Simmons College freshman third baseman Dannie Szabo (White Plains, N.Y.) was named the 2008 ECAC Division III New England Softball Rookie of the Year and to the 2008 ECAC Division III New England All-Star First Team as announced by the Eastern College Athletic Conference on Wednesday.
Szabo became the Simmons softball program's first ECAC Division III Rookie of the Year winner and the second ECAC Division III All-Star Team selection in the program's history. She joins Amy Steinnagel who was named to the ECAC Division III New England All-Star Second Team in 2004.
The Sharks freshman ranked among GNAC leaders in batting average (.474), slugging percentage (.818), on base percentage (.523), hits (65), RBI (53), home runs (9) and stolen bases (22). Szabo also ranked among national leaders in Division III in runs batted in per game (22nd, 1.20) and batting average (29th, .474).
A starter for 44 games Szabo helped guide the Sharks to a school record 35 wins and a third place finish at the ECAC softball tournament. She was voted the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and was a National Fast Pitch Coaches Association All-Region First Team selection. In addition, Szabo earned GNAC Rookie of the Week honors three times and was named to the GNAC All Tournament Team.
2008 ECAC DIVISION III NEW ENGLAND ALL-STAR TEAMS
Player of the Year
Christie Lotti Sr. 1B Rhode Island College
Pitcher of the Year
Jenna Harvey Sr. P Wellesley
Rookie of the Year
Dannie Szabo Fr. 3B Simmons
First Team
Michelle Wlosek So. C Springfield
Christie Lotti Sr. 1B Rhode Island College
Lauren Blake So. 2B Clark
Dannie Szabo Fr. 3B Simmons
Jess Ferreira Jr. SS Suffolk
Ashley Sullivan So. OF Eastern Connecticut
Mallory Moretti Sr. OF Emerson
Jackie Tyler So. OF Amherst
Kaitlin Streilein Sr. Utl Brandeis
Jenna Harvey Sr. P Wellesley
Shelbie Slie Sr. P Western Connecticut
Second Team
Meghan Sargent Jr. C Endicott
Rachel Denny Jr. 1B Eastern Connecticut
Kristen Lugovich Sr. 2B Western Connecticut
Katie Allenson Jr. 3B Keene State
Kim Church So. SS Eastern Connecticut
Allie LeBlanc Jr. OF Bridgewater State
Danielle Sargent Sr. OF Endicott
Megan Wood So. OF Wellesley
Jenna Patnode Jr. Utl Keene State
Melanie Neece Fr. P Rhode Island College
Note: Szabo was the only freshman to be selected for the first team