(05-02-08)
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- University of New Haven sophomores Breanne Gleason (photo left) and Meghan Walter both earned Second Team All-East Coast Conference honors as the conference announced the softball post-season awards on Friday, May 2 during the ECC Championships.
Gleason (Bristol, Conn.) grabs a spot on the second team as the Utility selection, as she both pitched and played right field for the Chargers in 2008. During the regular season Gleason was named ECC Baden Pitcher of the Week once on her way to a team-high 11 wins. She also led the team in ERA at 2.18 and struck out a team-high 150 batters. Gleason now has 377 strikeouts for her career, putting her in fifth-place all-time at UNH. Gleason also led the Chargers at the plate, driving in a team-best 28 runs along with a team-high six home runs. She also led the team with seven multi-RBI games, and hit .315 for the season. Gleason had ten multi-hit games along with a team-high four three-hit games.
This is the second All-ECC award for Gleason, who earned Third Team honors last season as a freshman.
Walter (Bay Shore, N.Y.) picks up her first All-ECC selection, getting the nod as the Second Team's first baseman. Walter was second on the squad with a .328 batting average from the left side of the plate. She started 39 games at first base for the Chargers, and had a team-best 11 game hitting streak during the season. She tied for the team lead in doubles with 10 and was second on the team with 12 multi-hit games.
With a .407 on-base percentage, Walter hit safely in 26 of 40 games and reached base in 32 of 40 overall. She also had five multi-RBI games, knocking in three runs twice and totaling 15 RBI's for the season. Walter spent the majority of the season in the lead-off spot and drew a team-high 15 walks.
2008 East Coast Conference Softball All Conference Teams
First Team, Yr., Position, School, Hometown
Jackie Hannan, Jr., Catcher, Dowling, Sayville, N.Y.
Holly Eringis, Sr., First Base, LIU/C.W. Post, Tewksbury, Mass.
Michelle Walsh, Jr., Second Base, Molloy, Bellerose, N.Y.
Christie Softy, So., Shortstop, LIU/C.W. Post, Floral Park, N.Y.
Diana DiPiano, Jr., Third Base, Adelphi, Valley Stream, N.Y.
Taras Wallace, Sr., Outfield, Dowling, Barnaget, N.J.
Dely Francisco, Sr., Outfield, Adelphi, Haverstraw, N.Y.
Melissa Medina, So., Outfield, LIU/C.W. Post, Levittown, N.Y.
Kelsey Cooley, Sr., Utility, LIU/C.W. Post, Syracuse, N.Y.
Julie Schaper, Sr., Pitcher, Adelphi, Warwick, N.Y.
Second Team
Melissa Hippo, Jr., Catcher, LIU/C.W. Post, Granite Bay, Cal.
Meghan Walter, So., First Base, New Haven, Bay Shore, N.Y.
Katie Younes, Sr., Second Base, LIU/C.W. Post, Newbury, Mass.
Jessica Vogt, Jr., Shortstop, Adelphi, Staten Island, N.Y.
Amanda Wentz, Jr., Third Base, Bridgeport, Baker City, Ore.
Katy Brophy, So., Outfield, Adelphi, Beaverton, Ore.
Brilynn Fields, Jr., Outfield, NYIT, Aurora, Colo.
Lia Lara, Jr., Outfield, NYIT, Tucson, Ariz.
Breanne Gleason, So., Utility, New Haven, Bristol, Conn.
Samantha Yodowitz, Sr., Pitcher, LIU/C.W. Post, Suffern, N.Y.
Third Team
Lisa Boystak, So., Catcher, NYIT, Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Brittany Steiner, Sr., First Base, Bridgeport, Edison, N.J.
Kristin Brennan, Jr., Second Base, Adelphi, Staten Island, N.Y.
Karen Thorne, Sr., Shortstop, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Fishkill, N.Y.
Jessica Rickel, Fr., Third Base, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Seymour, Conn.
Kristina Demeo, So., Outfield, Dowling, Bay Shore, N.Y.
Hannah Larson, Jr., Outfield, Bridgeport, Weaverville, Cal.
Keri Boystak, Jr., Outfield, Dowling, Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Jess Gogatz, Sr., Utility, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Brewster, N.Y.
Nina Cesare, Jr., Pitcher, NYIT, Whitestone, N.Y.
Players of the Year: Taras Wallace, Dowling and Samantha Yodowitz, LIU/C.W. Post
Pitcher of the Year: Julie Schaper, Adelphi
Rookie of the Year: Alexandra Sydor, Molloy
Coach of the Year: Valerie Steen, Bridgeport
