Moravian's Novak, Spilman & Wehr Earn NFCA All-Atlantic Region Honors
LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- Moravian College senior pitcher Josie Novak and junior center fielder Kat Spilman have been named to the 2018 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-Atlantic Region Second Team while freshman right fielder Brooke Wehr earned a spot on the All-Region Third Team.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- Moravian College senior pitcher Josie Novak and junior center fielder Kat Spilman have been named to the 2018 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-Atlantic Region Second Team while freshman right fielder Brooke Wehr 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 23 online at www.NFCA.org and in person at the NCAA Division III Championship banquet in Oklahoma City.
The Greyhounds are currently 36-6 overall this season under the direction of 25-year Head Coach John Byrne, who as a career mark of 822-240. The squad was 11-1 in the Landmark Conference regular season as the Hounds reached the postseason for the 24th consecutive spring, winning the Landmark Conference title two weeks ago and the NCAA Division III Ewing, New Jersey Regional this past weekend.
Novak, who was selected as the Ewing, New Jersey Regional Most Outstanding Player, the 2018 Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year for the third consecutive year and All-Conference First Team honoree for the fourth time, made the All-Region team for the third straight season after being on the First Team in 2017 and the Third Team in 2016. She has a 20-3 record with a 1.21 ERA, eight shutouts and 173 strikeouts in 156 innings this season, and Novak is second in school history with 647 strikeouts, second all-time with 33 shutouts, second in program history with an .826 winning percentage (76-16), second all-time in wins with 76, third in school history in innings pitched with 602.2, tied for third all-time with four saves, fifth in program history with a 1.39 ERA and has one no-hitter.
“Josie has had an amazing career and had probably one of the most impressive 24-hour periods in the circle that I’ve seen in my career at the Regional,” stated Head Coach John Byrne. “She showed that she didn’t want her career to end and wants the ball the way that she has for four years. She is definitely one of the top pitchers in program history.”
Spilman, the 2018 Landmark Conference Co-Player of the Year and All-Conference First Team player as well as a member of the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team, leads the Greyhounds with a .452 average, 57 hits, 39 runs, nine doubles, four triples, eight homers, 21 walks and 37 RBIs.
“Kat has been really hitting the ball well lately, and has been getting the timely hit when we need it,” commented Byrne. “She was the Co-Player of the Year in the conference and has had an outstanding three seasons. We’re glad we have her for another year but there is still some unfinished business this season.”
Wehr, a Landmark All-Conference First Team honoree and member of the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team, has a .366 average, 53 hits, 48 runs, nine doubles, 12 home runs – five of which have led off the first inning of games and nine are solo – and 38 RBIs
“Brooke has had quite a tremendous first year in our program,” noted Byrne. “She has hit for power and given us a lead early in games a number of times this season which gives the rest of the team a boost and the pitching staff a lead that has usually been enough. We’re excited to have her for three more years.”
Moravian is scheduled to begin the program’s second trip to the NCAA Division III Super Regionals on Friday, May 18 when the Greyhounds begin a best-of-three series at Rowan University with the opening game at 1:00 p.m.
