PITMAN--Rowan sophomore outfielder Nicolina Veneziano and TCNJ’s senior right-hander Ashley Minervini have been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year respectively for the 2009 season. Their selections highlighed the 32-member 2010 NJAC all-conference softball team that was announced on May 6. All selections were made via a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches.
A three-time NJAC and two-time ECAC Metro Player of the Week selection, Veneziano currently leads the conference in slugging percentage (.750), runs (37), home runs (9), and total bases (90). The 2009 NJAC Rookie of the Year, Veneziano hit .407 against NJAC pitching and produced league-leading marks in slugging percentage (.864), runs (19), hits (24), and home runs (6) against NJAC competition.
A two-time all-conference selection, Minervini currently leads all NJAC pitchers with a 0.88 earned run average, while ranking third in opposing batting average (.180). Against NJAC competition, she finished second in the conference in wins (8), second in innings pitched (70.1), and third in earned run average (0.66).
New Jersey City University freshman third baseman Rebecca Satz was tapped as the league Rookie of the Year. A two-time NJAC Rookie of the Week selection and a first-team all-conference pick at third base, she currently leads the conference in hits (50, and ranks second in the NJAC in batting average (.394).
The College of New Jersey’s Sally Miller was selected as the 2010 NJAC Coach of the Year by her peers. In 2010, she has guided the Lions to an overall record of 30-7 as TCNJ led the league race wire-to-wire and captured the NJAC regular season championship via a 16-2 conference mark. The top-seeded Lions will host the remainder of the 2010 NJAC Championship Softball Tournament at Lions’ Park on May 7-9. Miller has produced an overall career head coaching record of 410-184-2 during 15 seasons at TCNJ.