Landmark Softball Players Earn All-Region Accolades

MADISON, N.J. - Four members of Landmark Conference softball teams have been rewarded for their outstanding seasons by earning places on the 2008 Softbal National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region Teams.

Landmark regular season, and postseason champion Moravian College earned three players on the East Region Team with junior pitcher Maria DeBonis and senior shortstop/second baseman Beth Paly both claiming first-team honors and senior third baseman Kelly Santry earning third-team recognition. Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Jesselyn LaValley of the United States Merchant Marine Academy was a third-team selection on the Atlantic Region Team. As firs-team selections, Debonis and Paly will now be eligible for NFCA All-American honors, which will be announced prior to the NCAA Division III World Series next week.

DeBonis, who was named a Louisville Slugger/NFCA Second Team All-American last season, was 19-3 with a 0.72 ERA, 192 strikeouts, 43 walks allowed, 12 shutouts and four no-hitters including three perfect games in 146 innings. DeBonis, who was named the 2008 Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year as well as earning spots on the Landmark All-Conference First Team as a pitcher and as a designated player, also had 32 hits with 26 runs, a team high 29 RBIs, eight doubles, a triple, a team leading six home runs, ten walks and a .348 average.

Paly, who was a member of the NFCA All-East Region Second Team as a freshman in 2005 and on the All-East Region First Team last year, had a team leading 51 hits, a .418 average, 30 runs, eight doubles, two triples and 22 RBIs this spring. Paly, who was named the 2008 Landmark Conference Player of the Year and a First Team Landmark All-Conference honoree, completed her career tied for fourth in school history with 190 hits and third in games played with 171.

Santry, who was named to the Landmark All-Conference First Team, had a .381 average with 37 hits, eight doubles, a homer, 21 RBIs and 16 runs scored. Santry was also on the NFCA Division III All-East Region Third Team as a sophomore in 2006.

LaValley, who started all 39 games, set two school records and was the team’s leading hitter and pitcher this past spring. he sophomore led the Mariners in practically every offensive category this season. Her .414 batting average, 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 48 hits, 11 doubles, five triples, .853 slugging percentage, .456 on-base percentage and 48 hits were all team highs. She also ranked second in the conference in runs batted in, fourth in hits and was tied for first in triples. Her 1.84 earned run average, eight wins, 98.2 innings pitched and 114 strikeouts were all team bests.

The NFCA All-Region Team features eight regions, with three teams per region and 15 players on each team.