Dzierzynski, Weber, Apicella Headline ECC Major Awards
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (May 2, 2014) - East Coast Conference Player of the Year
Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y.) and Pitcher of the Year
Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) were among four LIU Post softball players named First-Team All-ECC members, it was announced Friday.
In addition, four other Pioneers received All-East Coast Conference second-team kudos for their performances in leading the green and gold to a regular-season conference championship and a 41-7 overall record. Furthermore, Head Coach
Jamie Apicella was lauded as the East Coast Conference Coach of the Year.
Statistically speaking, Dzierzynski put forth one of the best offensive seasons in LIU Post softball history. The junior catcher led the Pioneers with a .419 batting average and an .872 slugging percentage. Her 18 home runs set a new single-season program record, besting the 17 four-baggers hit by
Christie Softy in 2010. In addition, Dzierzynski paced the conference with 58 runs batted in, setting a new career-high for the three-year player.
Not to be outdone, Weber dominated inside the circle for the green and gold. The senior pitcher led the conference with a 19-3 record in 22 starts. Her 1.51 earned run average also stood atop the ECC leaders for the ERA statistic.
Joining the battery-mates as All-ECC first-team choices were senior shortstop
Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) and senior outfielder
Alexis Gonzalez (Hauppauge, N.Y.). Hagenah's selection makes her a four-time All-Conference selection and a three-time member of the All-ECC first-team. She hit .399 on the season with nine home runs and 43 RBIs, while slugging at an impressive .684 clip.
Gonzalez was chosen to the All-ECC first-team for the second time in her career. Her 13 home runs and 54 runs batted in were second in the conference only to Dzierzynski. Plus, Gonzalez hit .362 on the 2014 campaign, while contributing a .718 slugging percentage, putting her in the Top-5 in that category in the conference. The senior proved herself to be a patient hitter in the box as well, drawing a team-leading 25 walks. Additionally, she was one of just three players in the East Coast Conference to hit three or more triples on the season, a number matched by Hagenah and bested only by Dowling's Crystal Tarango.
Earning All-ECC second-team accolades for the Pioneers were sophomore infielder
Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.), junior outfielder
Catherine Havens (Eastport, N.Y.), sophomore designated player
Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.), and freshman pitcher
Ashley Martin (Long Beach, N.Y.).
Palmeri started 46 of 48 games for the Pioneers this season, patrolling the hot corner. She hit .317 and proved herself a superb extra-base slugger, as she launched four home runs and 11 doubles. The latter statistic trailed Hagenah's team-leading 12 two-baggers on the season. Moreover, Palmeri recorded a .516 slugging percentage and tied for the team-lead with three sacrifice flies, leading to 32 runs batted in for the spring campaign.
Havens was a mainstay in left field for the green and gold and was a catalyst in the stacked lineup, as she hit .359 with 17 runs batted in. The junior had a special moment this season as she belted her first career home run, a grand slam, against Molloy on Apr. 21. The left-handed slap-hitter was successful at advancing runners around the base paths, as she had a team-leading 10 sacrifice hits.
Swantek's sophomore season was highlighted by a .325 average, coupled with 49 hits, in 151 at-bats. The Pioneers' designated player finished the regular-season with eight home runs, putting her in the Top-10 among the conference's power hitters. Swantek also slugged .550 and drove in 31 runs on the season.
Martin dazzled in her first collegiate season in the circle. The freshman started 18 games for the Pioneers and completed a team-leading 13 of her outings. She won her first 16 decisions, finishing the regular season with a 16-1 record and a 2.44 ERA. Martin was second on the team with 68 strikeouts in almost 115 innings pitched, and led the Pioneers with five shutouts on the season.
Lastly, Apicella was recognized for the second-consecutive season as ECC Coach of the Year. It is the third time that Apicella received the honor, as he was named NYCAC Coach of the Year in 2002. On Mar. 20, the 16-year head coach picked up his 600th career victory for the Pioneers in a doubleheader victory over Le Moyne. In his time manning the bench for the green and gold, Apicella has been the overseer of 16-consecutive 30-plus win seasons in Brookville.
LIU Post had the most All-Conference selections with eight. Molloy was next with five, while Dowling and Queens both had four selections.