AD3I All-Independent Softball Teams Announced
KANSAS CITY, MO – The Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) named the 2009 All-Independent Softball Teams in a press release sent out earlier today. Freshman pitchers Alyson Chiaramonte (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) and Lisa Scheer (Queens, NY/Mary Louis) were named First Team All-Independent and senior outfielder Theresa Mendez (Queens, NY/St. Francis Prep) and freshman Caitlyn Kakavas (Queens, NY/St. Agnes) were named Second Team All-Independent. Frank P. Carbone was named 2009 Coach of the Year.
Chiaramonte led the Association in earned run average (1.75), opposing batting average (.206) and was third in wins (13) and strikeouts (133). She tossed five shutouts and had five games of 10+ strikeouts posting a 13-5 record in the circle. The freshman hurler pitched the first perfect game in program history against Sarah Lawrence on April 10. Chiaramonte was the AD3I Student-Athlete of the Month for March and a two-time AD3I Player of the Week. She was also solid at the plate leading the Lady Bears in batting average (.359) and runs batted in (26).
Scheer was a clutch performer, posting a 4-0 record in games decided by one run. She tossed three shutouts and finished the season with a 13-5 record in her rookie campaign. In the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference Championship game, Scheer pitched nine-innings (seven scoreless) allowing one unearned run and delivered game-winning RBI in ninth inning for which she received Tournament MVP honors. The freshman hurler finished ranked third in the Association in wins (13) and fourth in earned run average (2.27) and strikeouts (111). Scheer was the AD3I Student-Athlete of the Month for April and received AD3I Player of the Week one time this season.
Mendez, a senior outfielder, served as the team's co-captain for the past two seasons. She was a solid outfielder with great range, committing only two errors in 25 chances, including three outfield assists. A speedster on the basepaths, Mendez was perfect in 12 stolen base attempts and ranked fifth in the Association in stolen bases per game. She ranked second on the team in runs scored (29) and doubles (5). Mendez also received AD3I Player of the Week honors one time this season. This the second straight year Mendez has been named to the AD3I Second Team All-Independent.
Kakavas, a freshman catcher/third baseman, received second team honors as a utility player. Kakavas showed tremendous poise behind the plate as a rookie, catching primarily for Chiaramonte. She compiled a .994 fielding percentage as a catcher committing only one error and caught six runners stealing. At the hot corner, Kakavas made only three errors in 46 chances. She led the team in runs scored (30) and was third in batting (.302) and runs batted in (22).
Carbone, coaching in his eighth season, compiled his best season to date with a 26-10 record improving on a 10-21 season one year ago. The 26 win mark was the most wins in the Association this season. This is Carbone's first time receiving the AD3I honor and he is a three-time Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.