University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Three Panthers Named To All-Big East Teams
5/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 7, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Panthers make more history this evening, as three members of the Pitt softball team earn All-Big East selections on the eve of the Big East Softball Championships. Garnering nods were senior Jessica Dignon and junior Samantha Card on the First Team, while sophomore Kayla Zinger was named to the Third Team.
"It's another first," head coach Michelle Phalen said. "This is an exciting day for our program to have three players named to all-conference teams.
"Jess, Sam and Kayla have proven themselves all season. It is a well-deserved honor and it is a testament to their dedication and hard work all year. They came to play everyday and it paid off for them individually and us as a team."
Dignon and Card recorded their first selections to the All-Big East first team, this evening, and marked the first time in program history two Panthers earned such honor together. Collectively, each batted over a .400, drove in 24 runs, smacked seven homers and stole 17 bases in league play, while playing at new positions this season.
As the squad's catcher, Card (Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes/Florida International) ranked third in the conference with a .444 batting average and lead the team with a .394 season average. Card also tallied a career-high 12 homers on the year, including five in league play, and set a single-season record with 44 RBI on the year.
Becoming the first Panther to be named an all-conference honoree three times, Dignon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) tied a single-season record with 42 runs scored and set the standard with 17 doubles this year. Moving from third base to short stop this year, Dignon is the team's career leader in RBI (113) and doubles (45).
Zinger (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope) earned her first nod with an appearance on the third team after recording seven conference wins on the mound. Zinger also posted a 1.42 ERA in the league and threw three combined shutouts during that time. The highlight of the season for Zinger was her first-career no-hitter against UConn, earlier this season.
"This is a sign of the times that Pitt softball has arrived and we are a team that will contend," Phalen added.
Pitt makes its third consecutive appearance in the Big East Championships against DePaul on Thursday at 12:30 p.m., at Ulmer Stadium. The game will be available via live stats and through streaming video on the Big East website.
All-BIG EAST First Team
Brittney Bargar,Notre Dame, Jr.,
P Samantha Card, Pittsburgh, Jr., C
Jessica Dignon, Pittsburgh, Sr., 3B
Kit Dunbar, USF, Sr., OF
Allie Gendron, Connecticut, Sr., DP
Britta Giddens, USF, Jr., SS/2B
Becca Heteniak, DePaul, So., P
Jillian Ortega, Connecticut, Jr., IF
Amber Patton, DePaul, Jr., 3B
Sarah Smith, Notre Dame, Sr., OF
Micah Truax, Connecticut, Jr., OF*
Sandy Vojik, DePaul, Sr., Utility * - unanimous selection
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Capri Catalano, USF, Fr., P
Ashley Ellis, Notre Dame, So., OF
Lauren Frankiewicz, DePaul, Jr., DP
Amanda Heller, Rutgers, Jr., OF
Brianna Jorgensborg, Notre Dame, Fr., OF
Amy Kelley, Syracuse, Jr., C
Jamie Kelling, Syracuse, Jr., 2B/SS
JoJo Medina, USF, So., 1B
Courtney Mosch, USF, Sr., Utility
Sarah Totten, Louisville, Sr., 1B
Kristen Wadwell, Louisville, So., P
Kealan Waldron, Seton Hall, Jr., 1B/3B
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Jenna Best, Seton Hall, Sr., OF
Jackie Dempsey, Villanova, Sr., Utility
Katie Fleury, Notre Dame, Fr., 2B/SS
Linda Kohan, Notre Dame, Jr., IF
Christine Lux, Notre Dame, So., IF
Melissa Roth, Louisville, So., C
Kassie Stanfill, Louisville, Jr., OF
Tara Voss, DePaul, Fr., 2B/SS
Colby Wherry, Louisville, Fr., IF
Kayla Zinger, Pittsburgh, So., P
