Five Seahawks on All-CCC softball squad

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) announced its 2018 Softball All-Conference Teams and major award winners Thursday afternoon. Nine of the ten CCC schools had student-athletes garner All-CCC recognition. Western New England's seven selections led the conference.

Eastern Nazarene captured both the 2018 CCC Player and Pitcher of the Year awards. Junior Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) was picked the Player of the Year and classmate Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) was recognized as the Pitcher of the Year. Both players were instrumental in the Lions' turnaround this season. Freshman Adrianna Favreau (Tewksbury, Mass.) was named Rookie of the Year for her contributions to Endicott's Regular-Season Championship. Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) from Wentworth was named the Senior Scholar-Athlete, while her team earned the Team Sportsmanship award. Two coaches earned their first CCC Coach of the Year honors as both Endicott's Katie Bettencourt and Eastern Nazarene's Dani Bishop earned coaching accolades.

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 Eastern Nazarene battery of Clements and Schaffer was also part of the All-CCC First Team. Joining Schaffer as a First Team pitcher was junior Sydnee Bessler (Everett, Mass.) from the University of New England. The First Team infield had Western New England's Jenn Luba (Plymouth, Conn.) at first and Gordon's Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.) at third. Up the middle was the Salve Regina double-play duo of Francesca Galeazzi (Lynn, Mass.) at second and Amanda Riley (Barrington, N.H.) at short. Four outfielders were represented on the First Team including Endicott's Hayley Arduini (Southington, Conn.) and Gina DeMilt (Princeton, N.J.), WNE's Allie Buzzeo (Stamford, Conn.), and Roger Williams' Valerie Moran (Syosset, N.Y.). The Hawks' Katrina Goria (Wyckoff, N.J.) was the First Team utility player, while the Golden Bears' Aimee Kistner (Taunton, Mass.) was the First Team designated player.

Kistner was also selected as an All-CCC Second Team pitcher along with teammate Paige Uliase (Meriden, Conn.). Micaela Pohl (Middleboro, Mass.) from Roger Williams was picked as the Second Team catcher. Three other Hawks were featured on the All-CCC Second Team with Haley Ledbetter (Westerly, R.I.) at shortstop, Tara Chatowsky (North Kingstown, R.I.) in the outfield, and Alexis Romano (Shirley, N.Y.) at DP. The Gulls had two infielders recognized as Second Teamers in Jamie Hopgood (Warwick, R.I.) at first base and Favreau at second. Two players were selected to the Second Team at third base with ENC's Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) and Salve's Elizabeth Lombardo (Thomaston, Conn.) being honored. UNE shortstop Caroline Schoenbucher (Barrington, N.H.) rounded out the infield. In addition to Chatowsky, there were three other outfielders on the Second Team. They were Lindsey Florent (New Bedford, Mass.) from Salve Regina, Andrea Gosper (Wyoming, R.I.) from UNE, and Jordan Perzan (Burlington, Conn.) from Curry. The Colonels' Jocelyn Dimond (Weare, N.H.) was the Second Team utility player.

Thirteen student-athletes made up the All-CCC Third Team. Endicott was represented by battery-mates Maggie Oram (Lexington, Mass.) at pitcher and Emily Sharpe (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) at catcher. Salve's Andi Nelson (Candia, N.H.) was also a Third Team pitcher. Around the bases were Curry's Kevi Oatway (East Hartford, Conn.) at first, UNE's Anna Sessa (Tewksbury, Mass.) at second, and WNE's Cassidy Howe (North Andover, Mass.) at third. Two shortstops were selected to the Third Team in Arianna Ramsaran (Johnson City, Tenn.) from Gordon and Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) from ENC. The three outfield representatives were Eastern Nazarene's Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.), Nichols' Cara Mayhew (Brooklyn, Conn.), and WNE's Tori Fisher (Poestenkill, N.Y.) with UNE's Meg Harvey (Westmoreland, N.H.) and Curry's Mikayla Lambert (Blackstone, Mass.) serving at the utility player and DP, respectively.

Salve Regina head coach Jannelle Iaquinto on her honorees:

Franki - "The 2017 Player of the Year is having another standout season. Franki has emerged into a triple threat for us, defensively ,on the bases and at the plate. She has worked tremendously hard balancing soccer, academics, and softball in her senior year. It is wonderful to see her efforts recognized by CCC Coaches."

Riley - "Amanda has embraced her role as a junior captain. She has stepped up in a big way for us as a leader, at SS and at the plate. She plays with heart, grit and truly is an athlete who 'knows how to win.'"

Lombardo - "Liz is one of the best defensive players I have seen in a decade, at any level. Her glove at 3B is incredible and she is fun to watch. She is having a tremendous year at the plate and has emerged into one of our top, and most clutch hitters. Liz has also served some time behind the plate this season."

Florent - "Linny has become a dangerous lead off hitter for us. Her speed, power and versatility allow her to really do it all. She is one of our best base-runners, and has become a threat on the bases. It is wonderful seeing her have such success this season."

Nelson - "Andi has stepped up in a big way for us this season. She is a competitor, and has a bright future in the circle for the Seahawks. Working with Kelsey (assistant coach Boarman '17) has certainly helped her develop her softball IQ tremendously. We have seen so much growth in her pitching in a short period of time."