May 9, 2023--Mount St. Mary's third baseman Maggie Kane has been named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAAC.  First baseman Kaia Bonshock, center fielder Vanessa Martin and pitcher Avery Neuhart were each named Second Team All-MAAC while freshman pitcher Maddie Coleman earned a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team.

Kane, a graduate student, is having a terrific season for the Mountaineers, hitting .291 with five home runs, 21 RBI, 27 runs scored and 10 stolen bases while starting 48 games.  Kane hit .355 with 15 runs scored, wo home runs, nine RBI, eight steals and a .412 on-base percentage in MAAC regular season play.  Defensively, Kane has provided multiple highlight reel catches at third base while being part of a Mount defense that leads the nation in double plays per game and is tops in the MAAC in team fielding percentage (.968).

Bonshock, a graduate student, is hitting .307 with seven doubles and 18 RBI in 39 games played this season.  Bonshock caught fire at the plate during the second half of the season, and hit a team-best .422 in MAAC regular season contests.  After a slow start at the plate, Bonshock is hitting .372 since early March, helping the Mount to a 29-7 record over their past 36 games.

Neuhart, also a graduate student, leads the MAAC with a 1.74 ERA this season while compiling a 12-4 record in 21 appearances (17 starts) with 10 complete-game efforts.  Neuhart has struck out 63 batters and walked just 17 in 117.0 innings pitched on the year.  Her 1.74 ERA is 50th in NCAA Division I this season while she is 21st in the nation in walks allowed per seven innings pitched (1.02).  Neuhart went 7-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 10 MAAC regular season starts, striking out 29 and walking eight in 61.0 innings of work.

Martin also came on strong late in the season for the Mountaineers.  The senior center fielder is hitting .264 with six doubles, three home runs, 15 stolen bases and a team-high 23 RBI.  Martin hit .368 in MAAC play with 15 RBI and seven steals in 20 games.  Martin leads the team with six games with two or more RBI this year.

Coleman is 5-6 with a 2.16 ERA and a pair of saves for the Mountaineers this season.  The freshman is third in the MAAC in ERA and leads the conference by in opponents batting average (.212).  She has recorded 49 strikeouts in 74.2 innings pitched on the year.

The Mountaineers finished the regular season with a 32-17 record, a program record for wins in a season.  The Mount went a15-5 in MAAC play to earn the No. 2 seed in this week's MAAC Championships.  The Mount earned the No. 2 seed and will open the tournament on Thursday, May 11, at 11:00 a.m. against the winner between No. 3 Marist and No. 6 Iona.
 

2023 MAAC Softball Major Awards
Award	Name	School
Player of the Year	Maddie Pleasants	Marist
Pitcher of the Year	Megan Giese	Canisius
Co-Defensive Player of the Year	Maggie Kane Dakota Pitts	Mount St. Mary's  Saint Peter's
Rookie of the Year	Haley Ahr	Marist
Coach of the Year	Kim Griffin	Canisius

 
 

All-MAAC First Team
Position	Player
Catcher	Gianna Fazzolari, Canisius
Infield	Saige Alfaro, Canisius
Infield	Haley Ahr, Marist
Infield	Maddie Pleasants, Marist
Infield	Maggie Kane, Mount St. Mary's
Outfield	Christie McGee-Ross, Canisius
Outfield	Mary Fogg, Quinnipiac
Outfield	Sam Hare, Niagara
Pitcher	Megan Giese, Canisius
Pitcher	Kara Zazzaro, Iona
Utility	Jessie Niegocki, Rider
Designated Player	Rosie Gomez, Canisius

 

All-MAAC Second Team
Position	Player
Catcher	Jamie Sheeran, Iona
Infield	Lauren Rende, Manhattan
Infield	Kaia Bonshock, Mount St. Mary's
Infield	Sam Freeland, Marist
Infield	Lindsay Mayo, Niagara
Infield	Cara Mcnulty, Saint Peter's
Outfield	Vanessa Martin, Mount St. Mary's
Outfield	Ava Fitzmaurice, Siena
Outfield	Peyton Pusey, Marist
Outfield	Isabella Pardo, Iona
Pitcher	Avery Neuhart, Mount St. Mary's
Pitcher	Kiley Myers, Marist
Utility	Maddy Weir, Manhattan
Designated Player	Jaedyn Merrill, Rider

 

MAAC All- Rookie Team
Name	School
Haley Ahr	Marist
Peyton Pusey	Marist
Mary Fogg	Quinnipiac
Rylee Alfaro	Canisius
Delaney Whieldon	Fairfield
Alissa Eimont	Siena
Maddie Coleman	Mount St. Mary's
Tai Turner	Saint Peter's
Jadeyn Merrill	Rider
Maddy Weir	Manhattan