Each week for the remainder of the spring we will honor the seniors from two NE10 softball programs as our teams of the week for each player's dedication to their program and teammates.
American International
Head Coach Shalise Tolentino on her senior class - "It is hard to imagine AIC softball without Lydia, Ari, Olivia and Kayla. Our program is grateful they chose to wear the Yellow Jacket uniform and their contributions to this team will be felt for years to come. This past season, their leadership helped AIC Softball turn a corner into a bright future and we are forever grateful for their dedication to make this happen. I am excited for this class and the bright opportunities waiting for them ahead. Whatever direction life takes them, I am confident they will continue to be the leaders they were born to be and I look forward to seeing them become trailblazers for their desired fields."
Seniors
- Kayla Riley – Infield – Haverhill, Mass.
- Lydia DePina – Outfield – Randolph, Mass.
- Ariana DiCioccio – Pitcher – Ellington, Conn.
- Olivia Gonzalez – Infield/Pticher – East Hartford, Conn.
Season Recap
The Yellow Jackets opened their season with consecutive wins over Felician and Bloomfield. The team added a victory over Saint Thomas Aquinas to conclude the season with a 3-6 record overall. Senior Kayla Riley led the team with right hits and was second with a .258 average. Olivia Gonzalez threw nine innings over two appearances while Arian DiCioccio posted a 2.33 ERA in three appearances.
Saint Anselm
Head Coach Jill Gagnon on her senior class – "The Saint Anselm Softball 2020 senior class has taken our program to new heights. Although we are saddened by the loss of our season, we understand the severity of the situation and have done our best to take things in stride while seeing the bigger picture. These five seniors have been the catalyst to our team's success for the past few seasons and what they have been able to accomplish is truly amazing. From redefining our team culture to breaking multiple records and even playing for a National Championship, this special group of student-athletes have left their mark and provided us with a foundation that will hopefully carry on for years to come. While we may be left wondering what would have been, these five seniors have undoubtedly helped the "Hawks Soar Higher." We wish them luck in their future endeavors and know that they will be successful in whatever they do."
Seniors
- Shannon Colson – Outfield – Rochester, N.H.
- Morgan Perry – Pitcher – Bethany, Conn.
- Maggie Murphy – Outfield, - Scarborough, Maine
- Erin Thompson – Outfield – Newton, N.H.
- Kaleigh Scoville – First Base – Scarborough, Maine
Season Recap
The Hawks were nationally ranked all season and opened the year 9-0. They also concluded their season with three straight wins, including one over No. 24 Southern Indiana, to finish 16-4 and ranked 12th nationally. Maggie Murphy led the team with a .450 average and 27 hits while Shannon Colson & Erin Thompson combined for 37 hits and 14 runs scored. Morgan Perry, meanwhile, was 10-0 on the season with a 0.52 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 67 innings of action. This class is the winningest in school history and won 40+ games each of the previous two seasons, highlighted by finishing as the National Runner-Up in 2018. They also won the program's first NE10 Title in 2019.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
