FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WILDER NAMED DIII INDEPENDENTS PITCHER OF THE YEAR; FIVE TEAMMATES HONORED

ORANGE, Calif. – Senior RHP Maggie Wilder – a two-time Division III All-America selection – was named Division III Independents Pitcher of the Year by the Association of Division III Independents this week. Five others from Chapman University’s regional qualifying team were named to the first and second teams, as well.

Wilder led the Panthers with a 15-4 record, 1.32 ERA and 139 strikeouts. The right-hander defeated seven top-25 teams, including the recently crowned national champion Linfield College. She graduated from Chapman ranked second in school history in strikeouts (361) and third in victories (47) and complete games (18). She also won Division III Independents Pitcher of the Year honors as a sophomore in 2005.

Sophomore OF Erin Dudzinski and freshman 2B Melanie Villarroel were also named to the All-Independents first team, along with Wilder. Dudzinski led Chapman with a .401 average, 14 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Villarroel, a candidate for rookie of the year, batted .337 with three home runs and 25 runs scored. She also posted a .990 fielding percentage with just one error in 102 chances at second base.

A trio of juniors from Chapman were named to the All-Independents second team: RHP Jennifer Winford (5-5, 3.59 ERA and two shutouts), SS Catherine Hall (.328, 7 HR, 41 RBI) and C/1B Amanda Campbell (.331, eight doubles, 23 RBI). Hall led the Panthers in slugging (.534), home runs, RBI and was a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen bases. Winford also batted .371 with four homers.

Chapman head coach Janet Lloyd was named Independents Co-Coach of the Year, sharing the honor with Christine Grenache from Newbury College. Lloyd led the Panthers to a 28-13 record and their fifth consecutive NCAA postseason.

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 25 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in nine sports in 2006-07. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The Association provides statistical services for its member is seven sports. For more information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org/.

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