DANBURY, Conn. --- The Moravian College softball team has had three players honored by the ECAC with sophomore pitcher Josie Novak being named to the 2016 ECAC Division III South All-Star First Team and the ECAC Division III South Pitcher of the Year while sophomore pitcher Amanda Carisone and junior outfielder Julie Siragusa earned spots on the All-Star Second Team. Head Coach John Byrne was also honored as the 2016 ECAC Division III South Coach of the Year.
The Hounds had a 37-6 overall record this spring under Byrne, who was named the 2016 Landmark Conference Coach of the Year and has posted a career mark of 750-228 in 23 seasons. Moravian was 11-1 in the Landmark Conference regular season, and the squad went on to capture its seventh Landmark Tournament title and 15th conference championship. The Greyhounds played in the postseason for the 22nd consecutive spring, and Moravian competed at the 2016 NCAA Division III Ithaca, New York Regional, falling in the championship round. The program has made seven trips to the regional final, winning four.
"Congratulations to Head Coach John Byrne for yet another outstanding accolade of being named ECAC Division III South Softball Coach of the Year," stated Director of Athletics George L. Bright. "Coach Byrne's extensive knowledge of softball, his vast amount of successful coaching experience and a great passion for the sport are great assets for the Greyhounds' family. We also congratulate the terrific class of Moravian ECAC All-Stars for the extremely rewarding and enjoyable season."
Novak, who was also named the 2016 Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year while making the Landmark All-Conference First Team for a second straight spring, had a 19-4 mark this year as she posted a 1.74 ERA with 19 complete games in 24 appearances including six shutouts. Novak, who was on the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Third Team for a second consecutive season, added 168 strikeouts and 46 walks in 152.2 innings. Novak has a 38-9 slate in her career to go with 326 strikeouts, fifth all-time at Moravian, in 303.2 innings over the last two seasons.
Carisone, who was selected to the Landmark All-Conference First Team, recorded an 18-2 mark this spring with a pair of saves in 24 total appearances in the circle. She had a 1.76 ERA, 19 complete games and five shutouts to go along with just 27 walks and a career-high 110 strikeouts in 135.1 innings of action. Carisone, a member of the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Third Team this season, is 37-4 in her career at Moravian with 215 strikeouts, tenth in school history, in 291 career innings.
Siragusa, another Landmark All-Conference First Team honoree this year, had a .376 batting average for the Greyhounds this spring with 50 hits including a school record 21 doubles. Siragusa, who was on the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Third Team as well, had 28 runs, two triples, three home runs, 32 RBIs, 84 total bases for a .632 slugging percentage, 14 walks and a .430 on-base percentage, five sacrifice hits and one stolen base. Siragusa recorded 42 putouts from her left field position, and she became the 43rd player in program history to reach 100 career hits. Siragusa has 105 hits in 111 career games with a .365 lifetime batting average.
"This trio of players all had outstanding seasons this spring and were a main part of why we were able to be as successful as we were," commented Byrne. "Amanda and Josie were able to keep us in every game with their pitching performances. I think it is impressive that two of them have combined for 75 victories over the last two years. Julie was one of our most consistent hitters at the plate all season, and her level swing and good contact gave her the ability to hit as many doubles as she did."
To view the entire 2016 ECAC Division III All-Star selections, http://ecacsports.com/news/2016/6/4/SB_0604163526.aspx.
