April Shannon (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls), a freshman pitcher for Clarion University, has been named the PSAC-West Rookie of the Year and a first-team PSAC-West pitcher in voting down by the league’s coaches.

Shannon, who was also named Second-Team All-Region by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association, was 8-9 this season for the Golden Eagles with a 1.40 ERA in 20 games including 17 starts. She threw 13 complete games and four shutouts including a no-hitter against Edinboro April 2. In 130 1/3 innings or work she allowed 38 runs, 26 earned run, 76 hits and 56 walks while striking out 165. Opponents hit .170 off her this season. In PSAC-West play she went 6-6 with a 1.32 ERA in 12 starts with nine complete games. She pitched 84 2/3 innings and allowed 25 runs, 16 earned on 55 hits and 25 walks while striking out 107. Opponents hit .185 off her in conference play.

With Shannon helping to lead the way, the Golden Eagles posted a 16-20-1 overall record and a 10-10 PSAC-West mark their best record since 1984 and their most wins since 1982 including the most PSAC-West wins by a Clarion squad since the conference went to a 20-game schedule in 1995.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: Shannon is Clarion’s first PSAC-West Rookie of the Year since Jessica Waldman won the award in 2000 ... She is the Golden Eagles first all-conference performer since Ashlee Fleck was second team in 2001.