2018 Patriot League Softball Award Predictions

By: Greg Levinsky

Sunday marked the end of the 2018 Patriot League softball regular season. With the four-team conference tournament set to begin on Thursday afternoon, hosted by the Boston University Terriers, it’s time to predict the postseason softball awards for 2018.

Major Awards:

Player of the Year: Alex Heinen, Boston University

The junior catcher caught all 54 games of the league’s best pitching staff and led the conference with a .384 average and 49 RBIs. She struck out just nine times the entire season, ranked fourth in slugging percentage and fifth in on-base percentage. She also averaged nearly an RBI per game in conference play.

Pitcher of the Year: Ali DuBois, Boston University

The best pitcher on the league’s best team, the freshman standout ended the regular season with league best marks in wins, shutouts, strikeouts, innings pitched and starts; DuBois was also tied for first in ERA and opponent batting average. She was even better in conference play, going 14-2 with a 1.07 ERA and seven shutouts in 17 starts.

Rookie of the Year: Ali DuBois, Boston University

She was tremendous for all the above reasons.

Defensive Player of the Year: Emily Ballesteros, Army 

A flashy third baseman, the sophomore made a league-high 126 assists in the field and made just six errors in 198 chances – earning her a .970 fielding percentage. She also helped turn five double plays, ranking in the top 10 among non-first baseman.

Coach of the Year: Ashley Waters, Boston University

In her third year at the helm, Waters guided the Terriers to their first Patriot League regular season title. The Terriers maintained league leads in nearly every offensive and pitching category, and surrendered just three games in conference play, finishing the regular season winners in 17 of 18 games.

All-Conference Teams:

First Team

C: Alex Heinen, Boston University

1B: Meghan Kovac, Bucknell

2B: Lauren Hadley, Bucknell

SS: Brittany Younan, Boston University

3B: Holly Geranen, Colgate

OF: Jackie Brewster, Holy Cross

OF: Jilee Schanda, Boston University

OF: Nicole Yozzo, Lehigh

DP: Carrie Reilly, Army

P: Ali DuBois, Boston University

P: Courtney Springman, Army

Second Team

C: Taylor Wolfgang, Bucknell

1B: Maddie Wensel, Lafayette

2B: Taylor Drayton, Army

SS: Anna Gimmestad, Bucknell

3B: Madi Killebrew, Boston University

OF: Emma Wong, Boston University

OF: Kristen McPeek, Army

OF: Paige Grover, Lafayette

DP: Emily Ballesteros, Army

P: Raeanne Geffert, Bucknell

P: Parker Boyd, Lehigh