College Softball News

Dayton Sweeps Major A-10 Softball Awards

Atlantic 10 Softball

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.— Dayton swept all four major Atlantic 10 softball awards, claiming Player, Pitcher, Rookie and Coach of the Year honors. The conference announced the four awards along with its All-Conference, All-Rookie and All-Academic teams Tuesday in advance of the 2015 A-10 Softball Championship, which begins Wednesday in Amherst, Mass.

Flyers senior first baseman Tiffany Ricks took home A-10 Player of the Year honors and her classmate Kayla English was named Pitcher of the Year. Freshman pitcher Manda Cash was named Rookie of the Year. Dayton coach Cara LaPlaca earned her first A-10 Coach of the Year honors as well.

Ricks batted .393 this season in all games and .446 against Atlantic 10 opponents. She had a league-leading 12 home runs, 36 RBI and 33 runs scored. A native of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, she had an 18-game hitting streak this season and 16 multi-hit games this year.

English was a four-time A-10 Pitcher of the Week selection, posting a 0.84 ERA in conference play and a 1.52 ERA in all games. The Grapevine, Texas, native was 18-5 this season with 117 strikeouts. She threw Dayton’s first-ever perfect game this season.

Cash, a Columbus, Ohio product, had a 0.97 ERA in the A-10 and 1.35 ERA in all games with a 10-1 record. She also had an NCAA-leading nine saves and was a four-time A-10 Rookie of the Week selection.

LaPlaca led the Flyers to a 37-12 overall record and a 20-2 A-10 mark. Dayton earned its first A-10 regular season title and championship top seed.

There were 22 players honored on the First and Second All-Conference teams, 11 on the All-Rookie and 11 on the All-Academic team.

The six-team chamionship begins Wednesday, with Dayton as the top seed. UD and second-seeded Saint Louis will both have first-round byes. Two-time defending champion Fordham is seeded third. George Mason, La Salle and St. Bonaventure will be seeded fourth though sixth respectively.

The double-elimination tournament features three games on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and concludes Saturday with the final. The winner will earn the A-10’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Tickets begin at $8 for adults and $4 for youth. There are also championship ticket books and group ticket prices available. The entire championship will also be available for fans to watch on the A-10 Network through Atlantic10.com

2015 Atlantic 10 Softball Awards

Player of the Year
Tiffany Ricks, Dayton

Pitcher of the Year
Kayla English, Dayton

Rookie of the Year
Manda Cash, Dayton

Coach of the Year
Cara LaPlaca, Dayton

First Team All-Conference
First Base Tiffany Ricks Dayton
Second Base Amy Van Hoven Fordham
Third Base Brooke Blankenship George Mason
Shortstop Quianna Diaz-Patterson Massachusetts
Catcher Kayla Lombardo Fordham
Outfield Natalie Mariano Dayton
Outfield Gabrielle Snyder Dayton
Outfield Lindsay Friedman Saint Louis
Designated Player Kelli Rohan St. Bonaventure
Pitcher Kayla English Dayton
Pitcher Rachel Gillen Fordham

Second Team All-Conference
First Base Liz Seymour George Mason
Second Base Sarah Yoos Saint Joseph’s
Third Base Christina Bascara La Salle
Shortstop Alex Nickel Saint Louis
Catcher Ali Summers Rhode Island
Outfield Sydney Canessa Fordham
Outfield Casey Price George Mason
Outfield Josie Knesel Saint Louis
Designated Player Rachel Gillen Fordham
Pitcher Brianna Lore Saint Louis
Pitcher Manda Cash Dayton

All-Rookie
Manda Cash, Dayton
Kailee Budicin, Dayton
Morgan Figueroa, Fordham
Liz Seymour, George Mason
Sarah Costlow, George Washington
McKenzie Peace, La Salle
Josie Borysevicz, St. Bonaventure
Nikki Alden, Saint Joseph’s
Madison Clarke, Saint Joseph’s
Allie Macfarlane, Saint Louis
Josie Knesel, Saint Louis

All-Academic
Gabrielle Snyder, Dayton
Michelle Daubman, Fordham
Kayla Lombardo, Fordham
Mary O’Connor, George Mason
Carlee Gray, George Washington
Alicia Aughton, La Salle
Grace Rooney, St. Bonaventure
Katie Sinclair, St. Bonaventure
Elizabeth Everingham, Saint Louis
Lindsay Friedman, Saint Louis

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