ECAC Announces DIII Softball All-ECAC and Major Award Winners
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2019 Division III Softball major award recipients and All-ECAC selections.
Vada Blue Sherrill of Pfeiffer University collected ECAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Manhattanville College collects a pair of awards with Aarin Hartenstein being voted Pitcher of the Year and teammate Giovanna Liggett being named Rookie of the Year. Kean University’s Head Coach Margie Acker is named ECAC Coach of the Year to complete the major awards.
Sherrill is named ECAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after an outstanding senior season. She was named USA South Player of the Year, USA South All-Conference first team Short Stop and was USA South Player of the Week twice. Sherril batter an incredible .500 on the year going 64-for-218 at the dish, striking out just five times. In 40 games she clubbed 15 home runs, had 56 RBI, 18 doubles and stole 49 bases in 52 attempts. She leaves Pfeiffer having led the team to a back-to-back ECAC Championship Titles along with the career leader in ever major offensive statistical category.
Hartenstein is voted ECAC Pitcher of the Year after an incredible senior season. She was named MAC Freedom Pitcher of the Year, named to the MAC Freedom First Team and was a four-time MAC Freedom Player/Pitcher of the Week. She led the MAC Freedom in wins (18), earned run average (1.43) and opponents’ batting average. She gave up just 24 earned runs in 117.2 innings of work in the circle. In 21 games started Hartenstein would toss 13 complete games. On top of he pitching she led the MAC Freedom in RBI and was second in hits, doubles and home runs.
Liggett was named MAC Freedom Rookie of the year after finishing the season in the top-five in hits, RBI, doubles, homeruns and at-bats. She was also in the top 10 in the conference for batting average, slugging, on-base percentage, runs scored and walks. The freshman batted .399 with six homeruns and 39 runs batted in. Liggett would also hit 12 doubles and score 32 runs for the Valiants. She was also named First Team All-MAC Freedom and second Team NFCA All-Region.
Margie Acker is voted ECAC Coach of the Year after guiding Kean University to a 39-8 record. The Cougars would the NJAC and NCAA Regional Finals. The 39 wins set a new single season record for the team. The Cougars would also set team records for hits, doubles, runs scored, stolen bases and walks. Under Acker, Kean would have five All-NJAC selections, including Player of the Year.
ECAC Division III Softball Major Awards and All-ECAC Selections
Player of the Year
Vada Blue Sherrill– Pfeiffer University, Sr.
Pitcher of the Year
Aarin Hartenstein – Manhattanville College, Sr.
Rookie of the Year
Giovanna Liggett – Manhattanville College, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Margie Acker – Kean University
All-ECAC First Team*
First Base: Jackie Schneider – Neumann University, Sr.
First Base: Kassandra Tibbetts – St. Joseph’s College Long Island, So.
Second Base: Allyson Weiss – Franciscan University, So.
Third Base: Giovanna Liggett – Manhattanville College, Fr.
Designated Player: Camille Sears – Albright College, Jr.
Shortstop: Vada Blue Sherill – Pfeiffer University, Jr.
Outfield: Alexandra Schell – Cabrini University, Jr.
Outfield: Marissa Varela – Alfred State College, Fr.
Outfield: Caroline Ratti – Kean University, Sr.
Outfield: Veronica DeStefano – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jr.
Outfield: Alexis Ventarola – Manhattanville College, Grad Student.
Catcher: Kate Korte – Neumann University, Jr.
Catcher: Evonne Torres – Manhattanville College, Sr.
Utility: Grace Sperrazza – Neumann University, Jr.
Pitcher: Jacqueline Riley – Kean University, Sr.
Pitcher: AJ Nichols – Penn State Behrend, Sr.
Pitcher: Kiana Millsaps – Pfeiffer University, Sr.
Pitcher: Aarin Hartenstein – Manhattanville College, Sr.
All-ECAC Honorable Mention*
First Base: Alexandra Cosenzo – Stockton University, Jr.
Second Base: Gabby Young – FDU-Florham, Jr.
Second Base: Carli Egan – Ramapo College, So.
Second Base: Courtney Deloughery – Centenary University, So.
Second Base: Desiree Duboi – Manhattanville College, Sr.
Third Bas: Alysiah Cintron – Cabrini University, So.
Third Base: Sierra Cardenales –Farmingdale State College, Sr.
Third Base: Casey Schieda – Stockton University, Sr.
Third Base: Abby Showers – Penn State Altoona, Jr.
Designated Player: Miranda Bohn – Misericordia University, Fr.
Shortstop: Erin Stephy – Stevenson University, Sr.
Outfield: Priscilla Rivera – Farmingdale State College, Fr.
Outfield: Gabrielle Huezo – Baruch College, Sr.
Outfield: Olivia Zengel – Kean University, Sr.
Outfield: Jenna DeFina – St. Joseph’s College – Long Island, Fr.
Outfield: Carson Hauser – Penn State Behrend, Sr.
Outfield: Alyssa Shedlock – Juniata College, Jr.
Catcher: Michele Winn – Clarkson University, Jr.
Utility: Julie Raba – Kean University, So.
Pitcher: Grace Stairiker – Cabrini University, Fr.
Pitcher: Jessica Wilcox – Alfred University, Jr.
Pitcher: Jen Sieminski – Neumann University, Jr.
Pitcher: Erin Fitzsimmons – Ramapo College, Sr.
Pitcher: Maggie Swan – New York University, Fr.
Pitcher: Allison Melahn – Albright College, Fr.
Pitcher: Kristie Alvarez – Marywood University, Sr.
*additional players added due to ties in voting
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