KUTZTOWN, PA (May 10, 2010) – The Kutztown University softball team has been selected to participate in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional tournament. The Golden Bears (41-16 overall) were seeded third and will open against sixth-seeded Shepherd (35-14) in a regional pod hosted by California University of Pennsylvania Friday May 14 at a time to be determined.

Kutztown is making its eighth consecutive appearance and 13th trip overall to the NCAA Division II tournament under head coach Judy Lawes, who is in her 23rd year at the helm of the Golden Bears. Kutztown is 15-25 all-time in the NCAA Division II tournament.

In the other game at Cal of the double-elimination tournament, second-seed California (34-12) battles seventh-seeded Fairmont State (31-18). In the opposite half of the Atlantic Region bracket, Bloomsburg (44-5) was awarded the No. 1 seed and will host Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) champion and eighth-seeded Chowan (30-19). Also, fourth-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan (42-10) battles fifth-seeded Indiana, Pa. (34-10).

The winners of the two regional pods will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals and play a best-of-three series on the weekend of May 21-22 at the site of the highest remaining survivor. Each of the eight regional winners will advance to the College World Series to be played at Heritage Park in St. Joseph's, Missouri.

Kutztown, which was ranked 20th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top 25 poll, had six players named to the PSAC East all-conference team. Five of those players: Katlin Arbogast (Ambler, PA/Wissahickon), Maria Schiavo (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge), Nicole Henninger (Reading, PA./Muhlenberg), Nicole Colineri (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) and Monica Glomb (Mars, PA/Mars) were named first team selections. Katie Lynch (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) was selected to the second team. Arbogast was named the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year for the second straight time and Lynch was named the PSAC East Freshman of the Year.

Shepherd sophomore pitcher Tricia Bettura and junior pitcher-first baseman Nichole Pitcock were named first team selections to the 2010 All-WVIAC Softball Team. Junior shortstop Courtni Williams, sophomore catcher Kris Durham, and freshman outfielder Bianca Biondillo were honorable mention selections.

The Golden Bears have also won 40 or more games for the fourth consecutive year. They are looking to duplicate their NCAA tournament success of a year ago when they advanced to the NCAA Super Regional before falling to eventual national champion Lock Haven.

2010 NCAA ATLANTIC REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, May 14
Game 1 - (#1) California (Pa.) vs. (#4) Fairmont State, 12 p.m.
Game 2 - (#2) Kutztown vs. (#3) Shepherd, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 15
Game 3 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 12 p.m.
Game 4 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 16
Game 6 - Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 3, 12 p.m.
Game 7 - If necessary, same teams as in Game 6, 2:30 p.m.

--KU--