SOFTBALL PICKED FOURTH IN ECC PRESEASON LEDGER

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Feb. 12, 2010) – The 2010 East Coast Conference preseason softball poll was issued by the league office on Friday, and Molloy College was selected fourth in the tally, totaling 38 points in the process. The Lions, who were 21-26 overall and 10-8 against ECC opposition in 2009, entered last year’s league tournament as the No. 5 seed. They upset second-seeded Adelphi University before falling to No. 1 seed Dowling College. C.W. Post was tabbed as the league favorite after winning the title a year ago.

Sophomore third baseman Josette Cavallaro (North Babylon, N.Y.) notched an exhilarating first season as she batted a team-leading .381 with five homers and 33 RBI. She also registered a .583 slugging and a .432 on-base percentage. Moreover, Cavallaro’s average slotted her fourth amongst all East Coast Conference players. In the circle, junior Lauren Urbont (Long Beach, N.Y.) and sophomore Allison Ryan (Seaford, N.Y.) combined to register 21 victories and an earned run average of 4.34.

The preseason awards went to a pair of athletes from C.W. Post. Senior shortstop/catcher Christie Softy (Floral Park, N.Y.) received top player accolades. In 2009, she hit .354 with 11 long balls and 47 ribbies. The Floral Park native also posted a .658 slugging and a .409 on-base percentage. Junior pitcher Sarah Kiser (Arnold, Md.) was named the ECC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. She raked in the honor after picking up 18 wins (eight shutouts), and compiling a 1.03 ERA. Kiser also fanned 178 hitters in 156.0 innings of work last year.

Head Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke and her squad will open up the 2010 season on March 13 when Molloy travels to Clermont, Fla. for its annual Spring Break trip. The Lions will take on the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University in a doubleheader starting at 9:30 a.m.

2010 East Coast Conference Preseason Softball Poll
1. C.W. Post (7 First-Place Votes)
2. Dowling (1 First-Place Vote)
3. NYIT
4. Molloy
5. Queens
6. Mercy
7. Bridgeport
8. St. Thomas Aquinas