BENNINGTON, Vt. – On Monday, the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) announced the 2014 softball all-conference teams with four players representing Southern Vermont College.
Freshmen Mallory Celeste (Gansevoort, N.Y.) and Lauryn Zovistoski (Granville, N.Y.) were both named to the All-NECC Second Team along with senior center fielder Erika Garay (Walnut, Calif.) who picked up her first softball all-conference honor in just her second year with the team. Junior Emily Fleming (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) also grabbed an honorable mention, marking her first time being recognized on an all-conference squad.
Celeste had the team's second-best batting average for a player with at least 50 at bats in the season, totaling a .344 mark with eight doubles and four home runs for a .559 slugging percentage and 52 total bases, the second-most for the team. The rookie third baseman batted in 19 runs, good enough to tie fifth-best in SVC single season history; her 32 hits was tied for the most on the 2014 Mountaineer crew and also tied for fifth-best in single season program history. She made only five errors in 102 total chances in the field, supporting a .951 fielding percentage.
Zovistoski also registered 32 hits on the season while carrying a .330 batting average. Named the NECC Rookie of the Week once during the year, the freshman totaled six doubles, three triples and three home runs for a Southern Vt.-best 53 total bases. She stole three bases and scored 16 runs, third-most for the Mountaineers. Zovistoski recorded only six errors on 115 total chances for a .948 fielding percentage. She also picked up two saves and a win in the circle, notching 24 strikeouts in just 41.0 innings of work.
Garay played a solid center field for SVC, committing just two errors on 47 chances in the field for a .957 fielding percentage that ranked third-best for a Mountaineer with at least 40 chances. She was part of two double plays and tallied four assists from center. Garay registered 25 hits and scored 15 runs for Southern Vt., stealing three bases and knocking in three runs.
Fleming had one of her best seasons for SVC, bolstering a .387 batting average that ranked first for Mountaineers with at least 50 at bats. She knocked out six home runs, good enough to tie for the most in the NECC and place third for the most in SVC single season history. Fleming notched 50 total bases on the season, the third-most on her team. The junior tied the program mark for most wins from the circle in a single season with five, helping her move into second for the most career wins with nine. She was named the NECC Player of the Week once during the year.
"I am extremely proud of these ladies and the team overall this season," said first-year SVC head coach Alyssa Davis. "They all worked hard and are all deserving of the honors they received."
Based on voting by league coaches, Elms College junior Beth Grimes (Terryville, Conn.) is the 2014 Player and Pitcher of the Year with Lesley University freshman Mekenzie Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) collecting the Rookie of the Year nod. Mitchell College's Jillian Ortega was selected by her peers as the NECC Coach of the Year, and Wheelock College was given the Team Sportsmanship Award.
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 CONFERENCE
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 CONFERENCE
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
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.)