Grimes, Skinner Named All-NECC in Softball
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Elms College softball team had two players named All-New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) including junior Beth Grimes (Terryville, Conn.) who was named both NECC Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.
Grimes was a force for the Blazers in the circle and at the plate en route to be named NECC Player and Pitcher of the Year as well as First Team All-NECC. She was 4-4 in conference play in the circle tossing 68 strikeouts in 54.2 innings pitched while allowing 21 runs (10 earned) for a 1.28 ERA. At the plate, Grimes was 28 for 55 (.509) with eight doubles, a home run and 16 RBI helping the Blazers secure the fifth seed in the NECC Championship tournament. Grimes was a three-time NECC weekly award winner during the season.
Sophomore catcher Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) was named Second Team All-NECC after hitting .351 during league action. She legged out six doubles, belted a home run and drove in 10 runs and secured a stellar .983 fielding percentage from behind the plate.
2014 NECC Softball All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year
Beth Grimes, Elms (Jr, P - Terryville, Conn.)
Pitcher of the Year
Beth Grimes, Elms (Jr, P - Terryville, Conn.)
Rookie of the Year
Mekenzi Golden, Lesley (Fr, UTIL - Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
Coach of the Year
Jillian Ortega, Mitchell
Team Sportsmanship Award
Wheelock College
First Team All-NECC
Lindsey Clark, Newbury (Fr, 3B/SS - Venice, Fla.)
Jodee Doka, Lesley (Jr, OF - Sacramento, Calif.)
Alyssa Donovan, Newbury (So, SS/UTL - West Haven, Conn.)
Allison Fountain, Lesley (Sr, C - Cheshire, Conn.)
Mekenzi Golden, Lesley (Fr, UTIL - Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
Beth Grimes, Elms (Jr, P - Terryville, Conn.)
Jenny Groman, Mitchell (So, OF - New Britain, Conn.)
Lauren Lavalle, Becker (Jr, 2B - Millbury, Mass.)
Sheri Liggiero, Newbury (So, OF - Tewksbury, Mass.)
Nicole Mercurio, Lesley (Sr, 1B/P - Wakefield, Mass.)
Kelsey Norberg, Becker (So, P - Uxbridge, Mass.)
Jessica Wheelahan, Becker (So, OF - Watertown, Conn.)
Second Team All-NECC
Jenna Casello, Regis (Mass.) (Fr, OF - Westborough, Mass.)
Mallory Celeste, Southern Vt. (Fr, 3B/OF - Gansevoort, N.Y.)
Brittany Fiederlein, Mitchell (Fr, P - Hampton, Conn.)
Erika Garay, Southern Vt. (Sr, OF - Walnut, Calif.)
Olivia Kenyon, Newbury (Jr, P/UTL - Canton, Mass.)
Alyssa McKinnon, Regis (Mass.) (So, 1B - Raynham, Mass.)
Maria Nazzaro, Lesley (Sr, OF - North Reading, Mass.)
Shannon O'Neil, Mitchell (So, 1B - Chicopee, Mass.)
Marina Rhodes, Bay Path (Jr., 2B/P - Providence, R.I.)
Kierstan Skinner, Elms (So, C/SS - South Windsor, Conn.)
Lauryn Zovistoski, Southern Vt. (Fr, SS/P - Granville, N.Y.)
Honorable Mention All-NECC
Jessica Brochu, Becker (Jr, 3B - Hardwick, Vt.)
Keelin Dougherty, Bay Path (Sr., P/IN - Northfield, N.H.)
Emily Fleming, Southern Vt. (Jr, P/1B - Saratoga Springs, N.Y.)
Katie Haney, Newbury (Sr, MIF/OF - Winchendon, Mass.)
Emily Humphries, Newbury (Fr, C/1B - Westborough, Mass.)
