Rodriguez Named to 2023 MASCAC Softball All-Conference First Team

SALEM, Mass. -- Sydney Rodriguez (Brighton, Colo.) was named to the 2023 MASCAC Softball All-Conference First Team in a vote by the league's eight coaches, which was announced on Wednesday, May 17. 

The freshman made an impact in her first season with the Vikings, leading the team with a .466 batting average - 2nd highest in the MASCAC, which is 10th all-time for a season at Salem State. Rodriguez topped the Vikings with 54 hits and 14 doubles in 39 starts. The rookie finished in the top-10 in the league in total bases (70), hits (54), doubles (14), on-base percentage (.492) and slugging percentage (.603). 

Massachusetts Maritime's Ab'c'de Patane and Framingham State's Ally Moran were named the 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year and head up the all-conference squad which is voted on by the coaches from around the conference.

Patane, a freshman third baseman from La Mesa, Calif. not only took home the 2023 MASCAC Player of the Year honors, but she is also this year's MASCAC Rookie of the Year. This is the first such honor for the Buccaneers softball program. During the 2023 regular season, she led the MASCAC in batting average (.531), on-base percentage (.566), slugging percentage (.920), hits (60), doubles (17), home runs (7) and RBI (50) and helped the Buccaneers to their first MASCAC Tournament appearance in school history.

She ended the year third in the DIII in batting average (.531), fourth in the country in slugging percentage (.920) and eighth in the country in on-base percentage (.566). 

Earning the 2023 MASCAC Pitcher of the Year honors, Moran, a junior from Wilmington, Mass. was a force in the circle for the regular season champion Rams. She closed out the regular season leading the conference in several categories, including ERA (1.16) and wins (21), second in strikeouts (101), complete games (16), shutouts (4) and innings pitched (138.2). During last week's conference tournament, she eclipsed the 21 win mark which gave her the school record and the eighth most wins in DIII. 

Will Griffiths of Massachusetts Maritime was named the 2023 BSN Sports Coach of the Year after leading the Buccaneers to their first-ever trip to the MASCAC Tournament and most wins in a season with 17. This is Griffiths first Coach of the Year honor.

Joining Moran and Patane on the first team are Bridgewater State's Amelia Blake, and Olivia Silva, Framingham State's Gwendolyn Carpenter, Camille Desrochers, Brooke Grassia and Ally Moran, Salem State's  Rodriguez, Westfield State's Mia Alfonso and Jordyn Lummus and Worcester State's Bella Gasborro, Abigail Koziol and Jen Thorburn.

Grabbing a spot on the MASCAC second team all-conference are Bridgewater State's Janet Jolly, Fitchburg State's Sarah Cahill and Julia Gauvin, Framingham State's Talia Duca, Angelina Lynch and Makayla Rooney, Mass. Maritime's Emma Donlan, Westfield State's Christina Ciampa and Stephanie Scoville and Worcester State's Emily Bartlett, Lauren Dube, Emma Lanpher and Jacqui Schwalm.