2011-12 Dominican College Softball Season Summary
The 2012 Dominican College Lady Chargers softball team had another very successful season under head coach Joe Burbridge. The team finished the season with an overall record of 39-17 and a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) record of 24-2. DC won their third consecutive CACC Tournament Title and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA East Regional Tournament, thus making their fourth consecutive NCAA East Regional appearance. DC was also in the NCAA East Region Rankings all season.
The Lady Chargers were the top seed in the CACC Tournament and went 4-0 in tournament play to win the title. DC came back in their first two games against #8 Holy Family University, 5-4, in eight innings and defeated #5 Post University, 11-3. In day two action, Dominican defeated the sixth-seeded Deacons of Bloomfield College, 12-5 and turned back Bloomfield College, 9-0 in five innings for the CACC Championship.
Dominican earned the sixth seed in the NCAA East 2 Regional Tournament, hosted by the third-seeded Pioneers of C.W. Post University. In opening round action, DC faced the host and won a thrilling, 4-2, victory in 12 innings to move into the winner’s bracket. In their next game, the Lady Charger squared off against the #2 seed, Molloy College, and brought home a 7-3 victory to put the team in the East 2 Regional Finals. In the finals, Dominican fell to Molloy College twice to end their season.
Junior pitcher Delaney Childers led the Chargers on the mound and at the plate this season. She finished second in the conference in strikeouts. She was named to the Daktronics East Region Pitcher of the Year and to the First Team and the CACC Pitcher of the Year and to the First Team. She earned Daktronics All-America Honorable Mention accolades and was named to the NFCA All-East Region First Team. Childers was also selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America Division II Academic All-District First Team, the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America NCAA Division II Softball Third Team, while being named the CACC Pitcher of the Week three times this year and earned a one-time ECAC weekly selection. At the end of the year she was inducted into the Dominican College New York Sigma Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma and named Dominican College softball Most Valuable Player.
Catcher Ashley Corrao had a great season as she was named to the All-CACC First Team and to the CACC All-Tournament Team. She also earned a spot on the Daktronics Division II Softball All-Region First Team and the 2012 National Fast Pitch Coach's Association (NFCA) Division II All-East First Region Team. Corrao was the recipient of Dominican College softball Coach's Award.
Shortstop Julie Plante led the team in doubles, triples and runs scored, while finishing tied for team lead in hits and second in RBIs. Plante was also named to the All-CACC First Team, along with NFCA All-Region Second Team honors, the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America NCAA Division II Softball Third Team. She was also named CACC Payer of the Week and ECAC Hitter of the Week once this season. Plante reached the milestone of 200 career hits this season. At the end of the year, she was named Dominican College Top Junior Female Scholar-Athlete and inducted into the Dominican College New York Sigma Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma. Plante was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the CACC Tournament.
Paige Berzak, Kathryn Coles and senior Deidre Jeppson all earned All-CACC Second Team honors this year. Berzak, led the team in fielding percentage, while Coles finished fourth on the team in batting average. Jeppson also picked up her 200th career hit this season.
Plante, Childers, Corrao, Berzak and Jeppson were all named to the CACC All-Tournament Team for their outstanding play.
The Lady Chargers graduate three seniors this season: Katrina Pistilli, Ashley Martinez, Jeppson. All of whom won three straight CACC Tournament Titles, made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and were vital members of the Lady Charger softball squad.
