May 7, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA...George Mason sophomore shortstop Stacy James (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County) was announced tonight as the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Softball Player of the Year in voting by the league's six head coaches.

James joins teammate Tasha Galecki (Warrenton, VA/Fauquier) on the All-CAA First-Team, while Missy Hartman (Manassas, VA/Manassas Park) and Dianna Austin (Fairfax, VA/Robinson) were Second-Team All-CAA honorees.

The awards were presented Wednesday night at Hofstra University on the eve of the CAA Softball Championship.

James, last season's CAA Rookie of the Year, ranks fourth in the league with a .367 batting average, and tops the conference with 13 doubles and 25 stolen bases. She is second in the CAA in hits (65) and total bases (85) and is third in runs scored (35) and assists (121). James has also struck out just eight times during a league-high 189 plate appearances.

Galecki, a senior outfielder, is second on the team with both a .329 batting average and 28 RBI and she is third in the league with three triples. She has made just one error in left field during 54 attempts for a .981 fielding percentage.

Hartman, a freshman second baseman, leads the Patriots and is third in the CAA with 35 runs scored. She's hitting .265 with two triples and 16 runs batted in. She has also drawn 19 walks, fifth in the league.

Austin, a junior, leads the Mason pitching staff and is third in the conference in wins (11) and ERA (1.85). She has held opponents to a .225 batting average, fourth-best in the league. Austin has pitched 105.2 innings in 21 appearances and has seven complete games and 53 strikeouts.

George Mason, the No. 2 seed in the CAA Tournament, opens play Thursday against No. 3 Delaware in a game that begins at noon.