May 6, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's sophomore catcher Brooke Darreff became the second Hawk in program history to earn Atlantic 10 Softball Player of the Year accolades, as conference officials released its annual individual honors today. Darreff joins junior outfielder Erika Rosenwinkel on the A-10 All-Conference First Team while junior pitcher Dani Gonzales was selected to the All-Conference Second Team and senior outfielder Kelsey Moir was named to the A-10 All-Academic Team.

Currently fourth in the nation in batting average (.472) and ninth in on-base percentage (.550), Darreff has been a catalyst for the Hawks' offense all-season. Posting a team-best 51 hits and 31 RBI, the All-American candidate has reached safely in 36 of 39 contests this season for Saint Joseph's, helping the Hawks to an 11-9 mark and the fifth seed in this week's Atlantic 10 Championship. Darreff, who also was named to the A-10 All-Conference First Team, has been extremely clutch for Saint Joseph's with runners on base, batting .512 with runner in scoring position and .750 with a runner at third and less than two outs.

Converting from catcher to outfield to start the season due to a broken finger, Rosenwinkel has delivered her best season yet on Hawk Hill. Boasting a career-best .347 average and 27 RBI, Rosenwinkel enters the week leading the nation in doubles per game (0.46) and has matched the Saint Joseph's single-season mark, smacking 18 two-baggers.

On the mound, Gonzales has turned into the ace of the Saint Joseph's staff. Currently third in the conference with a 1.61 ERA, Gonzales has posted an 11-10 record on the mound for the Hawks, striking out a team-high 134 batters. Gonzales has been even better in conference play, boasting a 10-5 record with a 0.96 ERA and 103 strikeouts, while holding opposing batters to a .199 average.

An interdisciplinary health services major with a medical bioethics minor, Moir became the 38th Hawk in program history to earn A-10 All-Academic honors. Starting all 38 games in the outfield, Moir has posted a .250 batting average, with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored. Tied for the team lead in stolen bases with seven, she has also excelled in the classroom with a 3.913 grade-point average.

Saint Joseph's (18-21) faces Fordham in the opening round of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Charlotte's D.L. Phillips Softball Complex.