Samantha Rhodes and Michelle Wlosek were selected to the NEWMAC First Team, while teammates Denise Fumicello and Danielle Spiro were second team selections.

Winning the league title in dramatic fashion last weekend, Mangano led the Pride to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. To date, the Pride are 29-15 and have won 20 of its last 24 games.

A native of Mendon, Mass., Rhodes was nothing short of brilliant this season, especially in the NEWMAC Tournament. Rhodes is currently 22-5 on the season and became just the fourth 20-game winner in program history. Her 22 wins are tied for second-most all time in a single season in Springfield history. This season, she currently has an ERA of 2.06 and has 137 strikeouts and just 29 walks. Delivering in the clutch, Rhodes threw every pitch in the NEWMAC Tournament as the Pride claimed the league crown.

Hailing from Nutley, N.J, Wlosek continued to thrive for the Pride in her second season at Springfield. Wlosek leads the team with a .414 batting average and has a slugging percentage of .684. She has 55 hits so far this season, including 12 doubles and eight homers, to go along with a team-best 36 RBI.

Batting .319 on the season, Fumicello, the Brockton, Mass. product, had a stellar senior season for the Pride. Fumicello went 25 for 26 in stolen bases as a constant threat on the basepaths. She has scored a team-high 34 runs, while knocking in 21 runs this year.

A junior from South Windsor, Conn., Spiro appeared in every game for the Pride as its designated player. She has a batting average of .385 this season, third best on the team, as she has registered 53 hits, 18 runs scored, and 18 RBI. In the NEWMAC Tournament, the junior batted a team-best .500 as she helped the Pride advance to the NCAA Tournament.

2008 NEWMAC Softball All-Conference Team and Award Winners
Player of the Year
Jenna Harvey, SR, Wellesley College, P

Pitcher of the Year
Jenna Harvey, SR, Wellesley College

Rookie of the Year
Amanda Frederick, Coast Guard Academy, C

Coach of the Year
Kathy Mangano, Springfield College

Sportsmanship Award
Smith College

First Team All-Conference
Heather Warren, SR, Clark, P/IF
Lauren Blake, SO, Clark, IF
Amanda Frederick, FY, Coast Guard, C
Samantha Rhodes, JR, Springfield, P
Michelle Wlosek, SO, Springfield, C
Kara Wong, SR, Wellesley, C
Jenna Harvey, SR, Wellesley, P
Stacey Kelleher, JR, Wheaton, IF
Jodi Moynagh, SR, Wheaton, P

Second Team All-Conference
Jess Byrn, SR, Babson, P/OF
Melissa Traft, SO, Clark, P/IF
Leanna Minton, SO, Coast Guard, 2B
Megan Kiefer, SO, Smith, IF/C
Denise Fumicello, SR, Springfield, IF
Danielle Spiro, JR, Springfield, IF
Amanda Tai, JR, Wellesley, OF
Megan Wood, SO, Wellesley, P/OF
Audrey Poulton, SR, Wheaton, UTL

published: 04/29/2008