DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (May 4, 2017) – Following the opening contest of the East Coast Conference Tournament, the conference office announced the 2017 All-Conference selections. Senior
Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) was lauded Pitcher of the Year and was named to the First Team along with graduate student
Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.). Juniors
Brianna Dalton (Northampton, Pa.),
Olivia Banulski (Bristol, Conn.), and
Tiana DeOliveira (Mastic, N.Y.) as well as senior
Ashley Fedor (Monroe, Conn.) and sophomore
Jenna Turato (Garden City South, N.Y.) were given Second Team recognition.
Hawks earns her second All-Conference selection and first major ECC award in a season where she led the league with 17 wins and a blistering 211 strikeouts while posting a second-best 1.70 earned run average. The senior totaled eight contests with double-digit strikeout totals, including a season-high 14 against Dominican College. Against the Chargers, Hawks also etched her name into the Molloy College record books by recording the program's first-ever perfect game. The pitcher was awarded the conference's Pitcher of the Week three times and was named to the Weekly Honor Roll three times.
Botte receives an All-Conference nod for the fourth time of her career, being named Second Team in 2013 and 2014 and First Team last season. The graduate student returned to lead the team in batting average for the second straight season, hitting .370 at the dish. As the designated player, she hit eight doubles while leading the team with 44 hits, three home runs, 29 runs scored and 21 RBIs. Known for her power at the plate, she also was walked 30 times this season, leading both the team and the conference considerably.
Dalton earns her second straight All-ECC recognition after being selected First Team in 2016. The short stop hit .307 on the season, driving in 18 runs on 31 hits, six doubles, and two home runs. Her home runs came in back-to-back contests, first crushing a grand slam to force extra innings against LIU Post before handing the Lions a 1-0 victory with a solo shot against No. 16 Caldwell University.
Fedor, DeOliveira, and Turato all pick up their first All-Conference nod while Banulski receives the recognition for the second time in her career. Fedor and Banulski are two of three players that have started every contest for the maroon and white this season, serving as staples at third base and center field, respectively. At the plate, Fedor led the team with 10 doubles and three stolen bases, batting .246 with 35 hits, one triple, two home runs and 18 RBIs. Banulski hit her first career home run, a solo shot against NYIT while adding 44 hits, eight doubles and driving in 17 runs.
DeOliveira's nod comes in her first season with the team after transferring from Dowling College. She drove in 11 runs on 32 hits, one double, and one home run, averaging .291 at the plate. She was also walked a second-highest 16 times.
Turato ended the regular season tied for second in the ECC with 14 wins. The sophomore posted a 2.68 ERA. Throwing six complete games and pitching over 120 innings, she totaled 65 strikeouts and held her opponents to a .273 batting average against.