NEAC Releases 2019 Softball All-Conference Team and Individual Award Winners
GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced its 2019 Softball All-Conference Team with 33 student-athletes receiving first, second and third team honors. Four individuals were also honored with major awards that are selected in a vote by the conference coaches.
Keuka College’s Jessie Hammers (Wayland, N.Y.) has been selected as the NEAC Player of the Year after leading the league with a .487 batting average and 55 hits. The Wolves’ junior shortstop set a school record for hits in a season and is bringing a 16-game hit streak into the NEAC Final Four. She is also second among conference players with 25 stolen bases and third with a .508 on-base percentage. In 33 games, Hammers has 14 RBIs and has proven to be a difficult out for opposing pitchers as she has struck out just seven times this season. The First Team All-Conference selection has been impressive in conference play, going 29-for-54 at the plate for a .537 batting average with 17 stolen bases. On the defensive side, Hammers has committed just five errors this season for a .951 fielding percentage. In addition to this year’s award, Hammers was named the NEAC North Division Player and Rookie of the Year in 2017.
Penn State Berks’ Jess Rozick (Bensalem, Pa.) wraps up an outstanding career with her fourth NEAC Pitcher of the Year award. Prior to receiving this year’s honor, Rozick was named NEAC South Division Pitcher of the Year in each of her first two seasons before earning NEAC Pitcher and Player of the Year honors in 2018. This year, the Nittany Lions’ senior pitcher has been named NEAC Pitcher of the Week on four occasions and heads into this weekend’s tournament with a 9-0 record, five shutouts, 71 strikeouts and a 1.06 ERA against conference opponents. Overall, Rozick is tied for the league lead with 13 wins while ranking second in the NEAC with a 1.76 ERA and third with 113 strikeouts. Rozick is also one of three Penn State Berks representatives to be selected to the All-NEAC First Team.
Caitlin Kelleher (Schuylerville, N.Y.) from Cazenovia College has been named NEAC Rookie of the Year after a strong debut season. Kelleher finished the season ranked second in the NEAC with a .479 batting average, .702 slugging percentage and 15 doubles. She is also fourth in the league with a .505 on-base percentage, fifth with 45 hits, and 16th with 21 RBIs. The Wildcats’ rookie set a school record of doubles in a season, breaking the previous record of 14 held by teammate Hannah Croteau. She has also provided a strong defensive presence behind the plate, allowing just one passed ball in her first season. Kelleher is one of two freshmen listed on the All-NEAC First Team and one of six to receive all-conference accolades.
Penn State Berks head coach Donna Ference has been recognized as the NEAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career with her last award coming in 2017. Ference and the Nittany Lions closed out the regular season on a 20-game winning streak and will enter the postseason at 28-8 overall. Penn State Berks earned it seventh-straight NEAC Regular Season Championship after posting a 10-0 divisional record and an 18-0 record in league play. The Nittany Lions have a league-best .337 batting average and a 1.64 ERA while seeing six players land on the All-Conference Team under Ference’s guidance.
2019 NEAC Softball All-Conference Team
| Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
Hometown |
| All-Conference First Team |
| Jessie Hammers |
Keuka College |
Jr. |
SS |
Wayland, N.Y. |
| Jess Rozick |
Penn State Berks |
Sr. |
P/OF |
Bensalem, Pa. |
| Becca Dougherty |
Penn State Abington |
Sr. |
P |
Churchville, Pa. |
| Brianna Smith |
Penn State Berks |
So. |
C/1B |
Pottstown, Pa. |
| Rachel Hall |
SUNY Cobleskill |
So. |
P/INF |
Greenwhich, N.Y. |
| Val Miller |
Penn State Berks |
Sr. |
P/OF |
Sinking Spring, Pa. |
| Melissa Barber |
SUNY Poly |
Sr. |
UTIL |
Nassau, N.Y. |
| Kylie Shreiner |
Penn College |
Jr. |
C/UTIL |
East Petersburg, Pa. |
| Caitlin Kelleher |
Cazenovia College |
Fr. |
C/INF |
Schuylerville, N.Y. |
| Alyssa Villielm |
SUNY Cobleskill |
Fr. |
OF/C |
Rifton, N.Y. |
| Morgan Heritage |
Penn College |
So. |
P |
New Castle, Del. |
| All-Conference Second Team |
| Whitney Tyler |
Keuka College |
So. |
P |
Meshoppen, Pa. |
| Ciera Sprague |
Morrisville State |
So. |
SS |
Elmira, N.Y. |
| Stephanie Andreoli |
Penn State Abington |
So. |
P |
Richboro, Pa. |
| Hannah Croteau |
Cazenovia College |
Jr. |
OF |
Central Square, N.Y. |
| Hannah Neild |
Gallaudet University |
So. |
SS |
Litchfield, N.H. |
| Jillian Nitchman |
SUNY Cobleskill |
Fr. |
OF |
Ballston Spa, N.Y. |
| Jontae Patton |
College of Saint Elizabeth |
Fr. |
3B/1B |
Oxnard, Calif. |
| Nicole DeKok |
Lancaster Bible |
So. |
P/INF |
Kendall Park, N.J. |
| Jenna Devora |
Wells College |
So. |
1B/3B |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Taylor Krow |
Penn College |
Sr. |
OF |
Mechanicsburg, Pa. |
| Hunter Hart |
Penn State Berks |
So. |
OF |
Langhorne, Pa. |
| All-Conference Third Team |
| Maddy Davidson |
Penn State Berks |
Fr. |
UTIl |
Leesport, Pa. |
| Courtney Morton |
SUNY Poly |
Sr. |
INF |
Whitesboro, N.Y. |
| Teya Carr |
College of Saint Elizabeth |
So. |
3B |
Moreno Valley, Calif. |
| Taylor Brooks |
Penn College |
Sr. |
OF |
Cogan Station, Pa. |
| Quesha Sells |
SUNY Cobleskill |
Jr. |
OF/INF |
Cobleskill, N.Y. |
| Megan Krieger |
Cazenovia College |
So. |
INF |
Cato, N.Y. |
| Jacklyn Zacarias |
Gallaudet University |
Sr. |
P/1B |
Montebello, Calif. |
| Cori Dickinson |
Penn State Berks |
So. |
3B |
Pottstown, Pa. |
| Sam Friend |
Penn State Abington |
Sr. |
UTIL |
Southampton, Pa. |
| Brittany Vergason |
Keuka College |
Jr. |
3B/C |
Nichols, N.Y. |
| Edyliese Aquino |
SUNY Cobleskill |
So. |
P/1B/3B |
Stamford, Conn. |
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The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has 12 NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Cazenovia College, College of Saint Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University – Abington, Pennsylvania State University – Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, Morrisville State, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and Wells College. Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (W Lacrosse), Hilbert College (M&W Lacrosse), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse), Rutgers University – Camden (M Golf), and Wilson College (M Volleyball). The NEAC has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sport of men’s tennis and with the Colonial State Athletic Conference in the sport of Field Hockey. For more information, please visit: www.neacsports.com.