Olszewski, Oliveras Earn All-Conference Honors
Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Two members of the Elms College softball team were named to the 2016 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) All-Conference teams, announced by the league office Monday afternoon. Sophomore Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) and freshman Keyla Oliveras (Springfield, Mass.) were named Second Team All-NECC after the 2016 season, both claiming their first all-conference awards of their careers.
Olszewski posted a .302 batting average in her sophomore campaign, leading the team in home runs (4) and runs batted in (24). Liz collected 29 hits, including six doubles and two triples, with 16 run scored and two stolen bases. Olszewski ranked seventh in the NECC in home runs, and 16th in RBIs and total bases (51).
In her first season with the Blazers, Oliveras set a single season record with 20 stolen bases, going a perfect 20-for-20 in stolen base attempts. Keyla registered a .379 batting average with a team-high 29 runs scored and 11 RBIs. Oliveras led the NECC in stolen bases, and ranked eighth in triples, and tenth in hits.
Senior Samantha Alvino (Holtsville, N.Y.) was named to the NECC All-Sportsmanship team.
Senior Sheri Liggiero from Newbury has been tabbed the 2016 NECC player of the year, as voted upon by league head coaches. Liggiero had an exceptional senior campaign finishing at the top of the conference in batting average (.538), on base percentage (.596), hits (63), and doubles (15).
Becker senior, Kelsey Norberg earned NECC Pitcher of the Year honors as she led the Hawks to their first ever NECC Softball Title. Norberg led the conference with an earned run average of 2.27. She also finished tied for the lead with 17 wins and ranked second with 105 strikeouts on the season.
Joining Norberg on the first team and receiving NECC Rookie of the Year honors was teammate Jennifer VanAlphen. VanAlphen was impressive in NECC matchups averaging .531 at the plate to rank fourth, while also slugging .984 to rank second in conference play.
Becker head coach Richard Hurley was named the 2016 Coach of the Year, by his peers, after an impressive 2016 campaign. The Hawks earned top spot in the tournament and went on to win the NECC Title.
The Hawks also placed senior Jessica Wheelahan, sophomores Samantha Lee, Rebecca Carkhuff, and Brianna Herforth on the All-NECC First Team. Wheelahan ranked second overall with 41 runs batted in and tied for third with seven homeruns on the season. Lee recorded 13 doubles and 37 runs batted in to land second and third respectively in overall statistics. Carkhuff finished seventh in NECC play with a slugging percentage of .837, while also finishing first in sacrifice flies (2). Herforth Becker's designated player completed the NECC play with an on base percentage of .517.
Lesley had two members represented on the All-NECC First Team with outfielder Jess Reynolds and catcher Mekenzi Golden being recognized. Reynolds had the fourth best batting average overall (.467) and also ranking fourth with 49 hits in her senior campaign. Golden ranked in the top five in homer runs (6) and doubles (13) both in NECC play and overall this season.
Rounding out the All-NECC First Team was Mitchell senior Shannon O'Neil and Regis senior Katie Cuozzo. O'Neil led the Mariners in all offensive categories this spring including hits (40), runs batted in (22), and doubles (9). Cuozzo was named to the All-NECC First Team after finishing the season with the second best earned run average (2.52) in the conference and twelve total wins on the season.
Player of the Year: Sheri Liggiero, Newbury
Pitcher of the Year: Kelsey Norberg, Becker
Rookie of the Year: Jennifer Vanalphen, Becker
Coach of the Year: Richard Hurley, Becker
First Team
1B - Shannon O'Neil, Mitchell (Sr., Chicopee, Mass.)
2B – Rebecca Carkhuff, Becker (So., Amherst, Mass.)
3B – Samantha Lee, Becker (So. Prospect, Conn.)
SS – Jennifer VanAlphen, Becker (Fr., Hudson, N.Y.)
C - Mekenzi Golden, Lesley (Jr., Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
P- Kelsey Norberg, Becker (Sr., Uxbridge, Mass)
P - Katie Cuozzo, Regis (Sr., Lynn, Mass)
OF – Sheri Liggiero, Newbury (Sr., Tewksbury, Mass)
OF - Jess Reynolds, Lesley (Sr., Londonderry, N.H.)
OF - Jessica Wheelahan, Becker (Sr., Watertown, Conn.)
DP - Brianna Herforth, Becker (So., Peru, Mass.)
Second Team
1B - Alyssa McKinnon, Regis (Sr., Rowley, Mass)
2B – Michaela Nejaime, Regis (Sr., Sandisfield, Mass.)
3B – Elizabeth Olszewski, Elms (So., Canterbury, Conn.)
SS – Alyssa Donovan, Newbury (Sr., West Haven, Conn.)
C - Noelle Sass, Newbury (Fr., Randolph, Mass)
P - Kaera Wyse, Lesley (So., Reading, Mass.)
P - Brittany Fiederlein, Mitchell (Jr., E. Hampton, Conn.)
OF - Keyla Oliveras, Elms (Fr., Springfield, Mass.)
OF - Jenny Groman, Mitchell (Sr., New Britain, Conn.)
OF - Samantha Leahon, Wheelock (Fr. Castleton, N.Y.)
DP - Taylor Duchesneau, Mitchell (Fr., Killingly, Conn.)
Third Team
Abby Henderson, Lesley (Fr., 1B, Rochester, N.H.)
Elizabeth Kia, Newbury (Jr., 1B, Kea'au, Hawaii)
Alexis Vieira, Newbury (Fr., Pawtucket, R.I.)
Lauren Vallee, Bay Path (So., SS, Bristol, Conn.)
Selena Quezada, Lesley (Sr., SS, West Covina, Calif.)
Rachael Simpson, Wheelock (So., 2B, Littleton, Mass)
Nicole Matthews, Southern Vt. (So., C, Pittstown, N.Y)
Allison Caloggero, Regis (Jr., 3B, Medford, Mass.)
All Sportsmanship Team
Katrina Peck, Bay Path (Fr., C, Newington, Conn.)
Katelyn MacLean, Becker (Sr., OF, North Reading, Mass.)
Samantha Alvino, Elms (Sr., 1B/C, Holtsville, N.Y.)
Ashleigh Ramirez, Lesley (Sr., OF, Newport, Ore.)
Shannon O'Neil, Mitchell (Sr., 1B, Chicopee, Mass.)
Alyssa Donovan, Newbury (Sr., SS, West Haven, Conn.)
Brianna Napoleone, Regis (Fr., IF, Medford, Mass.)
Carissa Bottisti, Southern Vermont (Fr., OF, Amsterdam, N.Y.)
Kathryn Fleming (Sr., SS, West Boylston, Mass.)
ELMS SOFTBALL
