Softball Lands Four on NE-10 All-Conference Teams
Softball Lands Four on NE-10 All-Conference Teams
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Highlighted by two members on the all-conference second team and an all-rookie selection, the Merrimack College softball team placed four student-athletes on the Northeast-10 Softball All-Conference Teams, which were announced by the league Tuesday afternoon.
Representing Merrimack on the compilation of some of the league's top student-athletes were: senior outfielders Jessica Fugazzotto (Newton, Mass.) (Second Team) and Kelsey Francher (Weare, N.H.) (Third Team), as well as senior infielder Keaira Monet Perry (Bellingham, Mass.)(Second Team) and freshman pitcher Haley Currie (Burlington, Mass.) (Rookie Team).
"Congratulations to all of our award winners," head coach Jim Cardello noted after the announcement. "They all worked hard to improve their games and to be recognized for that effort is a great accomplishment."
A 2013 NE-10 All-Conference First Team selection, Fugazzotto has been even better a senior, ranking third on the team with a .382 average. In 102 at-bats, she has knocked in a team-leading 39 hits, tallied four doubles, driven in nine runs and, more importantly, has scored a team-best 23 runs herself. Fugazzotto has been deadly on the base paths as well, ranking third in the conference with 13 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
Repeating as a NE-10 All-Conference Second Team selection after earning the same honors last spring, Monet Perry is a team co-captain and, in addition to providing leadership in the dugout and on the diamond, boasts one of the more potent bats in the lineup. Her 19 RBI rank third on the team, while her five home runs are second-most among all Warriors. Holding a .253 batting average entering the conference playoffs, Monet Perry has slugged .525 to date and has smashed six doubles, three triples and boasts five stolen bases, as well.
Earning her first career all-conference honor, Francher has saved her best for last as part of a breakthrough senior campaign. The Weare, N.H., earned all-conference third team honors in the outfield and finished the regular season with a .350 batting average (36-for-103). Batting mostly as the cleanup hitter in the Warriors' potent lineup, she has driven in 25 runs and has smashed four home runs, doubles and triples while slugging .583, the second-best mark on the team. She also is a perfect 6-for-6 on the base paths.
Finally, Currie burst onto the scene in impressive fashion as freshman and deservedly so earned a spot on the all-conference rookie team. Forming a lethal pitching tandem alongside sophomore Alexis Perry (Westford, Vt.), Currie finished the regular season as the team's leader in virtually every pitching statistic, including appearances (28), saves (4), innings pitched (123), strikeouts (92) and ERA (2.90). In 14 starts, she owns a 9-8 record while opponents have hit just .258 against her.
Back in the postseason for the first time since 2011, the Warriors open up NE-10 Championship action with a first round matchup at home against Bentley later today. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
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