May 6, 2006

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - A total of seven Lewis University softball players earned all-conference recognition, the league announced on Saturday.

Senior Robin Martz made the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference first team. Junior Kristy Vanek, sophomore Mallory Paine and freshmen Kelly Dianis, Lisa Gartland and Julie Wingerter were selected to the second team. Senior Amy Yusko received honorable mention.

The Flyers' five second-team selections were the most of any team in the conference, while the team tied with Southern Illinois Edwardsville for the most players honored overall.  

"I am very pleased at how many of our players were recognized for their achievements," said Lewis head coach George DiMatteo. "To have seven players honored is a great testament to the balance on this team. Top to bottom, we have lineup full of players who are capable of stepping up at any time."

Martz made the first team for a third straight season. The conference leader in batting average (.460) and Lewis' left fielder, Martz is on pace to become the first Flyer in program history to finish her career with a batting average over .400.

Vanek, a catcher, earned all-conference recognition for the second time in her career. She was selected to the first team and was named Freshman of the Year in 2004. This season she is second on the team in RBI (34) and fourth in batting average (.370). She also has gunned down 5-of-10 attempted base stealers.  

Paine, selected at second base, has put together a career year at the plate. Tied for the team lead in home runs with eight, Paine is one dinger shy of matching Lewis' single-season record. She also has a team-best 46 RBI, two short of the Lewis single-season mark.

Dianis, a shortstop, has registered one of the best offensive seasons by any freshman in Lewis history. Hitting .426 for the season, Dianis has the highest batting average ever posted by a Lewis freshman with at least 90 at-bats, and like Paine, is one home run back of Lewis' single-season record.

Wingerter has emerged as the Flyers' ace this season and is among the conference's top five with a 1.69 ERA. She has won 14 games while striking out 97 batters.

Gartland, the conference's second-team utility player honoree, is batting .316 with five home runs. She also has a perfect 7-0 mark with a 2.02 ERA as a pitcher.

Yusko, receiving all-conference accolades for a third consecutive season, is batting .301 while posting a .962 fielding percentage at third base.

2006 Lewis Flyers All-GLVC Selections

Robin Martz	Kristy Vanek	Mallory Paine

Kelly Dianis	Julie Wingerter	Lisa Gartland	Amy Yusko