ECAC Announces 2016 DII Softball All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division II Softball All-ECAC Selections and major award winners.
Kat Zabielski from the New York Institute of Technology garnered player of the year honors, while LIU Post freshman Julia Seader was named the ECAC Rookie of the Year. West Chester University secured the remaining two major awards, with sophomore pitcher Brooke Harner taking home the accolade for pitcher of the year, and Diane Lokey receiving the ECAC DII Softball Coach of the Year Award.
Player of the Year
Kat Zabielski – New York Institute of Technology, Sr.
Zabielski takes home the ECAC DII Softball Player of the Year Award after an offensive onslaught in 2016. The New York native ended the regular season ranked second in the East Coast Conference with a .428 batting average to go along with a league-leading 20 homeruns and 72 runs batted in, marking just the second time in ECC history a hitter has reached 20 home runs and 70 RBI in the same season. The senior also led the league in runs scored (53), total bases (134), walks (22) and slugging percentage (.971). A two-time ECAC DII Softball Player of the Week in 2016, Zabielski received national recognition for her accomplishments in addition to her ECAC accolades. The senior was recently selected as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) DII First Team All-American, and was also a top-10 finalist for the Schutt Sports/NFCA DII Player of the Year.
Pitcher of the Year
Brooke Harner – West Chester University, So.
Harner’s award for pitcher of the year comes after a strong sophomore campaign for West Chester. The second-year slinger compiled a 19-1 record while posting a 1.07 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 111.2 innings pitched during the regular season. She was nearly unhittable at times, allowing just 72 hits and walking only 30 batters to end the regular season with a WHIP of .917. Harner was named to the NFCA DII All-Atlantic Region Second Team.
Rookie of the Year
Julia Seader – LIU Post, Fr.
Seader formed one half of the Pioneers’ dynamic rookie battery in 2016. The lefty-swinging catcher ended the regular season ranked third in the ECC with 61 hits to compile a .401 batting average, good for fifth in the league. She also tacked on 14 doubles, nine home runs, 36 RBI, 102 total bases, six stolen bases, a .462 on-base percentage and a .671 slugging percentage. A First Team All-ECC selection, Seader also earned regional recognition in the form of a NFCA All-East Region Second Team nod.
Coach of the Year
Diane Lokey – West Chester University
Lokey guided the Rams to their third-consecutive division title in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Under Lokey, WCU posted a school-record 47 wins in 2016, finishing the regular season at 47-5. That mark represents the first time in school history that the Rams have won more than 40 games in a season.
All-ECAC First Team
C: Marisa Monasseri – Caldwell University, So.
1B: Kat Zabielski – New York Institute of Technology, Sr.
2B: Tori Duquette – New York Institute of Technology, Sr.
3B: Brenna Martini – Adelphi University, So.
SS: Alyssa Herion – West Chester University, Fr.
DH: Shannon Haukap – Dominican College, Sr.
OF: Christina Pantages – New York Institute of Technology, Sr.
OF: Sarah Walasavage – West Chester University, Jr.
OF: Rachel DiBartolomeo – Mercyhurst University, Jr.
UTIL: Katie Chryssofos – Salem International University, Sr.
P: Brooke Harner – West Chester University, So.
P: Amber Padilla – Caldwell University, Sr.
P: Samantha Esque – Post University, Sr.
All-ECAC Second Team
C: Madison Smith – New York Institute of Technology, Jr.
1B: Rachael Sterner – Mansfield University, So.
2B: Lauren Frye – Caldwell University, Jr.
3B: Kayla Kresley – Post University, Sr.
SS: Courtney Case – Le Moyne College, Jr.
DH: Surina Sandhu – Pace University, So.
OF: Madison Kelly – West Chester University, So.
OF: Amy Hickman – Caldwell University, Jr.
OF: Krista King – Adelphi University, So.
UTIL: Amber Butenhoff – New York Institute of technology, Sr.
P: Kayla Lynch – Salem International University, So.
P: Hannah Olshevski – LIU Post, Fr.
P: Alexis Eastman – Le Moyne College, So.
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