May 7, 2008

CHICAGO - Five members of the Loyola University Chicago softball team have earned All-Horizon League honors it was announced tonight at the annual banquet prior to the beginning of the Horizon League Championship. Amy Solava earned First Team All-League honors for the second consecutive season, Angie Funston, Ellen Kresl and Nora Schober each were named to the All-League Second Team and Haley Ambrosch was chosen for the All-Newcomer Team.

Solava, who earned First Team All-Horizon League and Pitcher of the Year honors a year ago as a freshman, was Loyola's lone representative on the first team. In League play this spring, the right-hander posted an 8-4 mark with a 1.78 ERA and completed 11 of her 12 starts.

Joining Solava on the First Team was Amy Hyerczyk (Butler), Christa Coppus (Cleveland State), Amanda Macenko (Cleveland State), Sarah Clynes (UIC), Brooke Frydendall (UIC), Andrea Zappia (Valparaiso), Tracy Korth (Valparaiso), Kristen Bradshaw (Wright State), Jamie Perkins (Wright State), Jherica Williams (Wright State) and McKenzie Bedra (Youngstown State).

Funston had a breakout season this spring, hitting .304 with a team-best 13 RBI in 19 conference contests. For the year, the sophomore third baseman leads the team with 31 RBI on 38 hits after driving in 10 runs on only 10 hits last season. A sophomore outfielder, Kresl is in pursuit of the Loyola single-season record for batting average (.389) as she enters this weekend's tournament with a .390 average. In League competition this spring the left-handed hitter batted a robust .459 with five stolen bases.

Schober earned Second Team honors for the first time since 2006 by hitting .333 with 10 runs, two doubles, nine RBI and 10 stolen bases in League play. Overall, the senior outfielder is batting .299 with 21 RBI and a team-best 17 steals. Also earning Second Team All-Horizon League honors was Whitney Willard (Cleveland State), Danielle Young (Cleveland State), Courtney Gill (Detroit), Jacqueline Nortman (Detroit), Ashlee Ackerman (UIC), Melissa Marinacci (UIC), Shannon Robinson (Valparaiso), Justine Shilt (Wright State) and Sharon Palma (Wright State).

Ambrosch, a freshman shortstop, batted .235 with a pair of homers and nine RBI in conference play. The rookie was joined on the All-Newcomer Team by Katelyn Ciminelli (Cleveland State), Amy Powel (Cleveland State), Breana Sesoko (Detroit), Samantha Howe (Green Bay), Alicia Abbott (UIC), Sharon Palma (Wright State), Justine Shilt (Wright State), Louie Haney (Wright State) and Rochelle Vanyi (Youngstown State).

Senior catcher Jherica Williams of Wright State was selected as Player of the Year, while sophomore Amanda Macenko of Cleveland State and freshman first baseman Alicia Abbott of UIC were tabbed Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year, respectively. Cleveland State's Angie Nicholson and Valparaiso's Randy Schneider shared Coach of the Year honors.

Loyola is hosting the Horizon League Softball Championship this weekend at Loyola Softball Park. Play begins tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and the fourth-seeded Ramblers will take the field for their first game at 1 p.m. when they face No. 9 seed Detroit.