The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced the 2017 Softball All-Conference Teams as voted on by the conference coaches. In addition, the Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year have been selected.
Co-Player of the Year: Sarah Kubik, St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher College junior Sarah Kubik was voted the co-Player of the Year. In 36 games, she batted .380 (38-for-100) with a .760 slugging and .496 on-base percentage. She has totaled 33 runs, 11 RBI and 22 walks. In the field she has collected 169 putouts at first base with six assists.
In conference play, Kubik started 14 games hitting for a .421 batting average. She led the league in RBI (14) and ranked second in the league with in slugging percentage (.816).
Kubik is the fourth Fisher player to earn the yearly honor, joining previous honorees Katie Mazierski (2017), Sarah Dresser (2008) and Jennifer Vanek (2011).
Co-Player of the Year: Nicole Rice, Utica College
Utica College junior second baseman Nicole Rice was voted the Player of the Year. In 34 games, she batted .466 (54-of-116) to rank third among conference players, while her 54 hits was a conference best She finished totaled 30 runs, 20 RBI, 10 walks and five stolen bases. In the field she collected 50 putouts and 72 assists.
In conference play, Rice started 13 games and led all E8 players with 26 hits. Her .541 batting averge and 13 runs scored ranked second in league play.
Rice is the second Utica player to earn the yearly honor, joining previous honoree Chelsea Monroe (2013).
Pitcher of the Year: Lindsey Thayer, St. John Fisher College
Senior
Lindsey Thayer from St. John Fisher was named the Pitcher of the Year for the fourth straight season. The Winthrop, NY native has appeared in 24 games making 21 starts in the circle and posting a 20-3 record with 19 complete games. She has tossed 144.1 innings with 12 shutouts and a .97 ERA. She has struck out 238 batters, including a season-high 17 batters against Rochester. Thayer has allowed 62 hits and 20 earned runs to date this season.
In conference-only games, Thayer tossed 57 innings and recorded 102 strikeouts. She finished with eight complete games, seven shutouts and limited the opponent to a .099 batting average.
Rookie of the Year: Sammie Torlish, St. John Fisher College
Freshman Sammie Torlish from Fisher garners Rookie of the Year honors after appearing in 36 games and starting all 36 at shortstop. She is hitting an impressive .387 with 27 RBI and 12 of her 44 hits were doubles. Her 44 hits rank first on the team and second among conference players.
During conference play, she made 15 starts. She generated a .372 batting average, .558 slugging percentage and drove in 12 runs and scored 11 runs of her own.
Torlish is the fourth player in Fisher program history to be named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year.
Coach of the Year: Bari Mance, St. John Fisher College
Fisher head coach
Bari Mance has been named the Coach of the Year for the first time in her career. Mance guided the Cardinals to a perfect 14-0 leage record and the top-seed in the E8 tournament for the first time. The Cardinals cruised through the tournament in three games to win its second straight E8 title. Fisher is currently 30-7, ranked No. 6 nationally and will host NCAA Regional starting May 11.
Sportsmanship Team
In addition to the yearly awards and all-conference teams, one member of each team was named that institution’s representative on the 2018 Softball Sportswoman of the Year Team. Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete’s experience in conjunction with an institution’s educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.
Empire 8 2018 Softball All-Conference Teams
Co-Player of the Year: Sarah Kubik, St. John Fisher
Co-Player of the Year: Nicole Rice, Utica College
Pitcher of the Year: Lindsey Thayer, St. John Fisher College
Rookie of the Year: Sammie Torlish, St. John Fisher College
Coach of the Year: Bari Mance, St. John Fisher College