May 16, 2009

Senior Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA), who recently wrapped up a stellar career on the UMass Lowell softball team, was named to the Daktronics All-East Region Softball Second Team Friday by the region's sports information directors.

The honor is the latest of several for Lajoie, who recently earned All-Northeast-10 Conference First team honors. She was also a finalist for UMass Lowell's highest honor, the Laurie Mann Award, presented to the outstanding female athletes for excellence on the field of play, in the classroom and the community.

UMass Lowell struggled to a 10-31-1 record this season, including a 9-18-1 clip in the NE-10 (13th-place). Lajoie, however, batted .355 with 34 runs, 21 RBI, 16 stolen bases (in 17 attempts) and 15 walks.

Additionally, her three home runs this season enabled her to set the school record for home runs in a career (21), besting the previous record of 19 set by Laurie Tanguay (2005-08).

Lajoie was at her best in UMass Lowell's final nine games, hitting .433 with 15 runs, nine RBI and eight stolen bases as the River Hawks went 5-4.

Lajoie also leaves with the school record in games played (208) and is among the program's top 10 leaders in a host of categories.

She was prominent among NE-10 leaders this season, ranking highly in many categories including runs (third), stolen bases (sixth), triples (tied for 7th, 2), on-base percentage (10th, .430), slugging (11th, .524) and batting (13th, .355).

Alternating between centerfield and catcher the last two years, Lajoie was as good a fielder as she was an offensive player. Somewhat lost in her offensive numbers was a sterling .984 fielding percentage with 101 putouts, 20 assists and two errors.

A former standout at Gardner H.S., Lajoie is the daughter of Tim and Cynthia Lajoie of Gardner, MA.