BOSTON, Mass. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference has announced the 2013 All-GNAC Softball Teams as well as major awards after this weekend's championship where the No. 4 seeded Saint Joseph's College (ME) Monks upended No. 8 seeded Suffolk University to capture their third straight GNAC championship.
Suffolk junior catcher Erin McAndrews (Marblehead, Mass.) has been named the 2013 GNAC Player of the Year. The junior led her team to a 16-25 overall record, as well as an 11-13 GNAC record. The Rams claimed the No. 8 seed in the GNAC tournament and made an incredible run to the finals before falling in the championship series. The Marblehead, Mass. native led the GNAC with an impressive .479 batting average on the year. The junior also was atop of the GNAC in RBI'S, with a total of 42 on the season. McAndrews hit five homeruns on the year which was good for fifth in the GNAC overall. In an April 5th matchup with Anna Maria, the junior hit two homeruns and a double, while compiling seven RBI's in a 11-3 victory. McAndrew's solid play throughout the season was a big reason for the Ram's success and late-season playoff push.
Johnson & Wales junior pitcher Taylor Cwalinski (Jackson, N.J.) was named the 2013 GNAC Pitcher of the Year. Cwalinksi helped guide her Wildcats to a 24-17 overall record as well as a 16-8 in-conference record, which was good enough for a fifth place finish in the conference. The junior was atop of the league in strikeouts on the season, compiling an impressive 185 on the year. In 139.0 innings pitched, Cwalinski built a solid 0.91 ERA in the conference, which was the best in the GNAC. On ten occasions in the 2013 season, Cwalinski struck out 10 or more batters. Cwalinski led all Wildcats on the season with 12 wins for her team.
Norwich University coach Greg McGrath took home the Coach of the Year award for the Cadets. In his fourth season with the Cadets, McGrath guided his team to a 25-9 overall record as well as an impressive 20-4 in-conference mark. The Cadets claimed the regular season GNAC title, before being upset in the first round of the conference playoffs. McGrath helped guide the team to an incredibly successful regular season, in which the Cadets put together a 19-game win streak.
University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) freshman Patti Sciglimpaglia (Norwalk, Conn.) was named the 2013 GNAC Rookie of the Year. The outfielder and pitcher helped the Blue Jays to a 32-12 regular season record, which included an 18-6 GNAC record. The Blue Jay's earned the No. 3seed in the GNAC tournament with the help of the rookie. The Norwalk native hit an impressive .395 on the season, while hitting 28 RBI's. On the mound, Sciglimpaglia also found great success. The rookie led the league with 14 wins on the season, while striking out 111 batters which was good for fifth in the GNAC. The freshman's all-around efforts were a big reason for the success of the Blue Jays.