CALDWELL'S JACKSON NAMED CACC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
May 2, 2006

NEW HAVEN - Caldwell College senior outfielder Katie Jackson has earned Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Softball Player of the Year accolades in balloting released today. Dominican College sophomore Christine Stathes was picked as the Pitcher of the Year, while teammate Sarah Beck is the selection for Rookie of the Year. Charger head coach Rick Krasny earned Coach of the Year honors and Nyack College is the recipient of the annual Team Sportsmanship award. The balloting for the All-CACC team was done by the league's 12 head coaches.

Jackson, a four-time first-team All-CACC pick from Pennsville, NJ, ranks fifth in the conference in batting average (.395), first in slugging percentage (.736) and on-base percentage (.527) and third in doubles (15) and home runs (9). She also finished the season with 26 RBI, 24 runs scored and 51 hits.

Stathes, a right-hander from Cornwall, NY, compiled a 12-4 record this season along with a 1.65 ERA, which ranks second in the conference. She allowed only 97 hits in 123.1 innings of work, fanned 83 batters, hurled 12 complete games and three shutouts. Furthermore, she ranks second in the CACC with a .211 opponent batting average.

Beck recorded a .406 batting average for the year with seven home runs and 38 RBI. The catcher from Milton, NY, added 11 doubles and sported a .629 slugging percentage and a .983 fielding percentage. She ranks third in the conference in batting average, first in hits (58), second in runs batted in and third in runs scored (31)

Krasny earned Coach of the Year honors after leading his team to a second-place finish during the regular-season. The Chargers, who were picked eighth in the conference's preseason poll, enter the CACC Tournament with a 35-15 overall record and a 15-7 mark in conference play.

Nyack earned the Team Sportsmanship award for the fifth consecutive season. The Warriors are coached by Mandy Aikens.

The complete All-CACC team is listed below.

FIRST TEAM

1B Kendra Russell, Goldey-Beacom, So., New Castle, DE

2B Casey Bradford, Wilmington, Sr., Pennsville, NJ

SS Brittany Cawley, Nyack, Sr., Peckville, PA

3B Amanda Byrnes, Bloomfield, Jr., Ringwood, NJ

OF Katie Jackson, Caldwell, Sr., Pennsville, N.J.

OF Ashley Frange, Bloomfield, Fr., Staten Island, NY

OF Lauren Armstrong, Holy Family, So., Williamstown, NJ

OF Tara Debes, Holy Family, Sr., Erial, NJ

C Jenn Escheman, Holy Family, Jr., Deptford, NJ

DP Heather Walker, Georgian Court, So., Hanover, Ontario

P Christine Stathes, Dominican, So., Cornwall, NY

P Jessica Saunders, Caldwell, Sr., Glen Burnie, Md.

AL Sarah Beck, Dominican, Fr., Milton, NY

AL Samantha Sasko, Georgian Court, Fr., Yardville, NJ

(14 members due to a tie in voting)

SECOND TEAM

1B Kristine Knuth, Dominican, So., Staten Island, NY

2B Kimberly Griffiths, Georgian Court, Sr., Tuckerton, NJ

SS Katie Farrugia, Dominican, Sr., Cornwall, NY

3B Nicole Fortino, Georgian Court, So., Brick, NJ

OF Anna Leighty, Georgian Court, Jr., Carney's Point, NJ

OF Vanessa Piepszak, Georgian Court, Fr., Ewing, NJ

OF Ashley Stapleton, Philadelphia, Sr., East Brunswick, NJ

OF Sarina Lavooy, USP, Jr., Sussex, NJ

C Megan Harper, Goldey-Beacom, So., Atco, NJ

DP Brandy Ash, Goldey-Beacom, Sr., Dagsboro, DE

P Crista Holtom, Post, Sr., Waterloo, Ontario

P Jen Barnes, Felician, Sr., Saddle Brook, NJ

AL Kim Birmingham, Caldwell, Sr., Pine Hill, NJ

AL Nicole Bodrog, Caldwell, So., Laurel, NJ

(14 members due to a tie in voting)

AL = At-Large

Player of the Year: Katie Jackson, Caldwell

Pitcher of the Year: Christine Stathes, Dominican

Rookie of the Year: Sarah Beck, Dominican

Coach of the Year: Rick Krasny, Dominican

Team Sportsmanship Award: Nyack