Landmark Softball Players Claim All-Region Honors
MADISON, N.J. - Following one of the most competitive seasons in Landmark softball history, eight players have been honored with selection to the 2012 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region Teams.
Four Landmark players earned first-team All-Region honors and will now be eligible for All-America status, while the other four were second-team selections. Susquehanna University senior Lisa Finizio was joined by Moravian College sophomore Cassie Ernst and freshman Jenn Dalickas on the first team in the East Region, and junior Taylor Stockinger from The Catholic University of America was first-team selection in the Atlantic Region. Moravian added two more second-team choices in senior Jenna Carmon and freshman Dior George while Drew University sophomore Lexie Forsell and sophomore Caitlin McHenry of The University of Scranton joined them on the second team.
The All-Region team consists of three 15-player teams over eight regions for a total of 360 All-Region honorees.
Dalickas, who was on the 2012 Landmark All-Conference First Team as a designated player, saw action as an outfielder, a shortstop, at first base and at designated player while tying Moravian's single season record for home runs with ten this spring. Dalickas finished the season with a .359 batting average (42-for-117) to go with 21 runs scored, 12 doubles, a triple, nine walks, a .735 slugging percentage and a .412 on-base percentage.
Ernst, who was the 2012 Landmark All-Conference First Team and the Second Team in 2012, led Moravian with a .421 average (51-for-121). She added 38 runs scored, 36 RBIs, ten doubles, eight home runs, ten walks, 17 hit-by-pitch, five sacrifices, a .702 slugging percentage and a .527 on-base percentage. Ernst, who made the Union, N.J. Regional All-Tournament Team after hitting .600 in the five regional games, had a .993 fielding percentage with 126 putouts, 11 assists and just one error behind the plate on a catcher's interference, and she had a total of five passed balls in 45 games this season.
Finizio recently capped off a historic career as she was named the Landmark Conference Player of the Year, a CoSIDA Regional All-American and received SU's prestigious Harnum Award, given to the senior female student-athlete who best represents the ideals of intercollegiate athletics. Finizio started 39 games this spring and finished with team-highs in hits (55), runs (32) and stolen bases (14). Her 55 hits were sixth all-time in single season history. She also added five triples, one home run and 21 RBIs. For her career, she leaves SU as the all-time leader in at-bats, total bases and hits and is second all-time in triples.
Stockinger had a terrific year for the Cardinals, hitting her way into the record books with 10 home runs. Stockinger earns her first career All-Region honor following a record-breaking season. The Maryland native smashed a school record 10 home runs in 2012. Stockinger led the Cardinals in slugging percentage (.655), runs scored (38), hits (47), RBIs (48), doubles (16), home runs (10), total bases (93), walks (23) and stolen bases (5), while hitting .331. A Second Team All-Landmark Conference honoree, Stockinger registered 14 multi-hit games this season, with a high of three on two occasions. She also drove in more than one run 11 times, topping out with six vs. Hiram. In three seasons at CUA, Stockinger has totaled 129 hits and a .351 batting average.
Carmon, who earned NFCA All-East Region First Team honors in 2011 and Third Team accolades in 2010, had a .364 average (44-for-12) to go with 36 runs, nine doubles, a triple, a home run and 26 RBIs. In the circle, Carmon, who was the 2012 Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year for the third time in her career and All-Conference First Team selection, posted a 22-7 mark this season with one save, a 1.44 ERA, nine shutouts, 33 walks and 102 strikeouts in 175 innings. She completed her career second in Moravian's record books in wins (75), shutouts (26) and innings pitched (640.1), and overall Carmon ranks in the top ten in a total of 24 game, season and career statistical categories.
George, who was the 2012 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year and a member of the All-Conference First Team, had a .375 average (57-for-152) to go with 45 runs scored, 15 doubles, two homers, 20 RBIs, 19 walks and 22 stolen bases in her debut season.
Forsell earns All-Region honors for the first time in her career after a stellar sophomore year for the Rangers. was selected as a First Team All-Conference second baseman this afternoon by the Landmark Conference softball coaches. She becomes the first Ranger, since entering the Landmark Conference in 2008, to earn first team honors. She led the team eight different offensive categories ranking in the top 10 in the Landmark Conference in hits, doubles, batting average, stolen bases and on base percentage. She finished her sophomore campaign batting .394 with 41 hits and 21 RBIs. She was second on the team with six stolen bases and racked up a team-high 10 doubles.
McHenry was another first-time All-Region selection as she put up impressive offensive numbers in her first year with the program. She currently leads the conference in batting average (.463), slugging percentage (.800), and on-base percentage (.531). She is also second in RBI (44), third in home runs (7), tied for fourth in hits (44), and fifth in runs scored (33). McHenry appeared in all 36 games, started 33 times, and hit safely in 25 games, including 14 multi-hit games. She also drove in at least one run 21 times, including 13 games with two-or-more. Her .463 batting average is the eighth highest single-season average in Scranton history.
The eight All-Region selections are the most the Landmark has earned in the conference's five-year history. The previous high was six players which came last season, and the Landmark has earned at least four All-Region nods in each of its five seasons.
Click here to view the complete All-Region Team.
Story provided by Catholic, Drew, Moravian, Scranton & Susquehanna Sports Information
