SCIAC names four Poets to all-conference team

LOS ANGELES - The Whittier College softball team earned four all-conferences members this season as the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2009 all-conference team. Junior Mary Pacheco led the way as she was named to the first-team.

Pacheco reached base safely in 33 of the 40 games she appeared in and led the Poets in batting average (.433), on base percentage (.521) and slugging percentage (.683).

She also had team-highs in hits (52), runs batted in (32), runs scored (35), walks (21) and was second in homeruns (6). Pacheco recorded multiple hits in 16 games this year. The West Covina, Calif., native returns to the all-conference team for the first time since 2007 when she was named the SCIAC Rookie of the Year.

Junior designated player Amanda Carrasco earned her second consecutive all-conference team as the second-team designated player. Carrasco batted .331 this season with 40 hits and 29 runs batted in. She led the team in homeruns with seven and has scored 19 runs.

She was a first-team selection in the outfield in 2007.

Kellie Canida ranked second on the team with a .413 average as she garnered as spot on the all-conference second team. She recorded at least one hit in 26 of the 34 games she appeared in and had three hits in four games this year.

The sophomore outfielder had eight doubles and a pair of homeruns for the year.

The final selection to the all-conference team for the Poets was the 2008 SCIAC Rookie of the Year Molly Yriarte. The Norwalk, Calif., native made the team at third base as she batted .311 with a .400 on base percentage. She hit one homerun, eight doubles and drove in 21 runs.

The Poets finished the regular season with their third consecutive 20 win season and most wins since 1987.