NEW HAVEN, CT (April 28, 2009) - Sarah Beck of Dominican College has been named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Softball Player of the Year, as the 2009 All-Conference team was released today. Georgian Court University sophomore Diana Sansevera was tabbed Pitcher of the Year, while fellow Lion Rachel Ruch claimed Rookie of the Year honors. Bloomfield College head coach Rocco Constantino picked up Coach of the Year accolades and Chestnut Hill College won the annual Team Sportsmanship Award. The 13 head coaches in the CACC conducted the voting.

Beck, a senior outfielder from Milton, NY, broke the CACC single-season runs batted in record this season, with the conference tournament still to be played. She has knocked in 59 runs through 48 games. The previous record was 51, set last season by Caldwell College's Gina Capardi. She leads the team with a .441 batting average, a .727 slugging percentage, 71 hits, 17 doubles, 117 total bases and is second on the team and in the CACC with nine home runs. She leads the conference in hits, runs scored, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Beck and the Chargers are the top seed for the conference tournament after winning the CACC Regular-Season Championship with a 22-2 record in conference play.

Sansevera, a sophomore right-hander from Manalapan, NJ, will enter the CACC Tournament with a 19-8 record and a 1.67 earned-run average with 290 strikeouts in 192.1 innings of work. She has made 33 appearances this season with 28 starts and has notched 18 complete games and seven shutouts. She leads the CACC in wins, strikeouts, appearances and innings pitched, is fourth in ERA and second in shutouts and opponent batting average (.195).

Ruch, a freshman 2B from Edison, NJ, became one of GCU's offensive leaders in her first collegiate season. She is second on the team and fourth in the CACC with a .408 batting average and leads the Lions with eight home runs and 33 RBI. She has scored 36 runs, smacked 13 doubles and has a .664 slugging percentage in 47 games. She is tied for third in the conference in home runs, third in hits, sixth in RBI's, second in total bases and fourth in slugging percentage.

Constantino has led the Deacons to a record season and the No. 3 seed for the upcoming CACC Tournament after going 17-7 in conference play and 30-13 overall. This season, Bloomfield was ranked in the region for the first time and set program records for overall wins and conference wins since becoming an NCAA Division II institution. Constantino is in his third season guiding the Deacons. 

Dominican led the way with six All-Conference picks, while Caldwell and Georgian Court each had five players voted to the team. All five of Caldwell's selections earned first team accolades. 

Honorable Mention: Amanda Bartels, So., DP, Bloomfield; Christina Braziel, So., 3B, Nyack; Marisa Tamez, Fr., 3B, Caldwell

Player of the Year: Sarah Beck, Sr., OF, Dominican

Pitcher of the Year: Diana Sansevera, So., Georgian Court

Rookie of the Year: Rachel Ruch, Fr., 2B, Georgian Court

Coach of the Year: Rocco Constantino, Bloomfield

Team Sportsmanship Award: Chestnut Hill College