Scroope, Cruver head list of seven CCC honorees
NEWPORT, R.I. – Junior Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.), who was selected as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Pitcher of the Year, and head coach Kerri Scroope, named CCC Softball Coach of the Year, headlined a list of seven members from the Salve Regina University softball program that received conference honors on Saturday night. Cruver, freshman Laura Anne Dinan (Monterey, Mass.), junior Jillian Quintana (Denver, Colo.), and sophomore Marissa Simpson (Brimfield, Mass.) were named to the All-CCC First Team, while senior Kristen Parolise (Hamden, Conn.) was selected to the Second Team, and junior Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) received Honorable Mention recognition.
"These six players have produced great moments for us all year, providing game-winning hits, amazing defensive efforts, and lights-out pitching," says Coach Scroope. "I'm happy that the level of play they've held themselves to all year is being recognized with these accolades."
Scroope guided the Seahawks to their first regular season title since 1999, compiling a conference mark of 14-4. This is her first Coach of the Year Award.
Cruver led the conference with 21 wins this season, while no other CCC pitcher had more than 12 victories. She compiled a 2.83 ERA, 28 complete games, and seven shutouts on the year, striking out 155 batters over 220.0 innings of work. She was selected as the CCC Pitcher of the Week for the time period of March 19-25 after posting a 4-0 conference record with a sparkling 1.49 ERA.
Dinan had a terrific rookie campaign for the Seahawks, leading the team with 42 hits and 11 stolen bases, while also ranking second on the team in batting average (.368), on base percentage (.439), slugging percentage (.456), and runs batted in (23). She collected a hit in 29-of-35 games in which she started, compiling 12 multi-hit performances on the year. During one particular three-day stretch, Dinan went 10-for-12 with seven runs batted in during doubleheaders versus Curry and Roger Williams.
In an offense with so many contributors, Quintana still managed to stand out. She led the conference in runs batted in, setting a new program record with 35 RBI's on the season, while also ranking a close second in the CCC with 66 total bases and a .629 slugging percentage. In addition, she paced the Seahawks in average (.381), on-base percentage (.446), doubles (10), triples (2), and home runs (4). She was selected as the CCC Player of the Week twice for the time periods of March 19-25 and April 16-22.
Outfielder Marissa Simpson was yet another big bat in the Seahawks' lineup this season, tying for the team lead in hits (42), runs (24), and homers (2), while also ranking among the top three on the team in batting average (.353), on-base percentage (.438), and slugging percentage (.437). Simpson also led the Seahawks in walks, finishing second in the conference by drawing 17 free passes. She was honored as the CCC Player of the Week for the time period of April 9-15, leading the Seahawks to four conference victories by compiling a .692 batting average, a .733 on-base percentage, and an outstanding 1.154 slugging percentage.
Parolise tied for the team lead with 10 doubles this season, while also finishing second on the club with 19 runs batted in. She finished the regular season batting .323 with 16 runs scored. She started all 36 games at third base for the Seahawks, committing just eight errors on the season. She accounted for a run during 20 of Salve Regina's 36 contests, including a 3-for-4 performance versus St. Scholastica in which she scored a run and drove in three.
Muehlbronner was equally impressive with the bat and the glove this season. As the team's starting shortstop, the junior displayed terrific range and committed just eight errors on the season. Offensively, Muehlbronner led the Seahawks with 26 runs scored, while also compiling an impressive batting line of .352/.418/.435. She was named the CCC Player of the Week for the opening week of the season, collecting hits in each of her first six at bats of the year before finishing the week 7-for-8.
These performances helped the Seahawks to their first CCC regular season title since 1999. "Our team has had a great year," says Coach Scroope. "We've really come together on and off the field and I'm excited to see what we can do in the post-season." While Coach Scroope is proud of the achievements of her six all-conference players, she is also quick to give credit to the efforts of her entire team. "Each kid on this team would tell you this year has been a true success because it was a team effort: from calling games, to getting a bunt down, to starting a rally. Each player on this team knows any one of them can be the spark and it has truly been a fun and exciting year watching them play for each other."
The Seahawks will enter the 2012 CCC Championship tournament as the #1 seed, hosting their first contest this Monday at Toppa Field.