BUFFALO, NY (May. 9, 2023) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the 2023 Softball All-MAAC teams and Major Award Winners. All awards were voted on by the leagues 11 head coaches.
The 2023 MAAC Softball Player of the Year is Maddie Pleasants from Marist College. The sophomore from Rhodesdale, MD, served as a pitcher and utility player for The Red Foxes. On the mound, Pleasants recorded a 5.09 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched, and at the plate she had a .568 slugging percentage, .442 on base percentage, while driving in 40 RBIs and hitting eight homeruns.
This year's MAAC Pitcher of the Year is Megan Giese from Canisius College. Giese earns Pitcher of the Year recognition for back-to-back seasons. The Buffalo, NY native led the Golden Griffs to the 2023 MAAC Regular Season title with a record of 17-3 in conference play. On the season Giese earned 16 wins on the mound, led the MAAC in batters struck out (178) and recorded an ERA of 2.45 in 143 innings pitched.
The co-recipients of MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honors are Maggie Kane from Mount
St. Mary's University and Dakota Pitts of Saint Peter's University.
The Coatesville, PA native, Kane, recorded 100 assists to lead the MAAC on the season. The graduate student also recorded 51 putouts and boasted a .950 fielding percentage.
Sophomore, Dakota Pitts, led the MAAC in putouts (374) and total chances (393) on the season. Pitts totaled a .992 fielding percentage and recorded 16 assists.
Haley Ahr from Marist College took home 2023 MAAC Rookie of the Year honors. Ahr, a unanimous selection to the MAAC All-Rookie team was a five-time Rookie of the Week recipient during the regular season. In 158 at bats, the redshirt freshman boasted a .544 slugging percentage, a. 463 on base percentage, with a .386 batting average and 45 RBIs.
The 2023 MAAC Softball Coach of the Year is Canisius College's Kim Griffin. Coach Griffin led the Golden Griffins to the 2023 MAAC Regular Season title with an overall record of 28-14-1 (17-3 MAAC). As a team Canisius led the conference in overall batting average (.302), homeruns (35), and slugging percentage (.451).
The full list of honorees can be found below:
| 2023 MAAC Softball Major Awards |
| Player of the Year |
Maddie Pleasants, Marist |
| Pitcher of the Year |
Megan Giese, Canisius |
| Co-Defensive Player of the Year |
Maggie Kane, Mount St. Mary's |
| Co-Defensive Player of the Year |
Dakota Pitts, Saint Peter's |
| Rookie of the Year |
Haley Ahr, Marist |
| Coach of the Year |
Kim Griffin, Canisius |
| 2023 All-MAAC Softball First Team |
| Catcher |
Gianna Fazzolari, Canisius |
| Infield |
Saige Alfaro, Canisius |
| Infield |
Haley Ahr, Marist |
| Infield |
Maddie Pleasants, Marist |
| Infield |
Maggie Kane, Mount St. Mary's |
| Infield |
Lauren Rende, Manhattan |
| Outfield |
Christie McGee-Ross, Canisius |
| Outfield |
Mary Fogg, Quinnipiac |
| Outfield |
Sam Hare, Niagara |
| Pitcher |
Megan Giese, Canisius |
| Pitcher |
Kara Zazzaro, Iona |
| Utility |
Jessie Niegocki, Rider |
| Designated Player |
Rosie Gomez, Canisius |
| 2023 All-MAAC Softball Second Team |
| Catcher |
Jamie Sheeran, Iona |
| Infield |
Kaia Bonshock, Mount St. Mary's |
| Infield |
Sam Freeland, Marist |
| Infield |
Cara McNulty, Saint Peter's |
| Infield |
Brianna Koonce, Rider |
| Infield |
Rylee Alfaro, Canisius |
| Infield |
Lindsay Mayo, Niagara |
| Outfield |
Charli Warren, Fairfield |
| Outfield |
Vanessa Martin, Mount St. Mary's |
| Outfield |
Peyton Pusey, Marist |
| Outfield |
Ava Fitzmaurice, Siena |
| Outfield |
Isabella Pardo, Siena |
| Pitcher |
Avery Neuhart, Mount St. Mary's |
| Pitcher |
Kiley Myers, Marist |
| Utility |
Maddy Weir, Manhattan |
| Designated Player |
Jadeyn Merrill, Rider |
| 2023 MAAC Softball All-Rookie Team |
| Haley Ahr * |
Marist |
| Peyton Pusey |
Marist |
| Mary Fogg |
Quinnipiac |
| Maddy Weir |
Manhattan |
| Rylee Alfaro |
Canisius |
| Maddie Coleman |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Tai Turner |
Saint Peter's |
| Jadeyn Merrill |
Rider |
| Alissa Eimont |
Siena |
| Natalia Apatiga |
Quinnipiac |
| Delaney Whieldon |
Fairfield |
| Sophia Kiseloski |
Manhattan |
*Denotes Unanimous Selection
The 2023 MAAC Softball Championship is a six-team double elimination tournament taking place between May 10-14, 2023. The championship will be hosted by Canisius College.
For all information regarding the 2023 MAAC Softball Championship please visit maacsports.com/softball
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary's University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.
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