CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Boosted by stellar play in the month of April, Boston University softball junior Jilee Schanda was named the Patriot League Player of Year and joined by five other Terriers in receiving All-Conference honors, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.
Earning BU's 11th-ever conference year-end Player of the Year Award and first since 2013, Schanda was named to the first team for the second consecutive season. Senior shortstop Moriah Connolly, senior utility Gabi Martinez and senior pitcher Makinna Akers also received All-PL First Team accolades, while both sophomore catcher Alex Heinen and sophomore designated player Alexa Ponce were placed on the second team.
A native of Fresno, California, Schanda currently sits fourth overall in the PL with a .353 batting average and leads the way in conference play hitting a stellar .436. The junior outfielder ranks second in hits (53), fourth in slugging percentage (.513) and tied-for-fourth in runs scored (31). Besides making numerous impressive plays in center, she owns four homers this season after tallying one as a rookie and this past weekend became the first Terrier since 1999 to hit two triples in one game. Her Player of the Year honor marks the program's third major year-end award after Melanie Russell ('16) was named Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and senior Brittany Younan was tabbed Rookie of the Year in 2014.
Connolly garnered her fourth overall All-PL award and second first-team honor by hitting .335 in the lead-off position and swiping a school-record 38 bases, one shy of the PL mark. The Dunedin, Florida, native moved to the shortstop position following three years in the outfield and currently leads the PL with 55 hits and 45 runs scored, 10 more than the nearest player.
Martinez collected her second All-PL award after being named to the second team as a catcher in 2015. In her final year, she is hitting a personal-best .322 while collecting 31 RBIs, 30 runs scored, 11 doubles and five homers. Showing her versatility, the Weston, Florida, native has played 16 games so far at catcher, 14 in the outfield, 11 at third and 18 in the DP role.
A native of Roseburg, Oregon, Akers shut down the Patriot League this season, posting a 1.09 ERA in 10 appearances with four shutouts and 32 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched to claim her first All-PL honor. She ranks tied-for-first in overall ERA (2.15) and tied-for-fourth with 12 victories.
Batting .294, Heinen was placed on the second team again after leading the Terriers with seven homers and 39 RBIs. A native of San Clemente, California, she hit .357 against PL competition and contributed 21 RBIs to help the Terriers record five sweeps.
Ponce joined Heinen on the second team as a designated player by hitting .250 with 16 RBIs. The San Pedro, California, native recorded three hits in a game three times and drew 12 walks.
The defending conference champion Terriers are guided by second-year head coach Ashley Waters and will be entering this week's Patriot League tournament as the No. 2 seed with a 23-25 (14-3 PL) record. BU has won its last nine tourney games following sweeps in 2012 (America East), 2014 (PL) and 2016 (PL). The Terriers were banned from participating in the 2013 America East tournament due to the upcoming move to the PL and then were unable to grab one of the available four slots in 2015.
2017 Softball All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Player of the Year: Jilee Schanda, Boston University, Jr.
Pitcher of the Year: Christine Campbell, Lehigh, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Brooke Wensel, Lafayette, So.
Rookie of the Year: Lacey Swafford, Army West Point
Coach of the Year: Fran Troyan, Lehigh
First Team
1B – Vicky Lattanzio, Lehigh, Sr.
2B – Alee Rashenskas, Army West Point, Sr.
3B – Holly Geranen, Colgate, Jr.
SS – Moriah Connolly, Boston University, Sr.*
C – Carolyn Wright, Lehigh, Jr.
DP – Ashley Cole, Lehigh, Sr.*
OF – Jilee Schanda, Boston University, Jr.*
OF – Katie Bushee, Colgate, Sr.
OF – Ashley Quidolit-Rabago, Lehigh, So.
P – Makinna Akers, Boston University, Sr.
P – Emily Sorem, Lehigh, So.
At-large – Gabi Martinez, Boston University, Sr.
*Unanimous selection
Second Team
1B – Meghan Kovac, Bucknell, Jr.
2B – Mary-Hannah Smith, Lehigh, Fr.
3B – Mandy McCarthy, Holy Cross, Jr.
SS – Taylor Wahler, Holy Cross, So.
C – Alex Heinen, Boston University, So.
DP – Alexa Ponce, Boston University, So.
OF – Lacey Swafford, Army West Point, Fr.
OF – Ashley Cole, Lehigh, Sr.
OF – Nicole Yozzo, Lehigh, Jr.
P – Christine Campbell, Lehigh, Sr.
P – Raeanne Geffert, Bucknell, Fr.
At-large – Ashley Yoo, Army West Point, So.
