Following a vote by the conference's eight head coaches prior to the conference tournament, the Liberty League has announced its 2024 Softball Major Awards and All-League teams.
Player of the Year: Riley Laygo, First-Year, Outfield, University of Rochester
For the first time since 2021, a University of Rochester softball player has been recognized as the Liberty League Player of the Year with first-year outfielder Riley Laygo garnering the accolade following the 2024 campaign. Laygo had a breakout campaign with the Yellowjackets as she paced the team offensively with a .476 batting average through the conference tournament. In 124 at-bats she produced a team-best 59 hits, 45 runs scored and 39 runs batted in. She also topped the team in doubles (15) and home runs (12). The five-time Liberty League Performer of the week is slugging .919 and has an on-base percentage of .500 to go along with 13 stolen bases. Among conference leaders, she boasts a league-best batting average, slugging percentage, and on base percentage. She also leads the league in runs scored, hits, runs batted in, doubles, and home runs. Laygo was among the conference’s top-five in triples (T-4th, 2) and at bats (5th). Additionally, Laygo was one of the toughest batters to strike out in the conference, striking out just once in league play (14 games), with her seven total strikeouts tied for the second-fewest in the conference among batters with 100+ at-bats. Laygo also made four appearances in the circle as a pitcher for the Yellowjackets this season, compiling a 0.88 ERA across 8.0 innings.
Pitcher of the Year: Brooke Sroczinski, Graduate Student, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
For the second consecutive season, a RPI pitcher has been recognized as the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year. Graduate Student Brooke Sroczinski is this year’s recipient after posting a 17-3 record in 26 appearances (23 starts) and compiling a league-best 1.08 earned run average (ERA) through the regular season and conference tournament. In 142.2 innings this season, she held opponents to a .173 batting average, allowed 86 hits while striking out 156. The two-time Liberty League Pitcher of the Week tossed 13 complete games, including five against league opponents in the regular season. On the year, Sroczinski has a league-best 17 victories to go along with a league-high innings pitched. She is also ranked second in opposing batting average, strikeouts, and strikeouts looking (49).
Rookie of the Year: Ava Markert, Pitcher, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
It is also the second straight year a player from RPI was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Year with pitcher Ava Markert earning this year’s honor. Markert has made 19 appearances in the pitching circle for the Engineers, going 5-0 in four starts. In 63.0 innings, she recorded five saves while allowing 56 hits. She struck out 40 and walked four. Markert leads the league in saves and is second in earned run average (1.33). Her earned runs allowed is second lowest among conference pitchers (12) while her 25 strikeouts looking was fourth and she was sixth in opposing batting average (.235).
Coaching Staff of the Year: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Amber Maisonet, Head Coach; Assistant Coach Katie Wysocki
RPI head coach Amber Maisonet and assistant Katie Wysocki were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. They guided the Engineers to a 32-3-1 overall record in the regular season and with a 12-2 mark against league opponents, RPI earned the top seed and hosting rights of the conference tournament for the second straight year. As a team, the Engineers hold a league-low 1.58 earned run average through 40 games and 275 innings. They also top the conference in hits (348), runs (222), and walks (97) as well as fielding percentage (.973). RPI is second in the league for batting average (.323) and on base percentage (.388) while ranking third in slugging percentage (.411). RPI earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament for the second year in a row.