FOUR RAMS GARNER WVIAC ALL-CONFERENCE SOFTBALL HONORS

VIENNA, W.Va. -- Four members of the Shepherd University softball team were named to the 2006 All-WVIAC Softball team as voted upon by the league's head coaches. Junior 3B/P Mia Zappacosta (Owings Mills, MD/McDonogh School) grabbed first team honors, sophomore UT Stephanie Sims (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg HS) was a second team choice, while senior P Karen Burnette (Yorktown, VA/Tabb HS) and senior 1B Brooke Small (Herndon, VA/Herndon HS) were honorable mention selections.

Zappacosta, who earned first team honors for the third straight year, batted .365 with a team-best 54 hits and 22 RBIs in 148 at-bats. She topped the team in doubles with 10 and added a home run. Zappacosta also added six wins as a pitcher with a 2.99 ERA.

Sims led the Rams with a .367 batting average with 33 hits and 19 RBIs in 87 at-bats. She belted six doubles, two triples, and a team-best four round-trippers. She also led the team in being hit-by-pitch with nine.

Burnette led the Ram pitching staff in virtually all statistical categories including wins (10). appearances (25), complete games (15), innings pitched (132.2), strikeouts (103), shutouts (4), and ERA (2.59). She was a two-time WVIAC Pitcher of the Week honoree this year.

Small batted .301 with 41 hits in 136 at-bats. She added a team-best 25 RBIs to go along with eight doubles and a pair of home runs. Small was also an honorable mention selection in 2005.

2006 All-WVIAC Softball Team

First Team

Sarah Baise (West Virginia Wesleyan, DP/3B, Sr., South Point, OH, .363 BA, 11 HR, 45 RBI, .650 SLG%)

Tara Black (Fairmont State, C, Sr., Vienna, WV, .404 BA, 9 HR, 46 RBI, .682 SLG%, 15 2B)

Heather Hall (West Virginia Wesleyan, SS, Sr., Sunderland, MD, .420 BA, 10 HR, 53 RBI, .465 OBP)

Ashley Jackson (Concord, P/OF, Sr., Beckley, WV, .290 BA, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 5-15 W-L, 2.63 ERA, 138 K)

Cory Karcesky (West Virginia Wesleyan, P, Sr., Dunkirk, MD, 22-2, 1.68 ERA, 105 K, 154.0 IP)

Andrea Lewis (Charleston, P, Jr., Sissonville, WV, 21-13, 2.17 ERA, 259 K, 222.0 IP)

Tiffany Martin (West Liberty State, 2B, Sr., Winfield, WV, .411 BA, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 14 SB, 39 R)

Tabi Merceruio (West Liberty State, P, Sr., Falling Waters, WV, 15-9, 1.80 ERA, .216 BAA)

Ashley Mooney (Alderson-Broaddus, C, Soph., Peytona, WV, .442 BA, 18 HR, 57 RBI, .898 SLG%, .515 OBP)

Stevi Pauley (Wheeling Jesuit, 2B, Sr., Madison, WV, .389 BA, 4 HR, .457 OBP, 13 2B)

Nikke Resta (Bluefield State, OF, Jr., Sunbury, OH, .418 BA, 43-46 SB-SBA, .500 OBP, 47 R)

Michelle Sabelhaus (Charleston, 1B/P, Soph., Pickerington, OH, .465 BA, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 30 R)

Alisha Shull (West Virginia State, 3B, Jr., Milton, WV, .375 BA, 5 HR, 41 RBI, .612 SLG%)

Casie Waskey (Alderson-Broaddus, P, Sr., Ripley, WV, 25-9, 1.03 ERA, 177 K, 217.1 IP)

Mia Zappacosta (Shepherd, P/3B, Jr., Owings Mill, MD, .365 BA, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 6-9 W-L, 2.99 ERA)

Second Team

Kim Darby (West Virginia State, SS, Sr., Logan, WV, .301 BA, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 32 R)

Erica Glance (Fairmont State, SS, Sr., Fairmont, WV, .300 BA, 8 HR, 35 RBI)

Jessica Godby (West Virginia State, P, Jr., Chapmanville, WV, 16-5, 2.65 ERA, .201 BAA)

Meagan James (Glenville State, 3B, Soph., St. Albans, WV, .389 BA, 14 HR, 43 RBI, .880 SLG%)

Samantha Kinder (West Virginia State, P, Soph., Blair, WV, 18-10, 2.22 ERA, 128 K, 192.0 IP)

Staci Kinder (West Virginia State, OF, Sr., Blair, WV, .270 BA, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 12 2B, 7 SB)

Casey Kuhn (Alderson-Broaddus, 3B, Sr., Pennsboro, WV, .293 BA, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 40 R, 15 2B)

Rachel Mason (West Liberty State, 3B, Fr., Proctor, WV, .380 BA, 7 HR, 44 RBI, .663 SLG%)

Dani Mohney (West Liberty State, SS, Sr., Edison, OH, .335 BA, 3 HR, 34 RBI, 11-11 SB-SBA)

Lacy Mossor (Salem International, OF/SS, Soph., Ellenboro, WV, .316 BA, 9 SB)

Jessica Osborne (West Virginia State, OF, Soph., St. Albans, WV, .289 BA, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 33 R)

Krystal Robertson (Charleston, 2B, Sr., Pinch, WV, .371 BA, 10 SB, 26 R)

Katie Roush (Alderson-Broaddus, 2B, Sr., Point Pleasant, WV, .284 BA, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 34 R)

Stephanie Sims (Shepherd, UT, Soph., Mt. Airy, MD, .379 BA, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .509 OBP)

Mary Ann Thompson (Alderson-Broaddus, SS, Jr., Charleston, WV, .263 BA, 5 HR, 29 RBI)

Jana White (West Virginia Wesleyan, OF, Sr., White Sulphur Springs, WV, .359 BA, 5 HR, 34 RBI)

Honorable Mention (by school)

Bluefield State: Maggie Donaldson, Ali Lopez, Jesse Sarrett

Charleston: Brittany Stogdale, Maria Taylor

Davis & Elkins: Monica Decker, Carrie Egress, Becky Vance

Fairmont State: Julie Bolyard, Kristy Rausch

Glenville State: Kelly Drinkard

Ohio Valley: Shannon Kave, Lena Messina, Jaci Miller

Salem International: Kasey Sharp

Shepherd: Karen Burnette, Brooke Small

West Virginia Wesleyan: Meghan Keith

Wheeling Jesuit: Shawna Clark