LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- Moravian College juniors catcher Janae Matos and pitcher Josie Novak have been named to the 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-Atlantic Region First Team while junior pitcher Amanda Carisone earned a spot on the All-Region Third Team.
All-Region players are nominated and selected by NFCA member coaches in each of the eight Division III regions. First Team All-Region choices are eligible for selection to the NFCA All-America team, which will be announced the evening of May 24 online at www.NFCA.org and in person at the NCAA Division III Championship banquet in Oklahoma City.
The Greyhounds posted a 36-6 overall record this season under the direction of 24-year Head Coach John Byrne, who as a career mark of 786-234. The squad was 11-1 in the Landmark Conference regular season as the Hounds reached the postseason for the 23rd consecutive spring.
Matos, who was selected as the 2017 Landmark Conference Player of the Year and named to the All-Conference First Team for a second straight spring, led the Greyhounds at the plate with a .523 average that included 56 hits, 23 runs, a school-record 22 doubles, three home runs, 45 RBIs, 24 walks including four intentional, a .621 on-base percentage and an .813 slugging percentage. Matos also made a team-high 203 putouts behind the plate to go with 13 assists. Matos became the 44th member of Moravian's 100-hit club in April.
"Coming into the season, we expected Janae to be one of our leaders on and off the field and she did exactly that," stated Byrne. "She was tremendous behind the plate with handling our pitching staff all season long, and her bat always seemed to make contact with the ball all season. Janae had a knack for finding the gaps, which allowed her to set the school record for doubles."
Novak, who was the 2017 Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year for a season straight spring and the 2015 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, earned a spot on the All-Atlantic Region Team for the second consecutive year after being on the Third Team in 2016. Novak is also a three-time member of the Landmark All-Conference First Team. This spring, Novak posted an 18-3 record, and she had a 0.77 ERA, the fifth-best season in school history, two saves, 13 shutouts, the third most in a single season at Moravian, 20 walks and a conference-leading 144 strikeouts in 135.2 innings in the circle. Novak has a career total of 474 strikeouts, the third player in school history to reach 400 career strikeouts, and her 56 career victories are fifth in the Moravian record books.
"Josie had an outstanding season and was in control of the ball all season," Byrne said. "She was able to place the ball where she needed to and by keeping opposing batters off balance; she had seven of her 13 shutouts come as one-hitters. We're extremely happy to have her with us for one more season."
Carisone earned a spot on the All-Region Third Team for the second consecutive season after being on the Landmark All-Conference teams for the third straight spring as she was on the First Team in 2016 and the Second Team in 2015 and 2017. Carisone posted an 18-3 mark this spring with a 1.03 ERA, three shutouts, 16 walks and 77 strikeouts in 128.2 innings. She is seventh in school history with 291 strikeouts, and Carisone is sixth all-time with 55 wins as part of a 55-6 career record.
"Amanda was the other part of our strong pitching staff this season, and had an outstanding spring that is also one of the best in school history," commented Byrne. "She has a contrasting style to Josie that allows her to keep opponents just as off balance during the games she pitches since you don't know what type of pitch is coming. We're glad that we also have Amanda on the pitching staff for one more season."
To view the entire list of NFCA All-Region honorees, visit https://nfca.org/web_docs/2017NFCAD3ALLREGIONTEAMS.pdf.