Beaver Falls, PA - The 2011 spring athletic season officially came to a close on Geneva′s campus last week as both the baseball and softball teams saw their post-season runs come to an end. This week, the Presidents′ Athletic Conference and the National Christian College Athletic Association announced post-season honors and both teams were well represented.
Topping the list of achievements was a trio of All-American honors from the NCCAA. Jon Jurinko from the baseball team and Leah Prisuta from softball were both handed first team NCCAA All-American honors. Julie DiLonardo was awarded a second team All-American award. Jurinko finished the season with a .365 batting average and a team best 30 runs scored and 42 hits. He also managed a .988 fielding percentage while holding down the fort in centerfield.
In softball, Prisuta was Geneva′s offensive spark in the lead-off spot with a batting average of .351 including 40 runs scored and 35 stolen bases in 39 attempts. Prisuta came up just one stolen base shy of tying Geneva′s single season record. In the circle, Julie DiLonardo tied the single season record for victories for the second consecutive season with her 21-9 mark. She had 118 strikeouts and a 1.67 ERA in nearly 190 innings pitched.
Jurinko was also handed PAC coach′s honors, which is the equivalent of an All-Conference selection by the conference coaches. In softball, DiLonardo and Prisuta were also awarded coach′s honors along with teammates Adriane Blake and Ashley Davis. Blake hit .352 with a team best 45 hits and three home runs. She finished her Geneva career as the all-time leader in runs scored with 122 during the past four years. Davis began her Geneva career with a .325 batting average and 27 RBI.
DiLonardo and Jurinko were each named NCCAA East Regional players of the year for 2011. Joining Jurinko on the All-East region team were teammates Adam Scheiderer, Mike Suluva, Noah Medich and Joel Gatti. Honorable mention selections in baseball went to Matt Baer, Jeremy Herzog and Mike Trn. In softball, Leanne Abate, Prisuta, Davis, Blake and Martha Adams joined DiLonardo as All-East region first team selections.
Geneva′s baseball team ended its season at 20-17 following a loss to Malone University in the NCCAA East Region tournament. The softball team finished fourth at the NCCAA national tournament with an overall mark of 27-13.
Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College′s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).