HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (May 5, 2009) - Hofstra junior first baseman Michele DePasquale was selected as the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association Softball Player of the Year by a vote of the league's eight head coaches.  Her honor highlights this year's All-CAA awards, which were presented Tuesday night on the campus of Hofstra University, which will host the 2009 CAA Softball Championship.

Joining DePasquale as major award winners were Hofstra senior Kayleigh Lotti, who was selected as the Pitcher of the Year for the third straight season, Georgia State freshman pitcher Alana Thomas, who was honored as the Rookie of the Year, and Hofstra's Bill Edwards, who was voted CAA Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.

DePasquale ranked second in the league with a .370 batting average and completed the regular season with 54 hits and 30 runs batted in.  The junior first baseman batted .421 against conference foes and drove in a league-best 17 runs.  DePasquale is the nation's second toughest player to strike out, fanning only three times in 146 at-bats.  She is the third Hofstra player in the past five seasons to receive CAA Player of the Year honors.

Lotti once again dominated from the circle, posting an 18-7 overall record with one save and a league-best 1.29 earned run average.  The senior tossed 179.1 innings and struck out a conference-high 221 batters.  Opponents batted only .172 against her this season.  Lotti was perfect in the circle during CAA play with an 11-0 record and a 0.27 ERA during 78 innings of work.  The senior gave up just three earned runs in league action and struck out 97 batters.

Thomas turned in an impressive rookie campaign for the Panthers with a 12-6 overall record in 121 innings of work.  She completed the regular season with a 2.78 ERA and struck out 36 batters.  Thomas tossed 11 complete games and recorded four shutouts in her 23 appearances.  

Currently in his 20th season at the helm of the Pride, Edwards led Hofstra to its seventh CAA regular season title in eight years with a 14-3 conference mark. The Pride lost its three conference contests by a total of just five runs. After starting the season 5-11, Edwards guided Hofstra to 21 wins in its next 26 contests. The Pride has captured an NCAA-record 11 straight conference tournament titles under Edwards and reached the NCAA regional finals three times. It is his second CAA Coach of the Year honor.

In addition to the major awards announced, the CAA recognized its all-conference first and second teams and the all-rookie squad.  Hofstra and Georgia State placed a league-high three players on the All-CAA first team.  Joining DePasquale and Lotti, was Pride second baseman Casey Fee. The Panthers were represented by catcher Catherine Lee, third baseman Danielle Roddy and outfielder Natasha Berry. Also honored on the first team were Towson second baseman Mindy Bean and outfielder Emily Gould, James Madison outfielder Courtney Simons and pitcher Meredith Felts, Delaware shortstop Kim Ovittore, Drexel designated player/non-pitcher Paige Collings and George Mason designated player/pitcher Becky Anderson.

2009 ALL-CAA SOFTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM

SECOND TEAM

2009 CAA Player of the Year: Michele DePasquale, Hofstra
2009 CAA Pitcher of the Year:  Kayleigh Lotti, Hofstra

2009 CAA Rookie of the Year:  Alana Thomas, Georgia State

2009 CAA Coach of the Year:  Bill Edwards, Hofstra

* - 1^st team All-CAA in 2008                                                      # - 2^nd team All-CAA in 2008

2009 CAA ALL-ROOKIE SOFTBALL TEAM