Boarman, Galeazzi, Iaquinto take major awards; Seahawks with 10 All-CCC honorees

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) announced its 2017 Softball All-Conference Teams and major award winners Thursday evening. Nine of the ten CCC schools were represented on this year's All-Conference list. CCC Regular-Season Champion, Salve Regina led the way with nine honorees.

The Seahawks also garnered a number of major awards as second baseman Francesca Galeazzi (Lynn, Mass.) was named the league's Player of the Year, while her teammate Kelsey Boarman (North Dighton, Mass.) was recognized as the Pitcher of the Year. Western New England's Aimee Kistner (Taunton, Mass.) also brought home some hardware as she was named CCC Rookie of the Year. University of New England senior Sydney Helbrecht (Grand Rapids, Minn.) was this year's Senior Scholar-Athlete. First-year head coach Jannelle Iaquinto was named CCC Coach of the Year after guiding her team to the regular-season title and Wentworth was recognized with the Team Sportsmanship award.

Voting for the All-CCC teams and each of the major awards was conducted by the conference's ten softball head coaches following the conclusion of the regular season.

The Salve duo of Boarman and Galeazzi were also part of the All-CCC First Team. Their teammates utility player Amanda Riley (Barrinton, N.H.) and outfielder Lexi Soucie (North Easton, Mass.) joined them as First Team honorees. Three Golden Bears were also First Team selections as catcher Corianna DeLisi (Tuxedo, N.Y.), shortstop Gabby Lavinio (Dalton, Mass.), and outfielder Katie Wood (Westport, Mass.) were all recognized. Also voted on to the All-CCC First Team were Endicott outfielder Olivia Odermatt (Cheshire, Conn.), Gordon third baseman Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.), Nichols pitcher Alexis Ferris (Holyoke, Mass.), Roger Williams first baseman Julianne Vesce (Mahwah, N.J.), and University of New England designated player Lauren Gerhard (Merrimack, N.H.).

The All-CCC Second Team featured 14 student-athletes. The three pitchers recognized were Michaela Hamill (Lynn, Mass.) from Endicott, Juliet Hulme (Duxbury, Mass.) from Roger Williams, and Melissa Sprague (Londonderry, N.H.) from UNE. Two catchers earned spots on the Second Team as well. They were Endicott's Emily Sharpe (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) and the Nor'easters' Avery Alberghini (Middlesex, Vt.). Making up the All-CCC Second Team infield were UNE's Helmbrecht at first, Eastern Nazarene's Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) at third, and the Roger Williams double play duo of second baseman Meredith Moise (North Reading, Mass.) and shortstop Haley Ledbetter (Westerly, R.I.). The Hawks' Tara Chatowsky (North Kingstown, R.I.), Endicott's Julia McNeill (Smithtown, N.Y.), and Salve Regina's Lindsey Florent (New Bedford, Mass.) were voted to patrol the Second Team outfield. Rounding out the Second Team were Curry designated player Kevi Oatway (East Hartford, Conn.) and WNE's Kistner at the utility position.

Four players from the No. 1 seeded Seahawks were selected to the All-CCC Third Team. They were catcher Emily Woznick (Sandy Hook, Conn.), third baseman Elizabeth Lombardo (Thomaston, Conn.), shortstop Nikki Bukovsky (Westport, Conn.), and DP Kara O'Riley (Acton, Mass.). Western New England and Curry each had two players selected to the Third Team. Representing the Golden Bears were pitcher Paige Uliase (Meriden, Conn.) and second baseman Lindsay Williams (Coventry, Conn.), while outfielder Mikayla Korona (Bellingham, Mass.) and utility player Mikayla Lambert (Blackstone, Mass.) represented the Colonels. Rounding out the Third Team were Eastern Nazarene pitcher Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.), Endicott outfielder Hayley Arduini (Southington, Conn.), Nichols first baseman Jessica Kuelling (Gales Ferry, Conn.), Roger Williams outfielder Alicia McCauley (North Reading, Mass.), and UNE shortstop Caroline Schoenbucher (Barrington, N.H.). 
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Francesca Galeazzi, Salve Regina
Galeazzi wreaked havoc at the top of the lineup for the Seahawks this year. The junior batted a league-best .453 and swiped 33 bases – 20 more than anyone else in the conference. Her 1.14 thefts per game rank her fifth in all of Division III. She also finished second in the CCC with 48 hits and scored 32 runs, which was good for third in the conference.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Boarman, Salve Regina
Boarman was the ace of the Seahawks staff this year as she made 20 appearances in the circle, including 15 starts (all complete games). She logged a 2.02 ERA, which ranked her second in the conference, and picked up four shutouts. She was especially strong in conference play as she posted a miniscule 0.74 ERA in CCC games. The senior right-hander also had 55 strikeouts and recorded a save.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Jannelle Iaquinto, Salve Regina
A change at the helm did not derail Salve Regina as Iaquinto led the defending CCC Tournament Champions to a 22-11 overall (16-2 CCC) record and captured the 2017 CCC Regular-Season Championship in her first season. The Seahawks led the league with a .341 team average, while slugging a CCC-best .453. Salve also got it done in the circle, especially in conference play. Over the 18-game conference schedule, the Seahawks posted a 1.60 ERA, which was more than half a run lower than the second place team.

Visit the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) site for complete details.