The San Diego, Calif. native was also named to the All-Big…
By Dylan Butler
Christina Tucker became the first St. John’s softball player to win a Major League award when the utility player was named Big East Rookie of the Year, the conference announced last Thursday.
The San Diego, Calif. native was also named to the All-Big East first team as she broke the school single-season home run record with 13 while also batting .370 with 41 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
Tucker led the Big East in hits with 28 and total bases with 50, while finishing second in home runs (6) and RBIs (17) and third in batting average (.418) and slugging percentage (.746). She was also fifth in runs scored with 13 and sixth in on-base percentage (.435).
St. John’s placed two players on the second team, led by Bellerose native Courtney Fitzgerald. The former Mary Louis star finished her impressive career as the school’s all-time leader in wins (59), shutouts (21), innings pitched (711.2) and games started (102).
After missing 10 months with a broken rib, Fitzgerald led the Big East in wins (nine), strikeouts (82), complete games (nine), appearances (17) and games started (14).
She posted an overall record of 17-5 with a 1.55 earned run average and a .197 opponents batting average while striking out 147 in 144.2 innings.
Also earning second-team honors was junior first baseman Allina Sainz, who batted .295 with eight home runs, 15 doubles, 32 runs scored and a single-season school record 42 RBIs. She also broke the school’s single-season record in walks with 22.
Red Storm third baseman Jillian Sandoval was named to the All-Big East third team, batting .268 with three home runs, 27 RBIs, 21 runs scored and 20 walks.
Notre Dame swept the other awards as Megan Ciolli was named Player of the Year and Steffany Stenglein was named Pitcher of the Year, and led by Deanna Gumpf, the school also earned Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Fighting Irish, which lost to Seton Hall in the Big East championship game, also placed seven players on the All-Big East first team.
Davis dominates
St. John’s senior Shernette Davis was the Most Outstanding Athlete of the ECAC Outdoor track and field championships Sunday in New Haven, Conn., winning both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash in 11.74 and 23.59, respectively.
She also set St. John’s school records in both races, increasing her total to nine records set with five Metropolitan titles.
Next for Davis is the NCAA Regionals Memorial Day weekend at the University of Florida.
In addition to Davis, Judy Williams (100m), Blessing Egwu (hammer throw) and Grace Zollman (javelin) earned All-East honors.
Egwu and Zollman will join Davis at the NCAA Regionals.
Beckford to UNC-Greensboro
After taking an official visit two weeks ago, Christ the King basketball standout Brian Beckford has given a verbal commitment to attend the University of North-Carolina Greensboro.
The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 10 points and eight rebounds per game and selected the Spartans over St. Peter’s.
Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
