Softball All-Conference Teams Announced
Cantone of Tufts Takes
Top Honors
HADLEY, Mass. – Junior first baseman Lena Cantone
(Southington, Conn.) of Tufts has been named the NESCAC Player of
the Year, as determined by the conference coaches. Cantone adds her
name to a list that includes eight former Jumbos, as the
conference's top honor has now gone to a Tufts player in nine of
the last 11 years.
After putting together a .351
average at the plate over her first two seasons, the Jumbos' number
three hitter cracked the .400 barrier this spring as she led Tufts
in the batter's box with a .435 average, a figure that ranks second
among all league players. Cantone posted a league-leading 64 hits
and 14 doubles while reaching base at a .449 rate. She also played
a big part in the Jumbos' run production, ranking second among her
teammates in runs scored (34) and runs driven in (34). On the base
paths, Cantone was successful on 12-of-13 stolen base attempts. In
the field, she committed only three errors at first on 346 chances,
a field percentage of .991. In addition to being named Player of
the Year, Cantone also garnered All-NESCAC First Team honors. It
was the third year in a row that Cantone has been recognized on an
All-Conference squad after being selected to the Second Team in
each of the last two seasons.
Also from Tufts on the
All-Conference First Team were sophomore second baseman Emily
Beinecke (Concord, Mass.) and first year catcher Jo Clair
(Grlastonbury, Conn.). Beinecke was named to the First Team for the
second time in as many years following a 2011 campaign in which she
battled back from early season injuries to hit .374 and reach base
at a .426 rate. She had just five errors on 132 chances (.962) and
helped turn three double plays at second. Clair shattered the
Jumbos' single-season home run record this spring, cranking 16
homers to lead the league in the category. She also paced the
conference in runs batted in (42), walks (24), and slugging
percentage (.815). Clair added NESCAC Rookie of the Year honors to
her First Team recognition.
NESCAC Softball Champion Middlebury
had five of its players receive All-NESCAC recognition, with three
landing on the top squad. Senior pitcher Geena Constantin (Pelham,
N.H.) joined Tufts' Beinecke as the only two individuals to return
from the 2010 First Team. Constantin, who was also a unanimous
choice by the conference coaches for NESCAC Pitcher of the Year,
currently holds the lowest ERA of her career with an impressive
0.95 heading into this weekend's NCAA Tournament action. She has
held opposing batters to a .180 average with 82 strikeouts to just
24 walks (3.42 K/BB) over 73.2 IP in 18 appearances for the
Panthers. At the plate, Constantin owns a .380 average, as eight of
her 19 hits have been doubles, and holds a .475 on-base mark.
Joining Constantin on the First
Team were sophomores Jessa Hoffman (Golden, Colo.) and Jess Poracky
(Ramsey, N.J.). The Panthers' shortstop, Hoffman is currently
second among her teammates with a .377 average and a .474 on-base
percentage. Nearly half of her 43 hits have been for extra bases,
as she has smacked 12 doubles, seven triples, and two home runs. To
date, Hoffman has not struck out in 114 at-bats. Poracky, who
switches between first and catcher for Middlebury, is right behind
her classmate with a .364 batting average. The pair have both
driven in 22 runs for the Panthers. On the All-NESCAC Second Team
were rookie pitcher Elizabeth Morris and 1B/DP Megan Margel.
Margel's appointment is of significant note, as she has been named
to the Second Team in each of the last four years.
Representing Trinity on the
All-NESCAC First Team were seniors Kristen Anderson (West Haven,
Conn.) and Nicole Nardella (Beverly, Mass.). Anderson was the
Bantams' leader in the circle all year, going 11-7 in 22
appearances with a 1.43 ERA over 122.1 IP. She surrendered only 26
walks and two home runs while striking out 42 and holding opponents
to a .200 average. Nardella, a four-year starter, played primarily
at first base and was third for Trinity in hitting with a .368
average and a .411 on-base mark. Sophomore shortstop Caroline
Blanchard (Norwich, Conn.) also earned recognition for the Bantams,
as she was named Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the
Second Team. Blanchard posted a .931 fielding percentage,
committing 13 errors on 188 chances and helping turn three double
plays. She led Trinity at the dish with a .372 average and a .435
on-base percentage.
Rounding out the All-Conference
First Team were the Williams duo of Caitlyn Cain (Houston, Texas)
and Kaitlin Dinet (Pearl River, N.Y.) along with Wesleyan's Talia
Bernstein (Miami, Fla.). Cain and Dinet were the top two hitters
for the Ephs this spring, with the senior Cain leading the way with
a .388 average and the sophomore Dinet close behind at .382. Cain
also posted a .460 on-base percentage, as she walked 15 times
(T-4th NESCAC). Bernstein received her third First Team honor in
the last four years (2008, 2009) in her final season with the
Cardinals. She posted a league-leading .437 average at the plate,
as she finished the year with an 11-game hitting streak. Bernstein
owns the program mark for hits (192) and RBI (114) in a career.
Coach of the Year was bestowed upon
Middlebury's Kelly Bevere. In her fifth season at the helm of the
Panther softball program, Bevere has guided her squad to a
school-record 29 wins (29-6), going 11-1 in conference play, the
school's first NESCAC title, and its first NCAA Tournament
appearance.
| |
| 2011 NESCAC
Softball All-Conference Team |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
First Team |
Institution
|
Yr.
|
Hometown |
| P |
Kristen Anderson |
Trinity |
Sr. |
West Haven, Conn. |
| 2B |
Emily Beinecke |
Tufts |
So. |
Concord, Mass. |
| 1B |
Talia Bernstein |
Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Miami, Fla. |
| 1B/C |
Caitlyn Cain |
Williams |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| 1B |
Lena Cantone |
Tufts |
Jr. |
Southington, Conn. |
| C |
Jo Clair |
Tufts |
Fy. |
Glastonbury, Conn. |
| P |
Geena Constantin |
Middlebury |
Sr. |
Pelham, N.H. |
| 3B/1B |
Kaitlin Dinet |
Williams |
So. |
Pearl River, N.Y. |
| SS |
Jessa Hoffman |
Middlebury |
So. |
Golden, Colo. |
| 1B/3B |
Nicole Nardella |
Trinity |
Sr. |
Beverly, Mass. |
| 1B/C |
Jess Poracky |
Middlebury |
So. |
Ramsey, N.J. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Second Team |
Institution |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| C/OF |
Allee Beatty |
Wesleyan |
So. |
Redding, Conn. |
| SS |
Caroline Blanchard |
Trinity |
So. |
Norwich, Mass. |
| SS |
Toni DaCampo |
Bowdoin |
So. |
Woburn, Mass. |
| P |
Melissa DellaTorre |
Bowdoin |
Fy. |
Scarborough, Maine |
| OF |
Lizzy Iuppa |
Tufts |
Jr. |
Paramus, N.J. |
| P/SS |
Theresa Kelley |
Amherst |
So. |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 1B/DP |
Megan Margel |
Middlebury |
Sr. |
Ridgewood, N.J. |
| P |
Elizabeth Morris |
Middlebury |
Fy. |
Kenilworth, Ill. |
| P/DP |
Kara Nilan |
Bowdoin |
Sr. |
Pittsfield, Mass. |
| C/3B |
Abigail Ostrom |
Trinity |
Fy. |
Carlisle, Mass. |
| P |
Izzie Santone |
Tufts |
Sr. |
Madison, Conn. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Player of the Year |
|
|
|
| 1B |
Lena Cantone
|
Tufts |
Jr. |
Southington, Conn.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Pitcher of the Year |
|
|
|
| P |
Geena Constantin
|
Middlebury |
Sr. |
Pelham, N.H.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Defensive Player of the Year |
|
|
| SS |
Caroline Blanchard
|
Trinity
|
So.
|
Norwich, Conn.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Rookie of the Year |
|
|
|
| C |
Jo Clair
|
Tufts |
Fy. |
Glastonbury, Conn.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Coach of the Year |
|
|
|
Kelly Bevere
|
Middlebury |
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