Dzierzynski, Weber Headline ECAC Major Awards
CENTERVILLE, Mass. (June 17, 2014) - The Eastern College Athletic Conference announced its 2014 Division II Softball All-Stars earlier this month, and LIU Post junior catcher
Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y.) and senior pitcher
Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) were named Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.
In addition, Dziersynski and Weber joined senior outfielder
Alexis Gonzalez (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and junior outfielder
Catherine Havens (East Port, N.Y.) on the All-ECAC first team. Sophomore third baseman
Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.), senior shortstop
Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.), sophomore designated player
Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.) and freshman pitcher
Ashley Martin (Long Beach, N.Y.) were named to the second team.
Dzierzynski was a standout both at the plate and behind it for the Pioneers this season. She hit .438 with 25 home runs and 77 RBI this season and added 14 doubles and one triple for a .907 slugging percentage. The two-time ECAC Division II Player of the Week led LIU Post in hits (85), runs batted in, home runs, extra base hits, total bases and on-base percentage (.495). Defensively, she posted a .982 fielding percentage on 274 total attempts and gunned down 45-percent of would-be base stealers (14-for 31). In the 2014 NCAA Division II Softball tournament, Dzierzynski batted .400 (12-30) with two home runs, four RBI and four runs scored, as the Pioneers advanced to the Division II Women's College World Series. For her efforts, she was also named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America First Team and the East Coast Conference (ECC) Player of the Year.
Weber hurled LIU Post into the Division II National Championships with a 25-5 record and an earned run average of 2.27. She registered 83 strike outs in 160.1 innings and tossed four shutouts, including one against Wilmington University in the NCAA East Regional Tournament. Weber, a three-time ECAC Division II Pitcher of the Week selection, limited opponents' batters to just a .244 batting average in her final season in Brookville. She was also named to the NFCA and Daktronics All-East Region First Teams.
A regular in the Pioneer outfield the last three seasons, Gonzalez also claimed a spot on the Daktronics All-America third-team. In addition, the Hauppauge, N.Y. native garnered both NFCA and Daktronics All-East Region accolades, along with being selected to the All-ECC first-team. Gonzalez paced the team with four triples, and finished second with 18 homers, 66 RBIs, 59 runs scored, 29 walks, 146 total bases and a .737 slugging clip. Meanwhile, her 72 hits and 12 doubles are good for fourth on the squad.
Havens was a mainstay in left field for the green and gold and was a catalyst in the stacked lineup, as she hit .361 with 20 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 11 sacrifice hits.
Palmeri started 59 of 61 games for the Pioneers this season, patrolling the hot corner. She hit an even .300 and proved herself a superb extra-base slugger, as she launched five home runs and 13 doubles. Moreover, Palmeri recorded a .476 slugging percentage and tied for the team-lead with three sacrifice flies, leading to 40 runs batted in for the spring campaign.
A Daktronics All-Region second-team selection, Hagenah was also chosen to the NFCA First-Team. Hagenah etched her name in the Pioneer record books this year, setting a new single-season high for runs scored (67), to go along with career marks for runs scored (210), walks (112), total bases (492), on-base percentage (.489) and slugging percentage (.686).
Swantek had a brilliant sophomore season at the plate. She hit .328 with 64 hits in 195 at-bats. 21 of her hits went for extra bases, with nine of them being home runs. Additionally, Swantek compiled a .533 slugging percentage and drove in 39 runs in 61 starts. The Smithtown native also led the team with 4 sacrifice flies on the season.
Martin dazzled in her first collegiate season in the circle. The freshman started 19 games for the Pioneers and completed a team-leading 13 of her outings. She won her first 16 decisions, finishing the season with a 16-2 record and a 2.53 ERA. Martin led team with 86 strikeouts in almost 142 innings pitched, and led the Pioneers with five shutouts on the season.
For more information on the LIU Post softball team, continue to visit LIUPostPioneers.com.