Kaschauer Leads
Behrend Softball All-Conference Award Winners
Penn
State Behrend Softball had three players named to the 2007 AMCC
Softball All-Conference team, led by 2007 Player of the Year
Nikki Kaschauer (South Park/South Park). The awards were
voted on by Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference coaches and
announced on May 7. Head coach Stacy Pondo said, "It's a
tribute to our team's success to have these three young ladies voted
to the all-conference first team."
Kaschauer was named
First Team All-AMCC in addition to being honored as the conference Player of
the Year. The sophomore led the blue and white to a 27-14 record and a
runner-up finish in the AMCC Tournament. Kaschauer led the league in
batting average (.462), hits (60), and RBIs (36). She was also among
the league leaders in runs (35), doubles (11), and total bases (83).
This is the second selection to the All-Conference First Team for Kaschauer.
Pondo said, "It's great for Nikki to be recognized as the AMCC player of the
year. She has worked very hard throughout the year for her success."
Joining Kascahuer on the All-AMCC First Team were starting pitcher Julie
Koman (McKees Rocks/Montour) and center fielder Katie Whitby
(Tyrone/Tyrone).
Both were standout players in the league all season and members of an
outstanding sophomore class for the softball team.
Koman had another dominant season on the mound for the blue and white.
The sophomore was also all over the conference rankings as she was first or
second in wins (17), E.R.A. (1.97), strikeouts (156), and opposing batting
average (.229). A season ago, Koman was also named to the All-AMCC
First Team. Pondo said, "Julie has been a huge part of the team's
accomplishments with her pitching, and has really been a dominant force on
the mound for our team."
Whitby was another standout player for the Behrend Lions softball team in
2007. The sophomore put together another impressive season, finishing
among the league leaders in batting average (.426), hits (55), runs (41),
and total bases (81). Like Kaschauer and Koman, this is also the
second consecutive selection to the All-AMCC First Team for Whitby.
Pondo said, "Katie has been a tremendous asset to our team in the outfield
with her speed and agility, and has been a big part of our offense as well."
Penn State Behrend completed the AMCC Tournament this past weekend (May 4-6)
at La Roche College. The third-seeded Behrend Lions upset the #1 seed
La Roche Redhawks on Saturday on their way to a championship round showdown
with #2 seed Pitt-Bradford on Sunday, May 6. Behrend would capture
game one of the championship round 6-5 to force a deciding game in the
double elimination tournament. The blue and white would fall just
short of the league crown, dropping a 9-7 decision in extra innings to the
Pitt-Bradford Panthers.