SPARTANBURG, S.C. ?Appalachian State freshman catcher Katie Boyd has been tabbed the Southern Conference softball Player of the Week while fellow freshman Pam DelPizzo of Elon has been named the league’s Pitcher of the Week for all games played through February 17.

Boyd opened her collegiate career in style with a home run against Southern Mississippi in her first at bat of the season and never let up, batting .769 (10-for-13) with four home runs and seven RBI in the Mountaineers’ opening four games. The Walkertown, N.C., native tallied at least two hits in all four contests, including a pair of round-trippers against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday morning and another homer against the Colonels in Saturday’s second game. Boyd also scored seven runs and swiped two bases while amassing a 1.692 slugging percentage.

DelPizzo made three appearances last week and recorded a 0.46 ERA by allowing just one earned run in 15.1 innings of work. The right-handed pitcher picked up her first victory of the season against Savannah State on Feb. 10 and suffered the loss in a pair of one run games over the weekend against Maryland (5-4, 8 innings) and Coastal Carolina (7-6). DelPizzo also struck out 10 batters.

Other top performances this week were turned in by Katie Nutaitis of College of Charleston, Chattanooga outfielder/shortstop Tara Tembey, Elon outfielder Brandi Jones, Georgia Southern outfielder Lindsey Hopkins and pitcher Amber Harrell and outfielder Mary Greenway of UNC Greensboro.

2008 Softball Players of the Week

Feb. 18       Katie Boyd, Appalachian State

2008 Softball Pitchers of the Week

Feb. 18       Pam DelPizzo, Elon