May 9, 2006

Chicago Places Three on All-Region Team

CHICAGO -- Three members of the University of Chicago softball team have been named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division III All-Great Lakes Region team, the NFCA announced today.

Senior designated hitter Kate Rhodes (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./ Detroit County Day) and junior pitcher Petra Wade (Batavia, Ill./ Batavia) were selected to the second team, while sophomore catcher Vanessa Pineros (Mukilteo, Wash./ Kamiak) was chosen to the third team.

Rhodes led the Maroons with 14 runs batted in 32 regular season contests. She batted .282 and tied for second on the club with four doubles.

Wade established school records with 32 appearances, 27 games started, and 172.0 innings pitched en route to posting an 18-7 record with a 1.22 earned run average and five shutouts. She fanned 158 batters and held opposing batters to a .183 average.

In 26 games, Pineros led the Maroons with a .352 batting average and a .410 on-base percentage. She shared second place on the team with four doubles.

All three players garnered All-Great Lakes Region accolades for the first time in their respective careers.

Chicago earned an at-large bid to the 2006 NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The Maroons (19-13) will face Coe College (34-10) in Great Lakes Regional opening-round play Thursday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m.