FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
S-92-02-03
Tuesday, May 6, 2003

Etown's Emily Morris, Michelle Morris, Kristyn Race & Kate Sharkey Named to All-Commonwealth Conference Softball Teams; Michelle Morris Named Co-Pitcher of the Year

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- Four members of the Elizabethtown College softball team have been named to the 2003 All-Commonwealth Conference teams. Junior shortstop Emily Morris (Canton, PA/Canton) and junior pitcher Michelle Morris (Conyngham, PA/Hazelton) have been named to the conference's first team, while senior outfielder Kristyn Race (Dallas, PA/Dallas) and freshman infielder Kate Sharkey (Orefield, PA/Parkland) have earned spots on the second team. Michelle Morris has also been named the conference's Co-Pitcher of the Year.

Emily Morris batted .394 this season en route to earning a spot on the all-conference teams for the third consecutive year. She made the first team in 2002 and the second team in 2001. She led the team this year in hits with 43, runs scored with 20, slugging percentage with .495 and on base percentage with .459. She also hit two home runs, had three doubles and one triple in 2003, and she struck out just four times in 109 at-bats.

Michelle Morris had another record-breaking year in the circle for Etown in 2003 and was named to the all-conference first team for the second straight year. She set new program records this year for most appearances (33), starts (28), complete games (25) and innings pitched (197-2/3). She won 18 games and had a 1.49 ERA while striking out 141 batters. She accounted for over 86% of the Blue Jays' innings pitched this year and received the win all but one of Etown's victories.

Kristyn Race was named to the all-conference teams for the first time this year after posting a career-high .327 batting average, placing her second on the team, and finishing third on the team with 35 hits. A three-year letter winner and two-year starter, she drove in 12 runs this year and had a .351 on-base percentage.

Kate Sharkey had a strong freshman campaign for Etown, finishing third on the team in batting with a .321 average, second in hits with 36, and first in runs batted in with 24. She had five doubles and one triple for a .384 slugging percentage, third on the team, and a .336 on base percentage. She played primarily second and third base for Etown in 2003, and even spent 18-2/3 innings in the circle.

The Elizabethtown College softball team finished 19-15 overall in 2003 and closed out the season as the Commonwealth Conference runner-up, making its farthest advance in the postseason since 1988 and second straight playoff appearance.