Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Leominster’s Lyndsey Angus was named the 2006 National Pro Fastpitch Player of the Year. The announcement came on Saturday in Stratford, Connecticut, where the NPF Championship Series is underway. Angus beat out former Riptide standout Jessica Merchant now of the Connecticut Brakettes for the honor.

Angus, one of two members of the original Riptide team from 2004, was a NPF All-Star in 2005 and turned in another outstanding all-around season. The Riptide leader in almost every statistical category, Angus was fourth in t he league in batting average (.354) and tied for fifth in runs batted in with 23. She also hit three home runs, had an on-base percentage of .452, and a .531 slugging percentage. Angus smacked 13 extra-base hits, drew 16 walks, and struck out only nine times in 131 plate appearances.

The University of Kentucky product who primarily played catcher in college committed just one error in the field all season at first base.

Angus was also one of three Riptide players selected to the 2006 NPF All-Star Team. Joining her are pitcher Jocelyn Forest, and third baseman Jackie Pasquerella.

The other third-year Riptide player along with Angus, Forest tied for the league lead in wins this season with 15 (the Riptide had 24 as a team), her 1.32 ERA was third in the league, and her 107 strikeouts ranked third. This is Forest's second selection to the NPF All Star Team. Last season she split her pitching duties between the Riptide and USA Elite team, helping win the Canada Cup.

An off-season acquisition, Pasquerella was sixth in the league in batting average this year hitting.320 and she committed only 3 errors at third base in over 150 chances. A member of the 2004 champion NY/NJ Juggernaut, Pasquerella scored a team-high 19 runs during the regular season for the Riptide.

The New England Riptide defeated the Chicago Bandits 1-0 in nine innings to advance to the finals of the National Pro Fastpitch playoffs. Jocelyn Forest pitched a complete game two-hitter with seven strikeouts. Following a leadoff single, Lyndsey Angus scored the game-winning run on a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The victory advances the Riptide into their second championship game in three seasons. New England will play against the host Connecticut Brakettes Sunday in the championship game. The Brakettes defeated Akron 1-0 in eight innings in the late game on Saturday night.