Behrend center fielder Katie Whitby (Tyrone) has been named the AMCC Softball Player of the Week on March 19. The sophomore got off to a blistering start on the team\’s spring trip to Kissimmee, Florida on March 11-18 to begin the season. Whitby went 15 for 31 (.484) at the plate in her first 11 games, including a double and two triples. She scored 12 runs, had three RBIs, and was 5-for-5 on steal attempts. This is the first week that the AMCC has named a player of the week in softball for the 2007 season. Whitby had a stellar start to her career last season as a freshman, hitting .412 at the plate and leading the team in several statistical categories.
Whitby was named to the 2006 ECAC Division III South All-Star Team. Whitby put together a memorable freshman year in which she started in 38 games and hit .412 from the plate. She led the team in seven major statistical categories including runs (42), doubles (13), triples (5), home runs (6), total bases (95), slugging percentage (.725), and stolen bases (7). Whitby finished ranked nationally in several categories, including a top-ten ranking in runs per game, with 1.10.
Behrend closed out the 2006 season at 34-10, the highest win total in school history, after a season that led to their first NCAA tournament bid in 20 years. Behrend saw five of its players earn All-Conference recognition, including Whitby, who earned AMCC All-Star First Team honors.
The Behrend Lions went 6-5 to start the season in Florida and will look to defend their title and repeat as AMCC Champions this season. The first conference game for the blue and white is a doubleheader scheduled for March 28 at Medaille at 3:00 p.m.
