NJAC All-Conference Teams

PITMAN, NJ – The Rowan University softball team had five players that were named to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) All-Conference teams. Center fielder Nicolina Veneziano was chosen the conference’s Player of the Year.

Veneziano (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) was a member of the NJAC All-Conference first team along with catcher Steph Taraschi (sr. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) and pitcher Jamie Minix (so. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.). The All-Conference second team included shortstop Ashley Minch (so. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) and outfielder Heidi Smith (sr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.).

Veneziano is the Profs’ leading hitter with a .383 batting average. She has totaled 46 hits in 120 at bats. Veneziano is first on the team in runs scored (37), RBIs (25), walks (18), slugging percentage (.750) and total bases (90). In addition, she has stolen nine bases in nine attempts. Her extra base hits include five doubles, six triples and nine home runs. Three times this season, Veneziano was named the NJAC Player of the Week. She is the conference leader in slugging percentage, runs scored, home runs and total bases. Veneziano is second in on base percentage (.468), triples and walks. She is also tied for second in hits and her batting average ranks third.

A captain, Taraschi is hitting .325 with 37 hits in 114 at bats. She is second on the team in RBIs (23) and third in runs scored (19). Taraschi has recorded 11 doubles, one triple and four home runs. In the NJAC, she is tied for fifth in doubles and home runs. She is eighth in slugging percentage (.544) and tied 10th in total bases (62). Last year, Tarashi was selected to the NJAC All-Conference first team and she received All-Conference second team honors in 2008.

In her first season with the Profs, Minix has a 17-5 pitching record with a 1.11 earned run average (ERA). In 139.1 innings, she has recorded 93 strikeouts. Her opponents have a .177 batting average. An at-large selection, Minix leads the NJAC in wins. She is second in games started (23) and opponent batting average and tied for second in appearances (25). In addition, she is third in ERA and innings pitched and eighth in strikeouts. This year, Minix was chosen the NJAC Pitcher of the Week three times.

Minch is second on the team with a .372 batting average and 27 runs scored. She has registered 35 hits in 94 at bats. Minch has collected 13 RBIs, 10 doubles and two home runs. She is first in the conference in on base percentage (.491) and times 1hit by a pitch (11). Her batting average is fifth and she is tied for seventh in runs scored. Minch is also tied eighth in doubles and ninth in slugging percentage (.543). Minch was a member of the NJAC All-Conference first team last year.

Smith is batting .323 with 40 hits in 124 at bats. A captain, she has tallied 15 RBIs, 18 runs scored, seven doubles and one triple. This is Smith’s third All-Conference selection. She was selected to the NJAC first team in 2007 and 2008.

Rowan has a 27-11 record with a 12-6 final conference mark. The Profs, seeded third, are making their 21st appearance and seventh straight in the NJAC Championship Tournament.