Softball Grabs Top NECC Honors & Eight All-Conference Spots

MANSFIELD, Mass. – Mitchell College won two major awards and had a total of eight players named to the all-conference team by the New England Collegiate Conference on Thursday morning as the league announced its annual baseball honors.

Junior Katelyn Lipsky (Plantsville, Conn.) was named NECC Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to earn the honor in consecutive seasons. Head Coach Erin Miller collected a major award as well, earning NECC Coach of the Year Honors for the second season in a row, also a first in program history.

Lipsky was one of 17 players and two pitchers to earn a spot on the All-NECC First Team. Joining her were senior Madison Nicynski, Mitchell (Warwick, R.I.), juniors Sarah Aviles (Griswold, Conn.), Jenna Bennett (Shelton, Conn.), Hannah Lemke (East Haddam, Conn.), and sophomores Gemma Landry (Lewiston, Maine), Brooke Whitmarsh (Portsmouth, R.I.), and Brooke Taylor (Montville, Conn.).

Lipsky finished tied for the conference lead with 11 wins, helping the Mariners to a 23-17 overall record, 9-3 in conference play. Her 97 strikeouts and 6.43 strikeouts per game were most in the NECC, while her 3.18 ERA was second in the league, and she was also second in the conference with 13 complete games. Her numbers only improved during NECC play, as the junior went 4-2 in six starts with a 2.95 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched, surrendering just 31 hits and 18 walks. Lipsky was a three-time NECC Pitcher of the Week selection (weeks ending 3/12/23, 3/19/23 and 4/16/23).

Miller, now in her fourth season, elevated Mitchell softball to new heights in 2023, setting the single season record for wins, while also surpassing Jillian Ortega as the winningest coach in program history. Under her guidance, the team finished tied for the NECC regular season title at 9-3 record and led the NECC in on base percentage (.394), RBI (224), hits (356), and walks (115). The Mariners also posted a league best 3.06 ERA and 165 strikeouts under Miller, who coached eight all-conference honorees.

Brooke Whitmarsh was one of two catchers selected to the First Team All-NECC, slashing .392/.439/.583. Her 42 RBI were tops in the conference, and she finished the regular season with 23 runs scored, eight doubles, three triples, three home runs, and just two strikeouts. Whitmarsh also etched her name into the Mitchell record books with a three home run and nine RBI performance in a win over Norwich University, both program records. The sophomore earned NECC Player of the Week honors once during the spring (3/27/23).

Madison Nicynski was one of two players to earn First Team All-NECC honors at second base. The senior slashed .314/.351/.371, while tallying 26 RBI, scoring 21 runs, and hitting six doubles.

Sarah Aviles was one of two players to earn First Team All-NECC honors at third base. The junior slashed .283/.355/.324, while scoring 30 runs, walking 17 times, collecting 16 RBI, hitting three doubles, and three triples.

Gemma Landry was the long shortstop selection on the First Team All-NECC, finishing second in the conference in runs scored (36), third in hits (52), fourth in RBI (30), sixth in batting average, eighth in doubles (10), and 10th in slugging percentage. The junior, who is the reigning NECC Player and Rookie of the Year, slashed .380/.392/.496, and also became the fastest player to reach the 100 hit milestone in program history (70 games).

Jenna Bennett and Hannah Lemke secured two of the four outfield spots on the all-conference team, anchoring the Mariners in centerfield and leftfield respectively. Bennett, an all-conference selection last season, slashed .312/.342/.358, while scoring 25 runs, driving in 13 runs, totaling 34 hits, five of those doubles. Lemke, meanwhile, put together a slash line of .368/.389/.453, and was top 10 in the conference in batting average, RBI (24), and runs scored (26).

Brooke Taylor was one of two designated players to earn all-conference honors, slashing .419/.455/.516 across 11 games and 31 at bats. The sophomore finished with 12 RBI, six runs scored, one double, and one triple, while walking twice and striking out just twice.

Junior Hailey Hill (Griswold, Conn.) also represented Mitchell as one of four players selected to the Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team.

NECC Co-Player of the Year – Taylor Brandt, Eastern Nazarene (Sr., Napa, Calif.) NECC Co-Player and Rookie of the Year – Grace Giesler, New England Col. (Fr., La Mirada, Calif.)
NECC Pitcher of the Year – Katelyn Lipsky, Mitchell (Jr., Plantsville, Conn.)
Coach of the Year – Erin Miller, Mitchell

First Team All-NECC
P- Jennelle Munoz, Eastern Nazarene (Jr., Lake Elsinore, Calif.)
P- Katelyn Lipsky, Mitchell (Jr., Plantsville, Conn.)
C- Darcy Castro, Eastern Nazarene. (Jr., Clinton, Conn.)
C- Brooke Whitmarsh, Mitchell (So., Portsmouth, R.I.)
1B- Bailey Olaveson, Eastern Nazarene (Sr., Lakeside, Calif.)
2B- Alexys Giddings, Eastern Nazarene (Jr., Kuna, Idaho)
2B- Madison Nicynski, Mitchell (Sr., Warwick, R.I.)
3B- Sarah Aviles, Mitchell (Jr., Griswold, Conn.)
3B- Destiny Helmedach, New England Col. (Sr., Middlefield, Conn.)
SS- Gemma Landry, Mitchell (So., Lewiston, Maine)
OF- Taylor Brandt, Eastern Nazarene (Sr., Napa, Calif.)
OF- Jenna Bennett, Mitchell (Jr., Shelton, Conn.)
OF- Hannah Lemke, Mitchell (Jr., East Haddam, Conn.)
OF- Grace Giesler, New England Col. (Fr., La Mirada, Calif.)
DP- Bella Kieran, New England Col. (Fr., Salem, N.H.
DP- Brooke Taylor, Mitchell (So., Montville, Conn.)
UT- Emily Gagne, New England Col. (Sr., Portsmouth, N.H.)

Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team
Ashley Caldwell, Eastern Nazarene (Jr., Quincy, Mass.)
Mia Santilli, Lesley (Jr., Bristol, Conn.)
Hailey Hill, Mitchell (Jr., Griswold, Conn.)
Surena Montero, New England Col. (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif.)