SUNY COBLESKILL SOFTBALL PLAYERS HONORED BY THE NAC WITH POST SEASON AWARDS

Waterville, Maine: The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) announced today that five members of the SUNY Cobleskill softball team have been honored with NAC Post-Season Awards by the league’s coaches.

Junior first baseman Alexis Miranda, Nashua, N.H., Nashua High School, was named to the First Team All-NAC Western Division Team while senior pitcher Marissa Wheeler, Kinderhook, N.Y., Ichabod Crane High School, sophomore catcher Mackenzie Wendelken, Stuyvesant, N.Y., Ichabod Crane High School, and junior outfielder/catcher Emily Lutz, Ellenville, N.Y., Ellenville High School, were all named to the Second Team All-NAC Western Division Team. Additionally, senior shortstop EmmaRae Easton, Coudersport, Pa., Coudersport High School, was named to the conference’s NAC Sportsmanship Team.

The quintet helped lead the Fighting Tigers their second consecutive NAC Championship Tournament appearance after going 11-25 overall including a 6-6 record in conference action.

According to first-year Fighting Tiger Head Softball Coach Morgan Flamholtz this group played a significant role in the team’s play during a coaching transitional year and has set the program up for future success.

“This was a key group of young ladies who helped us go as far as we did this season and they have helped us lay the foundation for moving the program forward in the years to come.”

After earning Second Team All-Conference honors in 2022 Alexis Miranda took things a step  further this season making the jump to the league’s first team as the Fighting Tiger first baseman terrorized NAC pitchers by going 49-for-107 in 34 games for a .458 batting average while posting a .496 on base percentage with 11 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 25 runs scored and 33 runs batted in on the year.

Senior pitcher Marissa Wheeler earned her second consecutive selection to the Second Team All-Conference Team after going 8-11 overall with a 4.59 ERA striking out 144 batters in 22 appearances including 13 complete games in 117.1 innings of work which including a pair of shutouts and the team’s first no-hitter in five seasons. Wheeler also played a more active role offensively this season batting .265 with an on-base percentage of .315 with nine doubles, seven runs scored and 12 runs batted in in 31 games.

A transfer from Husson University, Mackenzie Wendelken anchored the Cobleskill catching corps and heart of the team’s batting order this season going 51-for-111 for a team leading batting average of .459 with an on-base percentage of .508 with 12 doubles, two home runs, 18 runs scored and 30 runs batted in in 36 games this season.

Junior Emily Lutz enjoyed the best season of her Cobleskill career going 33-for-102 for a .324 with an on-base percentage of .395 with six doubles, 12 runs batted in and 26 runs scored in 34 games splitting time between left field and catcher.

The program's award recipients were rounded out by EmmaRae Easton who was named to the 2023 NAC Sportsmanship Team which honors student-athletes in keeping with the conference's theme of "Creating an Atmosphere of Respect" for each of its sports. The establishment of the Sportsmanship Team in all sports is in concert with the league's ultimate goal to create an atmosphere that places the highest regard for exemplary behavior of all participants, coaches, administrators, fans and officials.

After a two-year hiatus Easton returned to the line-up this season to anchor the shortstop position batting .241 with a .278 on base percentage including five doubles, four triples, 13 runs batted in and 21 runs scored in 36 games on the year.