May 18, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Five members of the Notre Dame softball team have been selected as all-Mideast Region players. Taking home first-team honors were sophomore Katie Laing (2B), senior Meagan Ruthrauff (3B) and junior Stephanie Brown (OF). Seniors Heather Booth (P) and Mallorie Lenn (C) were named to the second team.
Laing has started every game this season and carries a .280 batting average, while leading the Irish with 16 doubles to go along with 31 RBI. She was also named to the all-BIG EAST second team last week and garnered all-Mideast Region second-team accolades last season.
Ruthrauff, a unanimous all-BIG EAST first-team selection, is Notre Dame’s second leading hitter with a .365 average. She is tops on the squad with 10 home runs and is tied for first with 39 RBI, while ranking second in runs scored (28) and doubles (13). The senior has started every game this season.
Brown joined Ruthrauff as a unanimous all-BIG EAST pick by posting team-best numbers in batting average (.396), runs scored (43), hits (74), total bases (109) and stolen bases (20). She has also belted eight home runs on the year.
Booth has been the Irish ace, totaling 242 innings pitched and a team-low ERA of 1.39. She has fanned 229 batters has posted 11 shutouts. The all-BIG EAST second-team selection was dominant during last week’s conference tournament as she pitched all 21 innings for the Irish, allowing just a total of two hits in the final two games. Booth went 3-0 and registered a 0.33 ERA for the weekend en route to being named the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Lenn is currently third on the team with a .343 batting average and 57 hits. The senior is tied for the team lead with 39 RBI along with totaling eight home runs and 12 doubles. Lenn also received all-BIG EAST honors as she was named to the second team.
The Irish begin NCAA Regional play tomorrow against UC Santa Barbara in Evanston, Ill. at 12:00 p.m. (CT). Notre Dame will face either Northwestern or Southern Illinois in its second game of the tournament on Saturday.
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