Five From Softball Honored by NECC

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Five Mitchell College softball players were honored by the New England Collegiate Conference on Monday afternoon as the league announced its annual awards.

Four players received all-conference distinction, with senior Samantha DelConte and freshman Kaitlin Thibodeau-Corey earning first-team honors. Junior Taylor Duchesneau and freshman Stephanie Adams each earned spots on the all-conference third team. Senior Megan Elphick was also recognized on the NECC All-Sportsmanship Team. All awards were determined by a vote of the conference's head coaches.

DelConte garnered all-conference honors for the third time in her career (2017, 2015), including her second first-team nod. Duchesneau is also a repeat all-conference honoree, having earned the distinction as a freshman in 2016.

DelConte, a second baseman, played in 34 games and batted .304 with 14 RBI and a team-high 31 runs scored in her final season. A four-year starter and career .340 hitter, she ranks third all-time in the school's Division III history in hits (136) and runs (107).

Thibodeau-Corey overcame an injury to play in 20 games and batted .356 with seven RBI and six runs scored. As Mitchell's designated player, she saw action in 10 NECC contests and batted .412 with six RBI.

Duchesneau logged the most innings (103.2) of any Mitchell pitcher and turned in a record of 8-9 in 18 starts. She went the distance in 16 games and recorded 59 strikeouts while issuing only 22 walks. In conference action she went 6-2 with a 3.87 ERA and 39 strikeouts.

Adams played in 35 games in center field while batting a team-high .380 with 17 RBI and 19 runs scored in her rookie campaign. In 16 league games she hit .404 with nine RBI, and she was one of two Mitchell players to earn NECC Rookie of the Week honors during the season (March 26).

Elphick, a two-year starter at third base, hit .293 with 20 RBI and 17 runs scored over 35 games. In 16 conference games she batted .313 with 14 RBI and 10 runs scored.

Mitchell finished the season with an overall record of 14-21. The Mariners went 9-7 in league play and qualified for the NECC Championship as the sixth seed, falling in the first round to eventual champion Bay Path University.