Softball Sweeps Postseason Awards

By: Greg Levinsky

Less than 48 hours ahead of the 2018 Patriot League Softball Tournament held at Boston University, the league announced its major award and all-conference team winners. The Terriers swept the major awards.

“To sweep every award is something that you dream of as a coach,” said Head Coach Ashley Waters in a release provided by Boston University. “We prepare as hard as we can from September until now, and to see these kids go through highs and lows and continue to chase their goals and dreams and then to have that effort rewarded by other people is absolutely incredible. I couldn’t be prouder. We’ve had some some incredible moments this year with some big-time wins and coming in first. Now with these awards, win or lose the tournament, this year is one to remember, and this group is incredibly special.”

Junior catcher Alex Heinen earned the Player of the Year nod after slugging a league-high 49 RBIs to go with a conference best .373 average. Heinen becomes just the second backstop to win the Patriot League Player of the Year and is the 12th BU Softball player to earn the honor.

Both the Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year Awards were bestowed upon freshman right-hander Ali DuBois. With a league-high 25 wins, good for fourth-best nationally, and top marks in ERA, strikeouts and batting average against, DuBois becomes the second player in conference history to win both awards in the same year.

With a sparkling .967 fielding percentage, senior shortstop Brittany Younan earned the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. She helped turn 16 double plays and becomes BU’s first ever conference Defensive Player of the Year winner.

Third-year head coach Ashley Waters earned the conference’s coach of the year after guiding the Terriers to a 36-18 record, 15-3 in the Patriot League, including wins in 17 of 18 contests to close the season.

Heinen, Younan and DuBois are joined by junior right fielder Emma Wong (.335 AVG, 48 Runs, 17 SB) on the All-Patriot League First-Team.

Seniors Jilee Schanda (.315 AVG, 20 extra-base hits, 34 RBIs), Kaitlin Sahlinger (.252 AVG, 3 Home Runs, 22 RBIs) and junior Emily Morrow (.283 AVG, 26 Runs, 14 RBIs) landed on the All-Patriot League Second Team.

The Terriers start their quest for the 2018 Patriot League Championship on Thursday afternoon with a noontime start against Army.