MAY 24, 2004
BOB ZIADIEZANGARDI NAMED FIRST KING'S SOFTBALL ALL-AMERICAN
WILKES-BARRE -- King's College softball standout Maria Zangardi has received numerous academic and athletic honors during her career. Her latest honors stands as her biggest as the former Seton Catholic star has been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-American squad as a second-team selection.
In the process, Zangardi becomes the first Lady Monarch to earn national all-American honors in softball.
Zangardi led King's to a school single-season record for victories as the Monarchs finished with a 39-10 mark. She did her part, ranking in the top-five of the Freedom Conference in virtually every offensive category.
Zangardi finished the year with a .403 (71-176) batting average with eight home runs, 18 doubles, six triples, 43 RBI, 125 total bases, and a .710 slugging percentage. She also scored 41 runs scored and posted a .429 in on-base average.
During the season, Zangardi was a two-time Freedom Conference "Player of the Week" and was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association East Regional All-American. Additionally, she was named to the 2004 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships All-Tournament Team.
Over the course of her career, Zangardi batted .397, with 16 home runs, 44 doubles, 16 triples, 150 RBI, 137 runs scored, and a .623 slugging percentage. She established King’s career records with 217 base hits, 547 at-bats, 341 total bases, 928 put-outs, and a .986 fielding percentage, making just 14 errors in 1,024 chances. She stands second all-time at King’s with 44 doubles, 16 triples, 150 RBI, and 137 runs scored.
In her four years with the program, Zangardi led King's to a combined record of 127-43-1, including four straight MAC Freedom Conference championships and four consecutive berths in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
She was a three-time All-Freedom Conference first-team selection, and a three-time East Regional All-American. Zangardi was named the 2004 Middle Atlantic Corporation Spring Sport Scholar-Athlete of the Year and is a two-time CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic selection.
"Maria has earned a long list of the academic and athletic achievements over the past four years. With her impressive accomplishments aside, Maria's greatest contribution to our team has been her unending, unselfish drive and enthusiasm," King's coach Lisa Gigliello stated. "Everything she says and does is positive and with a smile on her face. She never thinks about how much work something will be, she only considers if it is the right thing to do. Maria is the one cheering on her teammates with every pitch, getting the big hit when we need it, or making a tremendous catch to save a run.
"She brought great leadership, skill, and intensity to our team every day, whether it was practice or a game, and helped raise our program to new heights. During her career Maria became one of the finest players in King's history and in being named an All-American, is now recognized as one of the best in the country. Every now and then a coach gets that one player you know from day-one will be successful at everything they do. Maria Zangardi has been that person at King's."
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Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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