Tuesday, June 1, 2010

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) named two Westminster College softball players to its ECAC Division III South All-Star team. Junior shortstop/catcher Ashley Beltz (Ellwood City, Pa./Laurel) and freshman designated hitter/shortstop Katie Hughes (Boardman, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) were both named to the second team.

Beltz and Hughes were among three players from the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) to earn this recognition.

Beltz ranked third in the PAC with a .406 batting average (52-128) and was one of four players on the team to start all 41 games this season. In addition to batting average and hits, Beltz led the team with 34 runs, ranked second with eight doubles, and fourth with 24 RBI.

Hughes batted .379 (36-95), second on the team and seventh in the PAC, while starting 38 of 40 games played. She clubbed five doubles, one triple and three home runs to go with 28 RBI, the latter ranking second on the team. Her team-high .465 on-base percentage ranked fourth in the conference and she also drew a team-high 17 walks.

In addition to the ECAC honors, Beltz and Hughes were both named first team all-PAC this year and Hughes was also named second team all-region.

Westminster posted a 25-16 record including a 10-4 mark for third place in the PAC standings. The 25 wins were the most since 2005.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges. Westminster ranked third among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 371 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.