2008 NESCAC Softball Players of the Week

May 5, 2008
Player of the Week
Megan Cusick, Tufts
(Senior, Catcher - Albany, N.Y.)
Cusick batted .462 (6-for-13) with a .500 on-base percentage and a .848 slugging mark in helping the Jumbos win the 2008 NESCAC Softball Championship. Cusick had six RBIs while scoring four runs, two doubles, and a home run. She also caught every inning for Tufts, failing to commit an error.

Pitcher of the Week
Lauren Gelmetti, Tufts
(Junior, RHP - Westfield, N.J.)
Making three appearances for Tufts during the 2008 NESCAC Softball Championship, Gelmetti posted a 0.70 ERA and held opposing batters to an average of .133. In 10.0 innings of work, Gelmetti gave up four hits and one earned run, striking out two batters. She finished the weekend 1-0 with a save.

April 28, 2008
Player of the Week
Cara Hovhanessian, Tufts
(Junior, UT - Farmington, Conn.)
Hovhanessian had a strong week for the Jumbos, batting .556 (10-for-18) with 11 RBIs and five runs scored. She also had a double, a home run, and a slugging percentage of .778. During Tufts three-game sweep of Bates, she went 8-for-11 with 10 RBIs.

Pitcher of the Week
Alyssa Crowell, Colby
(Junior, RHP - Gilford, N.H.)
Crowell went 2-0 with a save last week for Colby, allowing seven hits and two earned runs while striking out 11 batters and giving up only three walks through 15.0 innings. Against Bowdoin on Thursday, Crowell pitched a three-hitter, striking out two and walking one in a 6-2 Colby victory.

April 21, 2008
Player of the Week
Izzie Santone, Tufts
(First Year, RHP - Madison, Conn.)
Santone allowed one unearned run over 11.1 innings pitched last week, as she gave up six hits and struck out 12 batters while surrendering only one walk. Against Trinity on Saturday in game one, Santone went the distance to pick up the victory. She came on in game two and pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Pitcher of the Week
Alex Chang-Graham, Amherst
(Sophomore, RHP - San Carlos, Calif.)
Pitching three complete games last week, Chang-Graham went 2-1 with a 0.65 ERA, as she did not allow an earned run in her first 15 innings pitched. Over 21.2 IP, Chang-Graham allowed 18 hits as she held opposing batters to a .214 average. She also struck out 13 while giving up three walks.

April 14, 2008
Player of the Week
Joey Lye, Williams
(Junior, SS - Scarborough, Ontario)
Lye batted .684 (13-for-19) from the lead-off spot for the Ephs last week, reaching base 11 consecutive times at one point and posting an on-base percentage of .714. She also scored eight runs and knocked in five others, had two doubles and stole two bases.

Pitcher of the Week
Morgan Simpson, Williams
(Junior, RHP - McLean, Va.)
Simpson went 2-0 for the Ephs last week, allowing nine hits and only one walk while striking out six batters through 12.0 innings of work. Simpson surrendered only two earned runs and posted an ERA of 1.67. For the season, she is 5-3 with a 2.23 ERA over a team-high 62.2 innings pitched.

April 7, 2008
Player of the Week
Meaghan Dendy, Wesleyan
(Sophomore, RHP - Swansea, Mass.)
Dendy batted .583 (7-for-12) with six runs and four RBIs at the plate while posting a 1.62 ERA over two complete game victories against Williams for the Cardinals last week. Against Coast Guard on Wednesday, Dendy went 3-for-3 with a grand slam.

Pitcher of the Week
Stefanie Tong, Tufts
(Sophomoroe, RHP - Burlingame, Calif.)
Tong earned three victories during a 6-0 week for the Jumbos with a 1.12 ERA over 18.2 innings of work. Tong gave up 12 hits while striking out 13 batters over the three appearances. She entered Saturday’s game against Bowdoin in relief and gave up no runs on three hits.

March 31, 2008
Player of the Week
Jessica Tait, Trinity
(Sophomore, OF - North Salem, N.Y.)
Tait batted .538 (7-for-13) with eight runs, eight RBIs, two doubles, a triple, three home runs, and an on-base percentage of .625 over four Bantam victories last week. Her two-run homer in Sunday’s first game against Bates were Trinity’s only runs in a 2-1 victory.

Pitcher of the Week
Gabrielle Sergi, Trinity
(Junior, RHP - Walpole, Mass.)
Sergi pitched three complete game victories for the Bantams last week, surrendering five earned runs while striking out 14 batters. In back-to-back victories against Bates over the weekend, Sergi allowed eight hits, two earned runs, three walks and 12 strikeouts. 

March 24, 2008
Player of the Week
Samantha Kuhles, Tufts
(Junior, 3B - Somerville, N.J.)
Kuhles hit .474 (18-for-38) with 15 runs scored and 13 RBI over 11 games for the Jumbos last week in California. Kuhles also hit six doubles and stole two baeses. She posted a slugging percentage of .632 and had an on-base percentage of .500.

Pitcher of the Week
Julia Jacobs, Bowdoin
(Sophomore, RHP - Ridgewood, N.J.)
Jacobs posted a 6-1 record during the Polar Bears’ spring trip with a 0.58 ERA over 48.1 innings and eight appearances. Jacobs pitched six complete games - including three shutouts - and struck out 56 batters while holding opponents to a .167 batting average.