FOUR AMCC SOFTBALL PLAYERS PICK UP ECAC HONORS

The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) saw four softball players named to the 2019 All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Softball Team, announced on Thursday. Named to the first team were Franciscan University sophomore 2B Allyson Weiss and Penn State Behrend senior P AJ Nichols. Recognized on the honorable mention team were Penn State Altoona junior 3B Abby Showers and Penn State Behrend senior OF Carson Hauser.

Weiss led the Barons with eight home runs, a single-season record for FUS, 32 stolen bases, a .397 batting average, and 54 hits. Her 54 hits and 36 RBIs are both single-season records for the Lady Barons. Weiss was tough to strike out as she did so just seven times in 150 plate appearances. Through the conference tournament, Weiss extended her hitting streak to 18-straight games and had 16 multi-hit games for the year. Weiss hit her first career grand slam in a come from behind win over Bethany on Senior Day (April 22). In the field, Weiss had a .944 fielding percentage and made 87 put outs and had 81 assists for the year.

Nichols, who was recently named the AMCC Pitcher of the Year, finished the season with an 18-4 record. She pitched 133 innings, registering 127 strikeouts and finishing the season with an ERA of 2.42. Nichols pitched both games in the ECAC Tournament. She shutout Albright, giving up just two hits and striking out six before the Lions fell to Pfeiffer in the ECAC Championship.

Showers enjoyed a strong junior campaign with Penn State Altoona softball this spring, starting all 38 games for her team. In the AMCC, she ranked fourth in doubles (12), sixth in hits (48), eighth in on-base percentage (.442), ninth in total bases (62), 10th in runs scored (30) and batting average (.384), 16th in slugging percentage (.496) and stolen bases (7), and 24th in walks (10). Showers also managed the hot corner well, ranking fifth among all AMCC fielders with 80 assists.

Hauser played in all 40 games for the Lions this season. She finished the season with 61 hits, 43 runs, 22 RBIs, and a .407 batting average. Hauser broke the record for most stolen bases in a career, tallying 27 this season to finish with 67. She is the first ever player to have over 50 stolen bases and 150 hits in Behrend history. Hauser played center field for Behrend, finishing the season with a .938 fielding percentage and 55 put-outs.