Five Generals Named to All-Region Team

2014 May 27

Five Herkimer Generals softball players were named to the NJCAA All-Region Team. Ashley Sterritt (Accord), Sarah Heimbach (Greenwich), Toni Secreti (Baldwinsville) and Samantha Smaldone (Delmar) were named First Team members and Tina Karaqi (Thornwood) was named Second Team member.

Sterritt, a sophomore, led the team in home runs, RBIs and runs scored. She had 12 home runs which were first in the nation, 54 RBIs were fifth in the nation and 50 runs scored were ninth in the nation.

Heimbach, a freshman was second on the team in batting average (.500), third in hits (56), third in runs scored (49), third in doubles (14), first in triples (6) and first in walks (13). Heimbach was only hitless in five games in 2014, scoring two or more runs from the leadoff spot 18 times. Her six triples were also the most in the nation.

Starting pitcher Secreti was one of two pitchers to make it to first team in 2014, ranking in the top 10 in wins, complete games, shutouts, strike outs and ERA in the nation. Her 15 wins were seventh, 21 complete games were eighth, 10 shutouts were first, 138 strike outs were sixth and 1.28 ERA was seventh. The sophomore pitched an impressive 26 innings during nationals in three days, allowing two earned runs on 13 hits while striking out 18.

Smaldone, catcher, was the final General to make it first team. She was also named to the 2014 NJCAA Marucci DIII Elite Hitters team, had a .541 average (8th in nation) with 72 hits (3rd ), 23 doubles (2nd), nine home runs (7th), 53 RBI (7th) and a .917 slugging percentage (7th). Additionally, the sophomore had three or more hits in 12 games and two or more RBIs in 17.

Tina Karaqi, shortstop was top five on the team in hits (36), home runs (6) and RBIs (39). She had two or more RBIs in eight games with a season-high of six in one game coming against Mercy County during their spring trip. The sophomore also went 2-for-3 against Onondaga in the Region III Championship game with one home run and four RBIs, helping the Generals win 12-2.

The Herkimer Generals softball team finished the 2014 season 34-7, making it to the national tournament for the second consecutive season. In 2013 they won the program's first national championship against Brookdale Community College. It was also the groups' second consecutive regional championship, helping Head Coach P.J. Anadio to his third consecutive Region III Championship since 2012.