May 23, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University catcher Mallory Paine and pitcher Courtney Lyons were named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fast Pitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region first and second teams, respectively, as voted on by member coaches. Additionally, shortstop Kelly Dianis earned mention on the Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region second team, as voted on by the region's sports information directors.

Paine, a junior, has been selected to the first team a second consecutive season. Also named all-conference first team last month, Paine batted .319 during the season, collecting team bests with 46 hits and 27 RBI. Paine was ranked second on the team with six home runs, and she pounded four doubles. Behind the dish, Paine registered just two passed balls while gunning down nine attempted base stealers.

Lyons, a sophomore, is a first-time all-region recipient. Also selected to the all-conference team last month, Lyons proved to be the ace of Lewis staff during the season, posting a 15-6 record with a 1.89 ERA. Lyons struck out 104 batters and pitched nine complete games with four shutouts, holding opponents to a combined .224 batting average. In conference games only, Lyons was one of just six pitchers in the conference to post an ERA under 2.00.

Dianis, a sophomore and two-time all-conference pick, led Lewis in just about every offensive category in 2007, despite missing the first 15 games of the campaign to finish basketball season. In 99 at-bats, Dianis recorded team bests (among starters) with a .354 batting average and eight home runs while striking out just four times. Her .697 slugging percentage is a Lewis single-season record, topping the .693 mark she set in 2006. With 16 home runs through her first two seasons at Lewis, Dianis will enter her junior season three homers shy of the Lewis career record.

Lewis finished its season ranked No. 15 in the national poll and posted a school-record 20-game win streak en route to a 34-14 campaign in 2007. The Flyers earned the program's eighth NCAA tournament appearance and hosted the Great Lakes Regional for the first time since 2001. Lewis finished second in the conference standings after falling in the conference championship to eventual national champion Southern Illinois Edwardsville.