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Posted by Patrick Moore - Softball - Fri, May 28, 2010
(L-R) Cat Sidor, Jess Irwin, Kelly Lesko
(L-R) Cat Sidor, Jess Irwin, Kelly Lesko
NFCA RELEASE

STARKVILLE, Miss. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA NAIA All-Region teams, honoring student-athletes from the 10 NFCA regions and three Crusaders were among the honorees.

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Player of the Year Cat Sidor (Livonia, Mich./Churchill), WHAC Pitcher of the Year Jess Irwin (Monroe, Mich.) and All-WHAC pick Kelly Lesko (Trenton, Mich./Trenton) were among the 16 players honored on the first team.

Sidor let the Crusaders with a .374 average, six home runs, 19 doubles and ranked second on the team with 36 runs batted in. The Crusader first baseman set the new MU career mark for hits as well as doubles and RBIs.

Irwin led the WHAC in wins (29), innings pitched (236), earned run average (1.66) and strikeouts (370). In capturing her third straight WHAC Pitcher of the Year award, Irwin became just the second pitcher in NAIA history to surpass the 1,000 strikeout mark and is less than 150 punch outs from the top spot in national history.

Lesko made her first appearance on the All-WHAC team in her first season as the MU shortstop. Lesko posted a .338 average with nine doubles and 23 RBIs after making the move from third base to short.

The Crusaders captured their third straight WHAC regular season and tournament titles in 2010 and made the program's second straight appearance in the NAIA National Championship. MU ended the season with a 43-12 record.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834