Trio of Trailblazers highlight All MASCAC Softball team
North Adams, MA- Michaela DiNicola, Amanda Meczywor and Rachel Quackenbush were all named MASCAC first team all-conference today for a Trailblazers team that has earned the #2 seed in this week's upcoming conference tournament.
DiNicola, MCLA's starting center-fielder from Lanesboro, MA batted .343 on the season and a robust .404 in conference play. DiNicola led the team in hits (35), walks (11) and stolen bases. DiNicola was 2-4 with a run scored and a double in a 6-1 win versus Salem State; a victory that clinched second place for the Trailblazers.
Meczywor, a utility player from Adams, MA batted .317 on the season and .385 in conference play. Meczywor led the team in extra-base hits (12) and slugging percentage (.524) and finished second in on-base percentgage (.371). Meczywor also won five games on the mound for the Trailblazers. In a double-header versus Westfield State, Meczywor went a perfect 5-5 with five runs scored, four doubles, four RBI's and two walks.
Quackenbush from Hoosick Falls, NY was selected as a pitcher. Quackenbush posted a 1.71 ERA during the season and went 4-2 with three saves and a miniscule 0.79 ERA in conference play. Quackenbush struck-out 143 batters in 110 innings. Quackenbush was good at the dish as well, batting .310 on the season. She led the team in doubles (9) and RBI's (18) and was second in hits (31). Quackenbush pitched the bye- clinching victory over Salem going the distance and striking-out nine.
The Tewksbury, Mass. native helped the Rams to a spot in this week's MASCAC Tournament and a 7-7 conference record. The 2014 MASCAC Rookie of the Year, Marsh finished the year fifth in batting average in the conference (.410), second in home runs (5), second in hits (41) and fourth in runs scored (30).
Worcester State's Meghan Rich was named the 2015 MASCAC Pitcher of the Year after helping Worcester State to the regular season title and the top seed in the MASCAC Tournament. The junior from Chelmsford, Mass. closed out the regular season with the conference's best ERA (1.53), total wins (15) and shutouts (8) while having the second most complete games (11).
Salem State freshman Marisa Sanchez has been tabbed as the 2015 MASCAC Rookie of the Year after finishing second in the league with a. 429 batting average, first in on base percentage at .570 and runs scored with 35 while adding nine RBI and eight stolen bases to help the Vikings to an 8-6 conference mark. Worcester State's Michelle Cote was awarded by her peers the 2015 Champion's Choice Coach of the Year honors after leading the Lancers to an 11-3 conference record and top seed in the tournament.
In addition to the trio of Trailblazers; Marsh, Rich and Sanchez were all on the MASCAC first team all-conference along with Bridgewater State's Courtney Leddy, Jocelyn Bettencourt, Breanna Shaffer and Jackie Welch, Framingham State's Dayna Marchant, Westfield State's Maddy Atkocaitis and Worcester State's Hayley Terry and Sara Pelletier.
Earning a spot on the MASCAC second team all-conference are Bridgewater State's Kelly McCarthy and Karissa Pagan, Fitchburg State's Emily Comtois and Marissa Gemma, Framingham State's Bridget McGrail, Massachusetts Maritime's Alexis Jendzejec, Salem State's Rebecca Krigman and Jenn Touissaint and Westfield State's Emma Dunbar and Emily Mailloux.