Sito Earns Second Straight Player of the Year; Gardner Named Newcomer and Esparza Collects Pitching Honors

INDIANAPOLIS – Cleveland State sophomore Tess Sito collected her second straight Horizon League Softball Player of the Year accolade, while League regular season champion Loyola and Butler each had three players placed on the Horizon League First Team, in voting of the League’s coaches.

Loyola collected two major awards, as Brittany Gardner was chosen the Newcomer of the Year, while first-year head coach Missy Beseres was tabbed the Coach of the Year after leading the Ramblers to a 15-7 League mark.

Butler sophomore Jenny Esparza earned Horizon League Pitcher of the Year honors after going 10-3 in League play with a 1.33 ERA.  The Avon, Ind.-native struck out 135 batters in 94.2 innings pitched.

Sito was dominant at the plate and on the mound, hitting .427 in 21 Horizon League contests.  In 75 at bats, Sito struck out just five times, posting an OPS of 1.023.  Toeing the rubber for the Vikings, Sito started 19 of 21 games, going 12-8 with a 1.65 ERA and 147 punchouts in 144.2 innings.

Gardner was part of a one-two punch on the mound for Loyola, teaming with Second Team All-League choice Keali Engelkens to take the Ramblers to the top spot in the League.  Starting 16 games, Gardner struck out 92 batters, holding batters to a .170 average in 89.1 innings.

Loyola and Butler each placed three players on the All-Horizon League First Team, with the middle infield duo of shortstop Lauren Arceneaux and second baseman Brooke Anderson joining Gardner.  First baseman Erin Falkenberry and left fielder Lauren McNulty teamed with Esparza to form the Bulldogs’ trio.

Valparaiso was represented on the first team by catcher Jordan Rutkowski and center fielder Sara Strickland, while UIC’s Coryn Schmit and Carly DeMarco earned first team honors.  Louie Haney of Wright State, Youngstown State’s Jordan Ingalls and Green Bay’s Alli Rivera rounded out the squad.

The regular season champion, Loyola earned the right to host the Horizon League Softball Championship, which will begin on Wednesday, May 11.  HorizonLeague.com will bring fans the action starting on Friday, May 13, culminating with the League championship game on May 14.



2011 Softball Awards
Player of the Year - Tess Sito, Cleveland State
Newcomer of the Year - Brittany Gardner, Loyola
Pitcher of the Year - Jenny Esparza, Butler
Coach of the Year - Missy Beseres, Loyola

All-League First Team
Tess Sito, Cleveland State
Erin Falkenberry, Butler
Coryn Schmit, UIC
Jordan Rutkowski, Valparaiso
Lauren Arceneaux, Loyola
Sara Strickland, Valparaiso
Louie Haney, Wright State
Jordan Ingalls, Youngstown State
Lauren McNulty, Butler
Brooke Andersen, Loyola
Carly DeMarco, UIC
Alli Rivera, Green Bay (Designated Player)
Jenny Esparza, Butler (Pitcher)
Brittany Gardner, Loyola (Pitcher)

Second Team All-League
Mollie Berry, Wright State
Dara Toman, Cleveland State
Olivia Bell, Loyola
China Frost, Wright State
Sadie Conner, Valparaiso
Natalie Hernandez, UIC
Justine Shilt, Wright State
Erin Jackson, Butler
KC Boldt, Valparaiso
Chelsea Archer, Wright State
Kim Klonowski, Youngstown State (DP)
Alex Lagesse, Valparaiso (Pitcher)
Keali Engelkens, Loyola (Pitcher)

All-Newcomer Team
Olivia Bell, Loyola
Brittany Gardner, Loyola
Shannon Butts, Green Bay
Natalie Hernandez, UIC
Amanda Wisniewski, Valparaiso
Chelsea Archer, Wright State
Sara Cupp, Detroit
Keali Engelkens, Loyola
Angie Doerffler, Valparaiso
Kacie Rapshus, Wright State