday, junior catcher Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y.) of the LIU Post softball team was named the 2014 Daktronics East Region Player of the Year. Joining her on the All-Region first-team were seniors Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) and Alexis Gonzalez (Hauppauge, N.Y.).

The first-team honorees are now automatically eligible for the All-America squad, which will be announced on Wednesday, May 21.

Dzierzynski led the Pioneers to a 41-7 regular-season record, and an overall mark of 48-8 heading into a Super Regional match-up against ninth-ranked and second-seeded Caldwell. She set new single-season program records with 24 home runs, 74 RBIs, 165 total bases, 39 extra-base hits and a .932 slugging percentage. The junior also leads the team with a .435 batting average, 77 hits and a .495 on-base clip.

After being named the East Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, Weber was selected to the All-Region first-team. The senior led the green and gold in the circle with a record of 24-3. Her 1.94 ERA was tops in the conference as she surrendered just 42 earned runs over 151.2 innings of work. During the NCAA East Sub-Regional Tournament, Weber was 2-0 on the rubber with a 1.33 ERA. She limited opposing hitters to a .184 batting average against, including a two-hit complete-game shutout in a 1-0 win over Wilmington.

A staple in the Pioneer outfield this season, Gonzalez earned both Daktronics All-East Region and All-ECC first-team honors. The Hauppauge native paces the team with four triples, and is currently second with 18 long balls, 66 RBIs, 58 runs scored, 28 walks, 140 total bases and a .778 slugging percentage. Meanwhile, her 67 hits and 11 doubles are good for fourth on the team.

Also earning All-Region recognition, senior shortstop Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) was chosen to the second-team. Hagenah has etched her name in the Pioneer record books this year, setting a new single-season high for runs scored (63), to go along with career marks for runs scored (206), walks (109), total bases (482), on-base percentage (.491) and slugging percentage (.687). In addition, she has the opportunity to break the career records for hits (294), doubles (56), RBIs (216) and home runs (48).

Next up for the Pioneers is a date in the Super Regionals versus second-seeded Caldwell. LIU Post will host the best-of-three series May 16-17 at the LIU Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y., starting with a 1 p.m. match-up on Friday.

2014 Daktronics All-East Region Softball Teams
First Team:
C – Aly Dzierzynski, LIU Post
1B – Brielle Reighn, Caldwell
2B – Lindsey Bolduc, Southern New Hampshire
3B – Kristen Knorr, Caldwell
SS – Angie Yoshizu, Bloomfield
OF – Alexis Gonzalez, LIU Post
OF – Crystal Tarango, Dowling
OF – Dara Schroeder, Georgian Court
DP – Kayla Morrissey, Queens
SP – Ali Maloof, Southern New Hampshire
SP – Liz Weber, LIU Post
SP – Amber Padilla, Caldwell
UT (Non-Pitcher) – Julie Gross, Mercy
UT (Pitcher) – Katie Andrews, Adelphi

Second Team:
C – Alyssa Calderon, Caldwell
1B – Ciera Clark, Felician
2B – Danielle McDevitt, Holy Family
3B – Lindsey Couturier, New Haven
3B – Taylor McDonough, Georgian Court
SS – Nicole Hagenah, LIU Post
OF – Caitlin McCready, Caldwell
OF – Brandy Dianno, New Haven
OF – Shelby Yung, Pace
OF – Samantha Riabko, Philadelphia
DP – Megan Ruonavaara, Stonehill
SP – Tayla Trask, Saint Anselm
SP – Sydney Ponto, Caldwell
SP – Victoria Cabral, New Haven
UT (Pitcher) – Kirsten Wilson, Bloomfield

East Region Player of the Year – Aly Dzierzynski, LIU Post
East Region Pitcher of the Year – Ali Maloof, Southern New Hampshire