Following a vote by the conference's eight head coaches prior to the postseason, the Liberty League has announced its 2023 Softball Major Awards and All-League teams.
Player of the Year: Karson Saunders, Senior, Outfield, Union College
For the first time since 2008, a Union College softball player has been selected Liberty League Player of the Year. Senior Karson Saunders earns the nod following a strong senior campaign, where she played and started all 35 games for the Dutchwomen. She topped the team and league with her .528 batting average, good for fourth in Division III. On the year, Saunders totaled 56 hits (15 for extra bases) in 106 at-bats to go along with 26 runs batted in and 81 total bases as she led Union to its first postseason appearance since 2018. She was among Division III's top three in on-base percentage (3rd, .600), and top-45 in slugging percentage (42nd, .764). Saunders also led the conference in slugging percentage, and OPS (1.364), while ranking among the top three in hits (t-2nd) and runs scored (41; 3rd). She was among league leaders in triples (4; 7th), home runs (3; t-5th), walks (19; t-8th), and stolen bases (22; t-3rd). She was speedy on the base paths, stealing 22 bases in 23 attempts (.956). Saunders recorded a hit in 31 of 35 games and had 16 multi-hit games this season, including a season-high four on two occasions.
Pitcher of the Year: Alexis Cooke, Senior, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI senior Alexis Cooke was named Liberty League Pitcher of the Year. It is the first time since 2018 an Engineer has been selected for this award. Cooke made a team-high 21 starts from the circle for RPI this season, compiling a 2.37 earned run average, and a 13-4 overall record. In 93.2 innings of work, she struck out 76 and held opponents to a .245 batting average. Among league leaders, she was third in wins, and among the top 10 in ERA, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Against conference foes in league play, she posted a perfect 6-0 in six starts and did not allow an earned run in 30.0 innings en route to the Engineers earning the top seed and hosting the conference tournament for the first time since 2018.
Rookie of the Year: Callista Adorno, Outfield, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI first-year outfielder Callista Adorno earned Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors following a breakout season. Adorno made an immediate impact for the Engineers, playing and starting in all 41 games so far this season. The cleanup hitter for RPI, she is second on the team in batting at .369, producing 41 hits, including 12 doubles and a team-high three home runs, as well as 37 runs scored, and 32 runs batted in. Among league leaders, she is sixth in slugging percentage (.584) and eighth in on-base percentage (.479). She is also ranked fifth in runs scored, and home runs, tied for seventh in runs batted in, and tied for 10th in doubles.
Coaching Staff of the Year: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Amber Maisonet, Head Coach; Assistant Coach Katie Wysocki
RPI head coach Amber Maisonet and assistant coach Katie Wysocki were recognized as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year following a vote of the conference's head coaches. They directed the Engineers to a 32-9 overall record and a 13-1 mark in league play. RPI earned the top seed and hosting rights of the league tournament for the first time since 2018. As a team, the Engineers pace the league in batting average (.312) and were third in earned run average (2.58). RPI earned an at-large bid to the 2023 NCAA Division III tournament and will be making its first NCAA postseason appearance since 2017.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
P- Molly Broccolo, FY, Rochester
P- Alexis Cooke, Sr., RPI
C- Zoey Kovach, So., Clarkson
IF- Erin Askins, Gr., RPI
IF-Hannah Keiper, Sr., Rochester
IF- Ally Kim, So., Rochester
IF- Sela Scheinman, So., Ithaca
IF- Olivia Valery, Sr., Union
OF-Callista Adorno, FY, RPI
OF-Hudson Hassler, Jr., Ithaca
OF-Meghan Robertson, Sr., Skidmore
OF-Karson Saunders, Sr., Union
DP- Jenna Gorecki, So., Rochester
UTL-Devin Fitzpatrick, So., Clarkson
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM
P-Anna Cornell, So., Ithaca
P-Riley Piromalli, Sr., Ithaca
C-Alex Ledger, Jr., RPI
IF- Allison Dell'Orto, Sr., Ithaca
IF-Amanda Granato, Sr., Union
IF-Tava Kasper, Sr., Ithaca
IF-Evann McDowell, FY, RPI
IF-Stella VanGee, So., St. Lawrence
OF-Bailey Nicholoff, So., Rochester
OF-Emma Sabourin, So., Clarkson
OF-Sydney Speanburg, FY, RPI
DP-Gabby Comeau, Sr., RPI
DP-Bridget Twaits, Sr., Clarkson