The Liberty League unveiled its 2022 All-League Teams and major awards for softball as voted by league's head coaches.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Megan White, Senior, Infielder, Skidmore College
Skidmore College senior infielder Megan White was named the Liberty League Player of the Year. White closed out her senior campaign with a strong year at the plate, she paced the league in batting average (.460) and doubles (17) while also ranking second in on base percentage (.500) and slugging percentage (.750). She was one of Division III’s toughest to strike out this season, in 100 at-bats she did not strike out. Despite being injured and missing eight games, she managed to set season records for the Thoroughbreds with a 17-game his streak prior to injury and doubles in a season. She had 14 multi-hit games and seven three-hit games on the season while helping Skidmore return to the postseason for the second straight year.
CO-PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Lauren Keys, First Year, University of Rochester
University of Rochester first-year Lauren Keys earned Liberty League Co-Pitcher of the Year honors following her rookie campaign with the Yellowjackets. Keys made a team-high 21 appearances from the circle for Rochester this season and holds 3.02 earned run average with an 11-6 record. In 83.1 innings, she struck out 46 and issued 26 walks while holding opponents to a .253 batting average. Keys is second in wins among the Liberty League’s top pitchers. She also boasts one of the best earned run averages of the conference and strikeouts. Keys has seven complete games this season and posted a no-hitter in the final weekend of league play.
CO-PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Olivia Zoeller, Senior, Clarkson University
For the third straight year, Clarkson University senior Olivia Zoeller has been recognized with a major Liberty League award; in 2019, she was named Co-Rookie of the Year and in 2021, the Pitcher of the Year. This year, Zoeller was recognized with Liberty League Co-Pitcher of the Year honors. Zoeller paces the league in numerous categories, including earned run average, opposing batting average and strikeouts. She finished the season with an 8-7 overall record with 14 starts and 19 appearances overall for the Golden Knights. Through 89.0 innings, she allowed only 15 earned runs for a 1.18 ERA while striking out 140 and walking 21. She allowed 53 hits and held opponents to a .164 batting average.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ally Kim, Infielder, University of Rochester
For the third time since 2019, a University of Rochester first-year player has garnered Rookie of the Year accolades. Ally Kim, in her first year in a Rochester uniform, has been a boost to the offense as well as on the base paths for the Yellowjackets. A starter of all 39 games, Kim is second on the team in batting average (.392) and on base percentage (.448) to go along with her team-high .615 slugging percentage. On the year, she has recorded 51 hits to go along with 48 runs, 26 runs batted in, 17 extra-base hits (10 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR). She is among the Liberty League’s top-10 hitters in batting average (8th), slugging percentage (6th), on base percentage (7th), hits (3rd), runs batted in (10th), doubles (6th), home runs (5th). She totaled 80 bases on the year and has stolen a league-best 44 bases for the Yellowjackets. She was caught stealing twice on the season.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: University of Rochester – Head Coach Margaret Yerdon-Grange; Assistant Coaches Mary Karen Wheat & Brittany Grage
University of Rochester head coach Margaret Yerdon-Grange and her assistant coaches were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year following a vote of the conference’s head coaches. They guided the Yellowjackets to a 26-13 overall record and a 13-1 mark in league play. They have won 24 of their last 25 games and went 3-0 in the conference tournament to earn their second consecutive Liberty League title. As a team, Rochester is hitting .307 while leading the league in doubles (79) and home runs (216). The Yellowjackets earned the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament and travel to Amherst College this weekend to open tourney play.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
P- Anna Cornell, Fr., Ithaca
P- Lauren Keys, Fr., Rochester
P- Olivia Zoeller, Sr., Clarkson
C- Gabby Comeau, Jr., RPI
IF- Erin Askins, Sr., RPI
IF- Ally Kim, Fr., Rochester
IF- Julia Loffredo, Sr., Ithaca
IF- Megan White, Sr., Skidmore
OF- Bailey Nicholoff, Fr., Rochester
OF- Karson Saunders, Jr., Union
OF- Jessica Torch, Sr., RPI
DP- Lauryn Best, Sr., St. Lawrence
UT- Hannah Davis, Sr., Skidmore
UT- Brooke Sroczinski, Jr., RPI
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM
P- Erika Holowka, Sr., RPI
P- Emily Sharlach, Jr., Rochester
C- Margo Hopper, So., St. Lawrence
IF- Allison Dell’orto, Jr., Ithaca
IF- Hannah Keiper, Jr., Rochester
IF- Molly Mason, Fr., Rochester
IF- Sela Scheinman, Fr., Ithaca
OF- Cora Ferguson, Jr., St. Lawrence
OF- Loren Castilloux, So., Rochester
OF- Melissa Mathias, Jr., Skidmore
OF- Meghan Robertson, Jr., Skidmore
OF- Sarah Vaccaro, Sr., Clarkson
DP- Allison Beckwith, Jr., Rochester
DP- Zoey Kovach, Fr., Clarkson
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION
C- Alexis Smith, Jr., RIT
IF- Tara Hartnett, Jr., Union
IF- Tava Kasper, Jr., Ithaca
IF- Kayla Robert, Sr., Clarkson
IF- Liv Vizzini, So., RPI
OF- Hannah Trumble, Sr., RIT