Five Lyons earn all-region softball honors, including four for first time

May 9, 2007

NORTON, MA- Five Wheaton College softball players have drawn all-region laurels, as senior co-captains Jessica DePolito (Taunton, MA/Coyle and Cassidy) and Nicole Lachance (Rochester, NH/Spaulding), junior Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional), sophomore Stacey Kelleher (Brockton, MA/Brockton) and freshman Merry MacDonald (Braintree, MA/Braintree) received honors at the end of the 2007 campaign.

All five were selected for National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-New England teams, with the Lyons' contingent the most among the 22 institutions represented on three 15-player squads. DePolito and Kelleher were each named to the first team, while Lachance, MacDonald and Poulton landed on the second team. DePolito was one of 12 players to receive New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) first-team honors, Kelleher earned a second-team citation, and Lachance and Poulton each drew honorable mentions. With four honorees, Wheaton was tied for the most representatives from one team among the 35 awarded players.

This was the third straight year in which DePolito drew NFCA all-region laurels, as she was named to the first team as a sophomore and the second team as a junior. DePolito landed on the NEISCA second team following her sophomore season. Kelleher, Lachance, MacDonald and Poulton each earned the first regional honors of their respective careers. The quintet combined to hit 33 of the team's program-record 44 home runs, breaking a 10-year-old mark. Wheaton is ranked eighth nationally in longballs per game (1.07) and 10th in slugging percentage (.538).

DePolito started all 41 games at first base and batted .463 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI. As one of four seniors on the NFCA first team, she tallied 57 hits and 37 runs after leading the NEWMAC in dingers. As one of the nation's fifth-leading home run hitters, DePolito batted .478 with runners in scoring position and collected 13 two-out RBI. She twice had streaks of at least three games with a home run, and her total was the third highest in program history. She will graduate third at Wheaton with 24 career longballs.

After overcoming an early-season injury, Kelleher batted .418 in 25 contests as Wheaton's full-time designated player, finishing third on the team in walks (11) while slugging .620 with seven doubles, three homers and 21 RBI. A .400 hitter with runners in scoring position, Kelleher had nine RBI while slugging .800 in 25 at bats from the fifth inning on. She was one of four NFCA first-team sophomores.

Lachance started all 41 games as Wheaton's leadoff batter and shortstop. A .396 hitter, Lachance smacked 10 home runs and 10 doubles while collecting 43 runs, 37 RBI, 15 walks and nine steals. She turned in a team-best 17 two-out RBI. She joined DePolito as one of five Lyons to ever hit 10 home runs in a season, as Lachance is tied for sixth in career dingers (15). She was one of four seniors named to the NFCA second team.

In her first season as an everyday contributor, Poulton well exceeded her career totals while batting .430. The Lyons' regular right fielder and one of three NFCA second-team outfielders, Poulton was third on the squad in on-base percentage (.483) and fourth in hits (46). She was the team's best two-out hitter with a .444 average and was one of the toughest Lyons to strike out after fanning only seven times in 122 plate appearances.

MacDonald appeared in every game for the Lyons, becoming the starting third baseman for good in the team's eighth game. She batted .417 with 37 runs and 31 RBI. As the only freshman named to the second team, and one of nine selected for the three teams, MacDonald hit .442 with runners in scoring position.

Wheaton went 25-16 this year, finishing second in the NEWMAC standings with an 11-5 mark. The Lyons advanced to the third round of the conference tournament, winning 19 of their last 27 games.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 5/29/07.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.

News

Wheaton graduate Powers selected to guide Lyon softball program (more)

Kelleher becomes ninth Wheaton softball player to be named All-American (more)

Kelleher and Moynagh each earn NFCA All-New England accolades (more)

Upcoming Schedule

7-12-Mar Sat-Thu Spring Trip N TBA
19-Mar Thu Bridgewater St. (2) H 3:00pm
21-Mar Sat Coast Guard (2) H 12:00pm