RELEASE DATE: 5/7/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JES RICKER BECOMES FIRST MU SOFTBALL PLAYER TO EARN ALL-PSAC ALL FOUR SEASONS – LASKOWSKI NAMED TO FIRST TEAM HONORS – TAGLIAFERRI AND QUINN EARN SECOND TEAM HONORS

MANSFIELD – Jes Ricker (Shillington/Governor Mifflin) and Jackie Laskowski (Olyphant/Mid Valley) were named to First Team All-PSAC East honors and Alison Tagliaferri (Linden/Jersey Shore) and Nancy Quinn (Merritt Island,FL/Merritt Island) were Second Team All-PSAC East selections in voting conducted among the PSAC East head coaches and released today.

Ricker becomes the first player in school history to earn All-PSAC honors in each of her four seasons at Mansfield.

This season, Ricker was sixth in the PSAC in batting (.366), second in on-base percentage (.482) and fourth in slugging percentage (.624). In 93 at-bats, Ricker rapped out 34 hits including nine doubles and five home runs. The leadoff hitter, Ricker drove in 13 runs while scoring 25 times. In addition, she ranked first in the PSAC in hit-by-pitch (8) and in sacrifice bunts (12). Ricker ranked in the top ten in the PSAC in nine different categories while starting ever game at third base.

A sophomore first baseman, Laskowski shattered the school record with a conference leading nine home runs during the season. In addition she ranked first in the PSAC in slugging percentage (.696) and first in RBI’s per game (1.06). In 92 at-bats, Laskowski belted out 31 hits including four doubles, a triple and nine home runs.

A sophomore, Tagliaferri earned her second consecutive All-PSAC East honor as utility player. As a pitcher, Tagliaferri appeared in 17 games with a 5-5 mark. In 79.2 innings, she struck out 90 batters and allowed 29 earned runs for a 2.55 ERA. Tagliaferri was fourth in the PSAC in strikeouts per game (7.91) with opponents batting just .234 against her.

As a hitter, Tagliaferri ranked 14^th in the PSAC with a .341 batting average. In 82 at-bats, she had 28 hits including five doubles and five home runs. Tagliaferri also drove in 19 runs. She was fifth in the PSAC in home runs per game and sixth in RBI’s per game while her .585 slugging percentage was seventh best in the conference.

A freshman, Quinn earned All-PSAC honors as designated player. She led the team in hitting with a .417 batting average. In 60 at-bats, Quinn rapped out 25 hits including a double and home run. She drove in 12 runs.

The Mountaineers will host the ECAC Division II Softball Championship Tournament this Saturday and Sunday.

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