The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week ending May 10, marking the final weekly honors of the 2025-26 season. The conference recognizes student-athletes in each sport each week for their contributions to their teams, based on information provided by the athletic communications offices on each campus. During the spring season, baseball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and softball players of the week will be announced on Mondays.
NESCAC Baseball Player of the Week
James Henshon – Tufts – So. – SS – Fairfield, Conn.
Henshon, a sophomore shortstop, was instrumental in the Jumbos earning their eighth NESCAC title, going 3-0 on the weekend. Henshon was 6-for-12 on the weekend, scoring eight runs while driving in eight. He posted four extra-base hits, including three triples, and walked six times as well. Against Trinity, Henshon was 2-for-5 with three RBI, three runs scored, while going 3-for-3 with four runs and four RBI, along with three walks in the title game against Amherst.
NESCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Cole Donato – Tufts – Sr. – Walpole, Mass.
Donato tossed eight innings in a win over Middlebury on Friday, allowing one earned and six hits while fanning four. He also came out of the bullpen for the first time this season to toss 2.2 innings of relief in the title game against Amherst, allowing two hits and one earned run in a 16-8 win. He picked up the victory in both games en route to the Jumbos' eighth NESCAC title.
NESCAC Softball Player of the Week
Jen Westphal - Middlebury - Sr. - C - Westport, Conn.
Westphal excelled when it mattered most for the Panthers. In the bottom of the 11th inning against Colby in the conference semifinals, the senior lifted a walk-off home run over the left-field wall to seal a 6-4 victory. Westphal reached base four times over the three-game weekend and had four total runs batted in while scoring twice. She also flashed the leather defensively, recording 17 putouts and an assist while splitting time at first base and catcher. Westphal leads the Panthers and ranks second in the NESCAC in RBI with 40.
NESCAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Emily Dowd - Middlebury - Sr. - Fairfield, Conn.
Dowd was a star in the circle, going 3-0 on the weekend to help lead Middlebury to their first conference title since 2011. The rookie surrendered just four runs alongside 14 strikeouts to just four walks over 16 innings of work. Her strongest performance came in the NESCAC Semifinals against Colby. Entering the game in the top of the fourth with a 4-3 deficit, the Panther kept the Mules' offense quiet, allowing no runs and striking out eight over eight frames to help seal a 6-4 marathon win in 11 innings. It was the longest outing of the season for any Middlebury pitcher. Over the three contests, Dowd became the program’s single-season wins leader (14) and is three strikeouts away from breaking the program record total in a campaign.
