Tempe, Wallace receive Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region honors

8/7/08    Chestnut Hill, MA -- After a leading the Gators to a 31-11 record and Great Northeast Athletic Conference regular season title, Pine Manor first baseman-pitcher Sam Tempe (Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland) and catcher Courtney Wallace (Steep Falls, ME/Bonny Eagle) have been recognized amid the region’s elite. Tempe and Wallace were named to the All-Northeast Region Second Team by Louisville Slugger and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

                 Both previously named GNAC First Team selections as sophomores, Tempe, who played five positions in 2008, was named to the all-region team’s utility position.  Her .462 batting average, 55 hits and 14 doubles led the Gators and ranked fifth, second and third, respectively, in the conference. 

             On the mound, meanwhile, Tempe went 6-5 with a 2.87 earned run average, striking out 96 and allowing only two home runs in 85.1 innings.  She led Gators hurlers with a .233 opponents' batting average and tied for the team lead with three shutouts.   In the GNAC championship, she came on in relief for three scoreless innings, whiffing six of 12 batters faced.

             Wallace led the team and ranked second in the conference in RBI with 46, largely due to a league-leading nine home runs and .500 batting average (26-52) with runners in scoring position.  Perhaps the most powerful offensive force in the league, Wallace also led the circuit with 25 walks and finished second in on-base percentage (.546), third in slugging (.826) and fourth in doubles (13).  Showing her versatility, she stole seven bases in nine attempts.

             While Tempe and Wallace were the only two Gators to receive all-region honors, four teammates received conference recognition.  Jackie Martinez (Albequerque, NM/Manzano), Kelly Pirzl (Dalton, MA/Wachonah), Patty Pabon (The Bronx, NY/Townsend Harris) and Nicole Vocaturo (Bellmore, NY/JFK) were named All-GNAC Second Team selections. 

             For a link to the rest of the 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Region Teams, click here.