GCU's Sansevera Named Pitcher of the Year ... Ruch Selected as Rookie of the Year
The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its 2009 Division II Softball All-Star team today. Lions' ace
Diana Sansevera (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) was named ECAC Pitcher of the Year and earned a spot on the ECAC First-Team while freshman
Rachel Ruch (2B, Edison, NJ/Edison) earned ECAC Rookie of the Year honors while also garnering a place on the First-Team roster. Other First-Team selections include sophomore
Courtney Cuevas (3B, Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) and senior
Mallory Kirchner (OF, South Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick).
Sansevera, the Daktronics East Region Pitcher of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American, Louisville Slugger/NFCA Second Team All-American, CACC Pitcher of the Year, CACC Tournament MVP and five-time CACC Pitcher of the Week selection, dominated the competition with a 27-10 record, 1.61 ERA, 28 complete games, 10 shutouts, 351 strikeouts and a .195 BAA in 261.1 IP.
Ruch had a stellar collegiate debut, leading the squad with a .387 batting average, 72 hits, 17 doubles, eight home runs, 115 total bases and a .618 slugging percentage. The Louisville Slugger/NFCA First -Team All-American also scored 41 runs (2nd), drove in 34 runs (2nd) and compiled a .416 on-base percentage (3rd). Rachel's other accolades include: CACC Rookie of the Year, Daktronics All-Region Second Team and CACC All-Tournament Team.
Cuevas, a member of the Louisville Slugger/NFCA East All-Region Second Team and CACC All-Conference Second Team, and a Daktronics Honorable Mention All-American, started all 57 games at third base for the Lions, batting .361 (3rd on team) with five home runs (T-2nd) and 37 RBI (1st).
Kirchner started all 57 games in leftfield for the GCU, batting .385 (2nd on team) with 72 hits (T-1st), 11 doubles (T-3rd), 26 RBI (3rd), 45 runs scored (1st) and 11 stolen bases (2nd). Mallory also earned selection to the All-CACC First Team, CACC All-Tournament Team, Daktronics All-American team as a Honorable Mention and the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American First-Team.
The Eastern College Athletic Conference recognizes the achievements of over 800 student-athletes with annually with postseason all-stars in 10 sports. In softball, the ECAC honors an all-star team in Division I and Division II, and four regional all-star teams in Division III.