Moravian, Staten Island Take Major Awards to Highlight DIII Metro Softball All-ECAC Selections
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2017 Division III Metro Softball major award recipients and All-ECAC selections.
Janae Matos of Moravian College earned ECAC Metro Player of the Year while teammate, Josie Novak was named Pitcher of the Year. Patricia Riches from the College of Staten Island takes home Rookie of the Year while her head coach Stella Porto won Coach of the Year.
A first team All-Atlantic Region selection, Matos garners ECAC Player of the Year. The junior was named the Landmark Conference Player of the Year and named to the All-Conference First Team for a second straight spring. She led the Greyhouds at the plate with a .523 average including 56 hits, 23 runs, a school-record 22 doubles, three home runs, 45 RBIs, 24 walks, a .621 on-base percentage and an .813 slugging percentage. Matos also made a team-high 203 putouts behind the plate. In April, Matos became just the 45th Greyhoud to reach 100 career hits.
Novak’s honor comes on the heels of a selection to the All-Atlantic Region First Team after a third team selection just a year ago. For the second consecutive year, the junior receives the Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year honor. Novak is a three-time member of the Landmark All-Conference First Team. This spring, Novak posted an 18-3 record with a 0.77 ERA, the fifth-best season in school history. She threw 13 shutouts, the third most in a single-season at Moravian, and recorded a conference-leading 144 strikeouts in 135.2 innings in the circle. With a season of eligibility left, Novak has already tallied a career total of 474 strikeouts, became the third player in school history to reach 400 career strikeouts, and her 56 career victories are fifth in the Moravian record books.
In her first collegiate season, Riches was named to the All-East Region First Team as well as collecting the CUNYAC Rookie of the Year honor. She started all 41 games for the Dolphins. Riches led CSI at the plate batting .536 in 125 at bats, scoring 45 runs, and collecting 67 hits. The rookie boasted an impressive 13 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 47 RBIs and 101 total bases to go along with a .597 on base percentage and .808 slugging percentage. The shortstop was a three-time ECAC Metro Rookie of the week, a five-time CUNYAC Rookie of the Week and was named the Fastpitch News National DIII Player of the week once. Riches broke the single-season school record for batting average and hits.
ECAC Coach of the Year Stella Porto brings home her second consecutive CUNYAC Coach of the Year honor. She led the team to their best record in school history, at 34-7. Porto led the Dolphins to single-season records in winning streak (19), fielding percentage (.97) and team ERA (1.00). She led CSI to a 12-0 conference record and the team’s fifth consecutive CUNYAC Championship. Porto coached her team to three conference major awards and four CUNYAC All-Star selections.
Player of the Year
Janae Matos – Moravian College, Jr.
Pitcher of the Year
Josie Novak – Moravian College, Jr.
Rookie of the Year
Patricia Riches – College of Staten Island, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Stella Porto – College of Staten Island
All-ECAC First Team
Abby Jeffries – Moravian College, Sr.
Emily Sabo – Kean University, Sr.
Christine Griffith – William Paterson University, So.
Janae Matos – Moravian College, Jr.
Morgan Smith – Rowan University, Jr.
Corinne Loncar – Stevens Institute of Technology, Jr.
Kristy Colangelo – College of Staten Island, Sr.
Brittany Deieso – Manhattanville College, Sr.
Gianna Genello – Rowan University, So.
Kelly Yusko – Rutgers University-Newark, Jr.
Josie Novak – Moravian College, Jr.
Jacqueline Cautela – College of Staten Island, Sr.
Cindy Connoly – Mount Saint Mary College (NY), Jr.
All-ECAC Honorable Mention
Rachel Wasilak – William Paterson University, Sr.
Julie Siragusa – Moravian College, Sr.
Diana King – New York University, So.
Victoria Holmes – College of New Rochelle, Fr.
Aarin Hartenstein – Manhattanville College, So.
Lauren Shannon – Rowan University, Fr.
Allison Podmajersky – William Paterson University, Sr.
Erin Fitzsimmons – Ramapo College, So.
Nicolette Trapani – College of Staten Island, Jr.
ABOUT THE ECAC
In the 77 years since its inception, the ECAC has emerged as the nation's largest Conference, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In 2015-16, the ECAC hosted nearly 100 championships in men's and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 student-athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
STAY CONNECTED
Stay updated on the latest news, championships and more by connecting with the ECAC on Facebook (ECACSports), Twitter (@ECACSports) and Instagram (@ECACSports).