Four Blazers Earn All-NECC Softball Recognition
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Four Elms College softball players were honored with New England Collegiate Conference postseason honors on Monday as the league announced its All-Conference teams and major award winners.
Senior Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) captured first-team All-NECC honors while juniors Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) and Catharine Wrang (Middletown, Conn.) were selected to the second team, and junior Lisa Lusardi (Enfield, Conn.) earned a spot on the third team. Katelyn Sylvia (Southwick, Mass.) was selected to the All-NECC Sportsmanship Team.
Olszewski wrapped up her Blazer career as the program's all-time leader in home runs (23), doubles (36) and RBIs (115). She had the best season of her career in 2018, matching her career-high with eight home runs while tallying career-bests of 14 doubles, 37 RBIs, 41 hits, a .423 average, .814 slugging percentage and four stolen bases. Her eight homers were second in the NECC while her slugging percentage was fourth, batting average ranked eighth and her 14 doubles ranked sixth.
Messier finished the season with a .420 batting average and five doubles, two triples, 22 RBIs and seven stolen bases. The junior shortstop elevated her game during league play as she finished with an NECC-best. 558 average against conference opponents. She finished her junior campaign just two hits shy of her milestone 100th career hit after racking up 42 hits in 2018.
Wrang had career-highs in nearly every offensive category in 2018, finishing with 33 hits, 15 RBIs, eight stolen bases and a .347 batting average. Her .440 average during NECC play ranked 13th in the conference. She will enter her senior season just five hits away from her milestone 100th career hit.
Lusardi earned third-team all-NECC honors after going 4-4 with a 3.63 ERA during NECC play in 2018. She piled up 37 strikeouts in conference play while walking only seven batters. Her 3.22 ERA over the course of the entire season was the third-best in the NECC.
NECC Player of the Year: Noelle Sass (Randolph, Mass.) – Newbury
NECC Pitcher of the Year: Felicia Gaillardetz (Londonderry, N.H.) – Bay Path
NECC Rookie of the Year: Jordan Day (Seminole, Fla.) Lesley
NECC Coach of the Year: Steve Smith – Bay Path
First Team All-NECC
P- Felicia Gaillardetz, Bay Path (So., Londonderry, N.H.)
P- Samantha Lee, Becker (Sr., Prospect, Conn.)
C- Noelle Sass, Newbury (Jr., Randolph, Mass.)
1B- Jordan Raab, Lesley (Jr., Rochester, N.H.)
2B- Samantha DelConte, Mitchell (Sr., Enfield, Conn.)
3B- Elizabeth Olszewski, Elms (Sr., Canterbury, Conn.)
SS- Lauren Vallee, Bay Path (Sr., Bristol, Conn.)
OF- Rebecca Carkhuff, Becker (Sr., Amherst, Mass.)
OF- Courtney Goggin, Lesley (Sr., Cheshire, Conn.)
OF- Arianna Gooden, Newbury (So., Bakersfield, Calif.)
DP- Kaitlin Thibodeau-Corey, Mitchell (Fr., Peabody, Mass.)
Second Team All-NECC
P- Jordan Day, Lesley (Fr., Seminole, Fla.)
P- Mallory Stefan, Newbury (So., Thornton, Colo.)
C- Nicole Matthews, Southern Vermont (Sr., Pittstown, N.Y.)
1B- Samantha Belenchia, Becker (Jr., Ansonia, Conn.)
2B- Tina Babcock, Newbury (Jr., Ayer, Mass.)
3B- Katrina Peck, Bay Path (Jr., Newington, Conn.)
SS- Sarah Ellis, Becker (Fr., Berkley, Mass.)
SS- Madison Messier, Elms (Jr., Warren, Mass.)
OF- Melanie Rios-Nevarez, Dean (So., Alta Vega, Puerto Rico)
OF-Catharine Wrang, Elms (Jr., Middletown, Conn.)
OF- Theresa Pereira, Lesley (Sr., Hopedale, Mass.)
Third Team All-NECC
P- Lisa Lusardi, Elms (Jr., Enfield, Conn.)
P- Taylor Duchesneau, Mitchell (Jr., Killingly, Conn.)
C- Lilly West, Bay Path (So., Goshen, Mass.)
1B- Courtney Holden, Dean (So., Bridgeport, Conn.)
2B- Lauren Niemann, Becker (So., Bay Shore, N.Y.)
3B- Riley Pickett, Lesley (Fr., Rocky Hill, Conn.)
OF-Jai Ruiz, Bay Path (Jr., Hadley, Mass.)
OF-Stephanie Adams, Mitchell (Fr., White Plains, Md.)
OF-Samantha Libby, Newbury (Sr., New Gloucester, Maine)
All-NECC Sportsmanship Team
Marissa Sarna-McCarthy, Bay Path (Jr., 1B, Westhampton, Mass.)
Shannon Lundy, Becker (So., INF, Barnstable, Mass.)
Melanie Rios-Nevarez, Dean (So., INF/C, Alta Vega, Puerto Rico)
Katelyn Sylvia, Elms (So, 1B, Southwick, Mass.)
Tallin Goldberg, Lesley (Fr., P, Merrimack, N.H.)
Megan Elphick, Mitchell (Sr., 3B, Waterford, Conn.)
Samantha Libby, Newbury (Sr., OF, New Gloucester, Maine)
Brooke Gates, Southern Vermont (So., 2B, Pittsfield, Mass.)
Taylor McDonald, Wheelock (Fr., P/INF, Weare, N.H.)