Marino Named Co-Player of the Year Headlining Seven on All-Independent Teams

Marino Named Co-Player of the Year Headlining Seven on All-Independent Teams

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – After an outstanding season behind the plate for St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn), Danielle Marino has been named the Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) Co-Player of the Year for 2013. Seven Lady Bears received recognition in total, with Marino, Cassandra Molinari and Andrea Sideli earning First Team All-Independent recognition and Mabel Vargas, Maria Randazzo, Jackie Perillo and Morgan Summers scoring second team accolades.

The seven selections matches last year's total, an impressive feat for this year's squad who began a new regime on the field after losing five seniors last season, including current assistant coach and last year's AD3I Co-Player and Co-Pitcher of the Year, Alyson Chiaramonte.

Marino concludes her four-year career by producing an outstanding senior season in which she batted .415 with three home runs, 28 RBI, 13 doubles and four triples on 39 hits, all team-highs. The senior catcher reached the century mark in career hits this year and even tossed 8.1 shutdown innings in the circle for the Lady Bears accruing a 1.68 ERA. Marino has been named to the All-Independent team in each of her four seasons at St. Joseph's, this being her third first team nod to go along with one second team honor. The Lady Bears' backstop also was named to the All-Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) Team in 2013 after leading St. Joseph's to their fifth-straight HVWAC Tournament title.

Molinari, the Lady Bears ultimate utility player, excelled this season playing a number of positions defensively, en route to batting .359 on the year with a team-high-tying 28 RBI along with 23 runs scored. On the year, Molinari pitched seven innings allowing only one earned run finishing with a 1.00 ERA. In addition to being named to receiving HVWAC All-Conference honors, this is the Brooklyn native's second AD3I All-Independent nod in as many seasons and her first time named to the first team.

Sideli capped her four-year career with a solid .349 batting average along with three home runs and 24 RBI. The senior, who split her time in the field between the outfield and first base, played an integral part in the Lady Bears success this season providing timely hitting and stellar defense. This is Sideli's third AD3I All-Independent honor and her second time as a first team recipient.

Vargas proved to be a dual-threat for the Lady Bears as she hit .411 while pacing the team with a 5.34 ERA in 23 games including 18 starts pitching 102.1 innings. The HVWAC All-Conference pitcher had a team-high-tying four triples on the year while also accumulating 14 RBI and 17 runs scored. The pitcher/outfielder was the Lady Bears No. 1 starter as she threw ten complete games finishing the season with a 6-11 record. This is Vargas' second time being named to the All-Independent team after she received second team honors in her freshman season.

Randazzo impressed in her rookie season with the Lady Bears, posting a gaudy .434 batting average in 53 plate appearances. The Lady Bear left fielder showed great discipline at the plate drawing 10 walks which ranked her third on the team.  The freshman also received HVWAC Rookie of the Week honors twice this season.

Lady Bears' centerfielder/pitcher Jackie Perillo wraps up a strong sophomore campaign at St. Joseph's posting a team-best 8-6 record, pitching 68.1 innings and finishing with four complete games. Perillo thrived down the stretch after being assuming the leadoff spot and was named to the HVWAC All-Conference team after batting .325 and scoring 28 runs with five stolen bases, both team-highs. The sophomore earns Second Team All-Independent recognition again this season after receiving the honor in her rookie season.

Summers, who received work at both first base and outfield this season, has been awarded the AD3I Second Team All-Independent utility spot for 2013. The freshman who also received HVWAC Rookie of the Week honors this season, hit .328 with 17 RBI and a home run while scoring 12 runs for St. Joseph's.

The All-Independent softball teams were selected by the softball coaches from AD3I member schools.