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Clarkstown's Lew Helps Pace Earn Reach NCAA Softball Tournament

NEW CITY, N.Y. -- Clarkstown High grad Ashley Lew found herself in the starting lineup at Pace University two games into her freshman season. Now a sophomore, the speedy shortstop has helped the Setters reach the NCAA Division II tournament for the second straight year.

Ashley Lew, a sophomore from Clarkstown HIgh School, has helped Pace University's softball team reach its second straight NCAA Division II Tournament.

Ashley Lew, a sophomore from Clarkstown HIgh School, has helped Pace University's softball team reach its second straight NCAA Division II Tournament.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Pace University Athletics

Pace captured the Northeast-10 Conference championship last weekend and meet host Adelphi in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday.

Lew has been a revelation for coach Claudia Stabile, who has coached the Setters since 1982. Lew started all 42 games for Pace (28-14) and hit .400, second on the team. She also led the team in stolen bases (21, in 22 attempts), assists, walks and on-base percentage. She started 40-of-42 game in 2015 and hit .240 as Pace reached the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time in its history.

Pace captured its first conference championship last weekend with a 7-4 win over Southern New Hampshire in the championship game. Lew’s two-run home run in the third inning snapped a scoreless tie and gave Pace a lead it would not relinquish. She finished the game with a hit, two runs scored and two RBIs. She went hitless in a 5-2 win over Adelphi in the semifinals.

Lew, a resident of New City, was a two-year captain at Clarkstown. She was named the Rockland County Athlete of the season in 2014, and was a three-time All-League honoree. She hit .476 as a senior with five home runs, 17 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. She is the daughter of Randi and Robert Lew.

Nikole Larm of Brewster also plays for the Setters, and hit .260 in 31 games. She started 28 games and hit two home runs while collecting 13 RBIs.

Freshman Morgan Kelly of Pawling also played in 15 games for Pace.

Sophomore center fielder Larissa Labs was named the tournament MVP in the Northeast-10 Conference after hitting .833 with two doubles, a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored in two games. The California native's three-run double sparked the win over Adelphi, and she hit a two-run homer in the title game.

Click here to visit the Pace softball website.

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