MAAC Announces 2017 Softball All-MAAC Teams & Major Award Winners
MAAC Sports
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced the 2017 Softball All-MAAC Teams and Major Award winners at the league's annual Postseason Awards show.
Siena College sophomore infielder Madysen Cossack claimed the 2017 MAAC Player of the Year award. The sophomore hit .387 (53-137) with 10 home runs, and 45 RBI in 49 games this season. Cossack led the league in slugging percentage (.715), was second in hitting, third in on-base percentage, third in RBI, tied for fourth in doubles, third in home runs, and tied for fourth in total bases.
She was selected to the All-MAAC First Team at infield and named MAAC Player of the Week twice this season (April 18 & May 2). The Agoura Hills, CA native is the second student-athlete in Siena's program history to be named MAAC Softball Player of the Year and the first since Shannon Jones was named Co-Player of the Year in 2012.
Iona College sophomore pitcher Alana Evans is the third pitcher in program history to claim the MAAC Pitcher of the Year honor (first since Sarah Jackson, 2012). Evans went 16-5 in the circle with a 2.61 ERA (53 earned runs/142.0 innings pitched) in 27 appearances (20 starts). She tossed 14 complete games, the fourth most in the league and five complete game shutouts to lead the MAAC.
The sophomore ranked first in the MAAC in wins, tied for seventh in ERA, second in strikeouts, and fourth in innings pitched (144.0). The All-MAAC First Team selection and three-time MAAC Pitcher of the Week, tossed a no-hitter against Monmouth University on April 15 in a 4-0 victory.
Manhattan College freshman pitcher Nicole Williams was named the 2017 MAAC Rookie of the Year. The freshman is the second Jasper in history to win the award and first since Jen Fisher in 1996. Williams went 12-6 with a 1.80 ERA (26 earned runs/101.0 innings pitched) in 20 appearances (15 starts). Her 1.80 ERA was the lowest in the MAAC amongst qualified pitchers.
Opposing hitters hit .162 against her, which was also the lowest mark in the league. Williams ranked third in the conference in strikeouts (114), tied for fourth in wins, allowed the third fewest hits (56), and second fewest runs (27) amongst qualified pitchers. The Ansonia, CT native was selected to the All-MAAC Rookie Team, named MAAC Pitcher of the Week twice (March 28 & May 9), and MAAC Rookie of the Week twice (April 11 & April 18).
Iona College junior catcher Tori Danner earned the 2017 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honor. Danner recorded a .993 fielding percentage, 250 putouts, 18 assists, and committed just two errors during the regular season. She caught 12 runners attempting to steal, tied for the third most in the conference, and has allowed the fewest passed balls in the league (six).
Danner caught a Gaels' pitching staff that had the third-lowest ERA in the league (3.29), second lowest batting average against (.242), fourth-most strikeouts (240), fewest hits (274) and runs allowed (166), and third-fewest home runs allowed (19). Danner was selected to the All-MAAC Second Team.
Iona College head coach Melissa Inouye earned her second-career BSN Sports MAAC Coach of the Year honor. In her fifth year as head coach, Inouye has guided the Gaels to a (26-20, 15-5 MAAC) mark and their first Regular Season Championship since 2011. Iona ranks amongst the top four teams in the league in seven major batting categories and 11 major pitching areas. The Gaels enter the MAAC Championship winners of eight out of their last 10 games played.
The 2017 All-MAAC First Team features Marist's catcher Rebecca Freeman, Iona's Kristen Turner, Manhattan's Lauren Pitney, Niagara's Bridget Hogan, Quinnipiac's Rebecca Drake, and Siena's Madysen Cossack at infield. In the outfield, Canisius' Lindsey Silfer, Iona's Marisa Gergel, Marist's Janna Korak and Kourtney Paul, and Siena's Chelsey Drew. At designated player Canisius' Lauren Castro and at utility Manhattan's Briana Matazinsky. The Pitchers are Iona's Alana Evans and Monmouth's Amanda Riley.
The 2017 All-MAAC Second Team consists of Iona's catcher Tori Danner, Canisius' Denver Keller, Fairfield's Courtney Hankins, Marist's Brandi Coon, and Monmouth's Justene Reyes make up the infield. The outfield features Fairfield's Amanda Ulzheimer, Manhattan's Shannon Puthe, and Monmouth's Chloe Howerth. The designated player is Marist's Gabrielle Kelliher and the utility is Canisius' Samantha Sharkey. The Pitchers are Manhattan's Briana Matazinsky and Lauren Butts.
The 2017 All-MAAC Rookie Team consists of Fairfield's Amanda Ulzheimer (unanimous), Iona's Marnie Skinner and Jasmine Temple (unanimous), Manhattan's Christine Gebhardt (unanimous) and Nicole Williams, Monmouth's Kayla Rosado, Niagara's Kendall Watkins, Quinnipiac's Abbey Long, Saint Peter's Brianna Hutchinson, and Siena's Amanda Dodson.
The 2017 MAAC Softball Championship is a double elimination style tournament with the Championship final taking place on Saturday, May 13 at noon. If the team coming out of the loser's bracket defeats the team in the winners' bracket, the second and deciding game takes place at 2:30 p.m.
The winner of the 2017 MAAC Softball Championship earns the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. The NCAA Softball Selection Show is on Sunday, May 14 on ESPN2 at 10:00 p.m.
For all information on the 2017 MAAC Softball Championship, visit maacsports.com/softball and be sure to follow the action on social media by using #MAACSoftball.
Tickets can be purchased for the 2017 MAAC Softball Championship by visiting maac.ticketleap.com.
All-MAAC First Team
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Catcher
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Rebecca Freeman
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Marist
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Infielders
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Kristen Turner
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Iona
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Lauren Pitney
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Manhattan
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Bridget Hogan
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Niagara
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Rebecca Drake
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Quinnipiac
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Madysen Cossack
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Siena
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Outfielders
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Lindsey Silfer
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Canisius
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Marisa Gergel
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Iona
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Janna Korak
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Marist
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Kourtney Paul
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Marist
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Chelsey Drew
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Siena
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Designated Player
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Lauren Castro
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Canisius
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Utility
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Briana Matazinsky
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Manhattan
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Pitchers
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Alana Evans
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Iona
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Amanda Riley
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Monmouth
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All-MAAC Second Team
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Catcher
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Tori Danner
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Iona
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Infielders
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Denver Keller
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Canisius
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Courtney Hankins
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Fairfield
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Brandi Coon
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Marist
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Justene Reyes
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Monmouth
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Outfielders
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Amanda Ulzheimer
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Fairfield
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Shannon Puthe
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Manhattan
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Chloe Howerth
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Monmouth
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Designated Player
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Gabrielle Kelliher
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Marist
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Utility
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Samantha Sharkey
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Canisius
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Pitchers
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Briana Matazinsky
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Manhattan
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Lauren Butts
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Siena
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All-Rookie Team
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Amanda Ulzheimer*
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Fairfield
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Marnie Skinner
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Iona
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Jasmine Temple*
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Iona
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Christine Gebhardt*
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Manhattan
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Nicole Williams
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Manhattan
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Kayla Rosado
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Monmouth
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Kendall Watkins
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Niagara
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Abbey Long
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Quinnipiac
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Brianna Hutchinson
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Saint Peter's
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Amanda Dodson
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Siena
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Player of the Year
Madysen Cossack, Siena
Pitcher of the Year
Alana Evans, Iona
Defensive Player of the Year
Tori Danner, Iona
Rookie of the Year
Nicole Williams, Manhattan
BSN Sports Coach of the Year
Melissa Inouye, Iona
*denotes unanimous selection