SPRINGFIELD, Mass., May 3, 2006 – Softball players Denise Fumicello and Amanda Johansson of Springfield College were named New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-First Team earlier today at the annual NEWMAC coaches post-season meeting. The Pride’s Sarah Bagierek was also named to the Second-Team.

A conference Player of the Year candidate, Fumicello finished high in several league statistical listings. A second baseman and leadoff hitter, the sophomore from Brockton, Mass., led the NEWMAC in runs scored (43), stolen bases (27), and triples (5). She was also tied for second in the league in doubles with 12, and fifth in batting average (.385). She led her team in all those categories, plus hits (57), walks (18), total bases (85), and slugging percentage (.574).

Johansson, a senior catcher from Leominster, Mass., batted third in the Pride line-up and was considered a feared hitter. Johansson was seventh in the league in batting average (.371), tied for second in home runs (4), seventh in doubles (10), and led the league in RBI’s with 37. Her slugging percentage of .529 was second on the team, as were her 52 hits as well as her 15 walks.

Bagierek, a senior designated player from Douglas, Mich., batted .336, which was 13th-best in the NEWMAC. Her 26 RBI’s were fourth-best, and her nine doubles tied for ninth-best in the league. She also led the team in at-bats with 149.

All three of the above players started all of the 45 games SC played this year.

The all-conference selections culminate a good season for the Springfield College softball team with more awards expected to come. As the fifth-seeded team in the NEWMAC tournament, SC made it all the way to the NEWMAC post-season tourney championship game last Sunday before falling to top-seeded Babson, 2-0.

Falling just one win shy of reaching the NCAA Tournament, Springfield has elected not to pursue a berth in the upcoming ECAC tourney. Thus, SC’s season is over, having finished 25-20 overall, 9-7 during the NEWMAC regular season (tied for second), and 5-2 in the NEWMAC Tourney.

In the conference championship, the Pride began with a 1-0 victory at Wellesley on Tuesday, April 25 to advance to the double-elimination portion of the tourney. Beyond that, Springfield lost its first game on Saturday (2-0 to Babson), thus forcing the Pride to win four-straight games to win the title.

SC gave it a great run by defeating WPI, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning, SC defeated Smith, 4-2. Then on Sunday afternoon, in the first game of the championship round, SC defeated Babson, 3-2, in 10 innings. Finally, however, SC lost to the Beavers, 2-0.

Highlights of the season included Fumicello’s 10-game hitting streak to start the year, SC’s sweep of Wheaton, and, perhaps especially, Head Coach Kathy Mangano’s 400th career victory in the second game of a doubleheader sweep at MIT on April 22.

Senior first baseman Keir Stanford (Melrose, Mass.) also played well, batting .294. Freshman centerfielder Angela Atkins (East Haddam, Conn.), a NEWMAC Rookie of the Year candidate, batted .289. Freshman leftfielder Kasey Calderone (Pipersville, Pa.) hit .284. Senior shortstop Caitlin McGaughey (South Windsor, Conn.) played a steady brand of shortstop all year long. She and Fumicello teamed for a nice double-play combination around the second base bag. Fumicello was named a NEWMAC Co-Player of the Week (April 17).

On the mound, sophomore righthander Stephanie Blackman (Brockton, Mass.) finished with a 12-10 record and a 1.81 ERA. Blackman was named a NEWMAC Co-Pitcher of the Week (April 3). Freshman lefthander Samantha Rhodes (Mendon, Mass.) ended with a 10-5 overall mark and a 1.74 ERA.

Fumicello was named Springfield College’s winner of the Sophomore Female Team Award. The softball team also won the first annual Pride Challenge Award as a team. Both honors were presented at the school’s annual Sports Recognition Night last Sunday.

Following 17 seasons at Springfield, Kathy Mangano’s coaching record is now 405-338-1, good for a .545 winning percentage.

published: 05/04/2006