FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2003

Maria Morin Earns Little East Softball Coach of the Year Award; Michele Fanelli Earns Co-Player of the Year Award

Seven RIC Softball Players Earn All-LEC Distinction

Providence, RI—Rhode Island College Head Women’s Softball Coach Maria Morin has earned the Little East Conference’s Coach of the Year Award. Morin guided the Anchorwomen to a 20-13-1 overall record and a 9-4-1, second place mark in the Little East Conference, the program’s highest LEC finish ever. Morin has guided RIC Softball since 1995, compiling a 173-150-2 overall record in nine years. Under her leadership, RIC softball has won 20 or more games in each of the last five seasons.

Senior first baseman Michele Fanelli (Pembroke Pines, FL) earned the Little East’s Co-Player of the Year Award, sharing the honor with Cherie Bailey of Western Connecticut. She was also named First Team All-Little East at first base, earning that honor for the third consecutive season.

Fanelli played in 33 games, starting all of them. She batted .390 with 16 runs, 39 hits, 12 doubles and 23 RBI.

In addition, six other RIC players were named to the All-Conference Team.

Sophomore Casey Soares (Swansea, MA) was named First Team All-Little East as an outfielder. It is the second consecutive season Soares has earned this honor. She played in 31 games, starting all of them. She batted .315 with 22 runs, 28 hits, four doubles and five triples, 12 RBI and four stolen bases.

Junior Kim Warrington (North Kingstown, RI) was named Second Team All-Little East as a pitcher. It is the third consecutive season Warrington has earned this honor. She appeared in 28 games, starting 25 of them. She was 15-10 with a 1.98 ERA, 21 complete games, three shutouts and 161 strikeouts in 169.2 innings.

Sophomore Rachael Caldwell (Richmond, RI) was named Second Team All-Little East as a catcher. Caldwell played in 32 games, starting all of them. She batted .303 with 17 runs, 30 hits, six doubles, 12 RBI and one stolen base.

Junior Sue Gaber (Colchester, CT) was named Second Team All-Little East as an outfielder. Gaber played in 34 games, starting all of them. She batted .286 with 15 runs, 24 hits, eight RBI and one stolen base.

Freshman Ashley Brooks (Hamden, CT) was named Second Team All-Little East as a designated player. Brooks played in 21 games, starting 15 of them. She batted .366 with ten runs, 15 hits and five RBI.

Junior Hollie Benevides (North Dighton, MA) was named Second Team All-Little East as a utility player. Benevides played in 18 games, starting 12 of them. She batted .345 with seven runs, ten hits, four RBI and one stolen base.

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