10 Greyhounds Named to Landmark Softball All-Conference Teams; Moravian Sweeps Major Awards
TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian College has had ten student-athletes earn Landmark All-Conference honors including five First Team honorees with sophomore shortstop Maddisen Bieber selected as the Player of the Year, junior pitcher Paige Lesher named the Pitcher of the Year, freshman pitcher/designated player Alexandria Scheeler honored as the Rookie of the Year and Head Coach John Byrne selected as the Coach of the Year for a fourth consecutive spring.
TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian College has had ten student-athletes earn Landmark All-Conference honors including five First Team honorees with sophomore shortstop Maddisen Bieber selected as the Player of the Year, junior pitcher Paige Lesher named the Pitcher of the Year, freshman pitcher/designated player Alexandria Scheeler honored as the Rookie of the Year and Head Coach John Byrne selected as the Coach of the Year for a fourth consecutive spring.
Bieber and Lesher also earned spots on the All-Conference First Team, and they are joined by senior third baseman Madison Shaneberger, sophomore catcher Brooke Wehr and sophomore designated player Shannon Brogan. Scheeler, senior left fielder Kat Spilman, junior right fielder Emily Stanilious, junior first baseman Lauren Goetz and sophomore pitcher Meghan Bauer were selected to the All-Conference Second Team.
"It is a huge compliment about the quality of program and our players when almost all of your everyday starters and pitchers are selected to the All-Conference squads," noted Byrne. "Each one of them has had a very good season, and we would not be making another trip to the postseason without the contributions they make game in and game out."
Byrne has been selected as the Landmark Conference Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career, and it is his tenth conference Coach of the Year selection. Byrne is in his 26th season at Moravian with a career record of 852-246 while leading the Greyhounds to 25 straight postseason appearances including 17 NCAA Division III Tournament berths.
"John Byrne has added another Coach of the Year honor to his already decorated career," stated Director of Athletics & Recreation Mary Beth Spirk. "This Landmark award to him and his coaching staff is well deserved after losing two prolific pitchers from last year's tremendous team. John and his staff know how to not only win, but also get the most out of their players. This year more than ever they proved that hard work, focus and determination are key ingredients to success. Congratulations to the entire staff for this recognition."
The Greyhounds are currently ranked No. 10 in the nation in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll and 31-5 on the year. Moravian is the top seed in the 2019 Landmark Conference Tournament after an 11-1 regular season mark in conference action, and the Hounds will be hosting the tournament at Blue & Grey Field on Friday and Saturday, May 3-4.
Bieber leads the Greyhounds with a .495 batting average to go with 54 hits, 30 runs, nine doubles, 17 RBIs, a .538 on-base percentage and a .578 slugging percentage. She also has 60 putouts and 105 assists in the field this spring.
"This is a tremendous honor for Maddisen," noted Byrne. "I'm very proud of how she stepped up for us this season both offensively and in the field. She has a great work ethic and softball IQ."
Lesher has posted a 16-1 mark in the circle this year in her first season as a starter. Lesher has also posted a 1.43 ERA to go with three shutouts, 34 strikeouts in 102.2 innings of action.
"Paige has had an excellent year in the circle," stated Byrne. "She has been very consistent all season with her approach and control. This is a well-deserved honor for her."
Scheeler is hitting .456 in her debut season with 47 hits, 19 runs, 12 doubles, a triple, a homer and 32 RBIs, and she is also 12-2 in the circle with a 1.76 ERA, two shutouts and 38 strikeouts in 95.2 innings.
"Alex has had an outstanding rookie season in the circle and at the plate," Byrne said. "She is a very talented player that brings a strong work ethic with a competitive edge."
Shaneberger garners All-Conference honors for the third time in her career after being on the All-Conference First Team last season and the Second Team as a freshman in 2016. This spring, Shaneberger is hitting .276 with 27 hits, 22 runs, six doubles, one triple, two homers, 17 walks and 20 RBIs.
Wehr, who made the All-Conference First Team as an outfielder in 2018, has posted a .385 average, 52 hits, 44 runs, seven doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 30 RBIs.
Brogan, who was selected to the All-Conference Second Team a year ago, has seen action as a designated player, outfielder and second baseman this spring, has a .418 batting average to go with 46 hits, 29 runs, 10 doubles, four triples, a homer and 26 RBIs.
Spilman, who was the 2018 Landmark Conference Co-Player of the Year and the 2016 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, earns her fourth All-Conference honor after making the First Team in 2018 and the Second Team in 2016 and 2017. Spilman has a .374 average with 46 hits, 38 runs, three doubles, a triple, four homers, 10 walks and 31 RBIs this spring, and earlier this season, she became just the fourth member of Moravian's 200-hit club.
Goetz, who made the All-Conference First Team in 2018 and the Second Team in 2017, moved to first base this season where she is hitting .319 with 29 hits, 22 runs and eight doubles to go along with team highs of 10 home runs and 40 RBIs.
Stanilious, who was on the All-Conference Second Team in 2017, has a .394 average to go with 41 hits, 33 runs, seven doubles, a triple, 16 walks, 10 stolen bases and 21 RBIs.
Bauer has posted a 3-1 record and a team-lead three saves to go with a 0.71 ERA, two shutouts and 36 strikeouts in 29.2 innings of action.
The Hounds are scheduled to return to action on Friday, May 3 when the squad hosts fourth seed The University of Scranton in the opening game of the 2019 Landmark Conference Tournament at Blue & Grey Field in Bethlehem with action slated to begin at 11:00 a.m.
