Marsteller and Osikowicz Repeat as Softball Major Award Winners, All-Conference Teams Announced
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- Shippensburg University junior Hannah Marsteller and Seton Hill University graduate student, Jenna Osikowicz were tabbed as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Softball Athletes of the Year for the second consecutive season, as the major award winners and all-conference teams were announced Wednesday.
All-conference teams and major award winners are determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Joining Marsteller in the East was Bridget Bailey of Kutztown as Pitcher of the Year, Katelyn Minney of Shippensburg as Freshman of the Year, and Kutztown head coach Judy Lawes as Coach of the Year.
In the West, Cal U freshman Caleigh Rister took home Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors while Mercyhurst head coach Leanne Baker was Coach of the Year.
Both Lawes and Baker also repeat as Coach of the Year in their respective divisions.
In yet another dominating year, Marsteller proved she is one of the top hitters in DII softball. She leads the country in batting average (.513), is sixth in DII in total hits (80), is second in on-base percentage (.575), and fourth in slugging percentage (.942). Each of these numbers are tops in the PSAC. She also leads the conference in OPS (1.517) and RBIs (56). Marsteller has 27 multi-hit games including nine three-hit games this season. Marsteller is the first repeat Athlete of the Year in the PSAC East since Bloomsburg’s Erica Miller did it four straight seasons from 1998-2001.
Golden Bears’ hurler Bridget Bailey had another solid year in the circle capturing Pitcher of the Year. Bailey has been dominant going 22-5 with a 1.96 ERA (51 ER in 182.1 IP). The senior has 24 complete games, six of which were shutouts. She has also punched out 165 batters this year and only walked 38. Bailey’s complete games number is sixth in the nation and her number of wins is 10th in DII.
Shippensburg freshman Katelyn Minney was a pretty important hitter on the team with great numbers next to her teammate Marsteller. She’s batting .372 (48-for-129) with three HRs and 32 RBIs. She has been really impressive on the basepaths this season going 28-for-30 in stolen bases. Her 28 bags stolen are tied for second in the conference.
Kutztown head coach Judy Lawes earns yet another coach of the year nod following leading Kutztown to a 37-13 overall record so far, and a 12-4 league mark. The Golden Bears were the top seed in the PSAC Tournament in the East, and went undefeated in the tournament, on their way to winning the 2022 PSAC Championship. Lawes and the Golden Bears are also the top seed in the Atlantic Region in the NCAA Tournament beginning Thursday.
Your full all-conference teams in the East are below, along with the major award winners.
EASTERN DIVISION
FIRST TEAM
| POS. |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CL. |
HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Catcher |
Hannah Auvil^ |
Kutztown |
Gr. |
Baltimore, Md. / Sparrows Point |
| First Base |
Hannah Marsteller* |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
Fredericksburg, Va. / Riverbend |
| Second Base |
Kate Ostaszewski |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan |
| Shortstop |
Sammi Starr^ |
Bloomsburg |
Sr. |
Berwick, Pa. / Berwick Area |
| Third Base |
Nicole Purtell* |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
Centreville, Va. / Centreville |
| Outfield |
Erin DelPierre |
Bloomsburg |
Sr. |
Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin |
| Outfield |
Brianna Hughes* |
Kutztown |
So. |
Hatboro, Pa. / Upper Moreland |
| Outfield |
Madison Melvin^ |
West Chester |
Jr. |
Tabernacle, N.J. / Seneca |
| Designated Player |
Kate Donaghue |
East Stroudsburg |
Jr. |
Walkersville, Md. / Walkersville |
| Pitcher |
Bridget Bailey* |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Norwood, Pa. / Interboro
|
| Pitcher |
Callie Sowers |
Bloomsburg |
Fr. |
Irwin, Pa. / Hempfield Area |
| Utility/Pitcher |
Sarah Harvey |
Kutztown |
Jr. |
Swanton, Vt. / Missisquoi Valley Union
|
| Utility/Non-Pitcher |
Cameron Davis* |
Shepherd |
Jr. |
Ayden, N.C. / UNC Pembroke |
SECOND TEAM
| POS. |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CL. |
HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Catcher |
Haleigh Karcher |
West Chester |
Jr. |
Jefferson Hills, Pa. Thomas Jefferson |
| First Base |
Nicolette Ray |
Bloomsburg |
Gr. |
Abington, Pa. / Abington |
| Second Base |
Katelyn Rittenbaugh |
West Chester |
Jr. |
Donladson, Pa. / Pine Grove |
| Shortstop |
Alyssa Nehlen |
Shippensburg |
So. |
Pulaski, Pa. / West Middlesex |
| Third Base |
Kayleigh Lenner |
Bloomsburg |
So. |
Sunbury, Pa. / Shikellamy |
| Outfield |
Delaney Good |
Lock Haven |
So. |
Mifflinburg, Pa. / Mifflinburg |
| Outfield |
Katelyn Minney |
Shippensburg |
Fr. |
Lititz, Pa. / Warwick |
| Outfield |
Lacey O’Donnell |
Mansfield |
Sr. |
Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads |
| Designated Player |
Gabby D’Ottavio |
Millersville |
So. |
Buena, N.J. / Buena Regional |
| Pitcher |
Alicia Ball |
Shippensburg |
Fr. |
Woodstock, Va. / Central |
| Pitcher |
Katie Zaun |
East Stroudsburg |
Fr. |
Allentown, Pa. / Parkland |
| Utility/Pitcher |
NONE |
|
|
|
| Utility/Non-Pitcher |
Grace Aguilar* |
West Chester |
Jr. |
Frederica, Del. / Lake Forest |
Athlete of the Year: Hannah Marsteller, Shippensburg
Pitcher of the Year: Bridget Bailey, Kutztown
Freshman of the Year: Katelyn Minney, Shippensburg
Coach of the Year: Judy Lawes, Kutztown
Osikowicz of Seton Hill basically picked up right where she left off last season on her way to Athlete of the Year. Osikowicz was second to only Marsteller in batting average with a .456 (67-for-147) with three home runs and 29 RBIs. She racked up the total bases and extra-base hits with nine doubles and eight triples. Her eight triples are first in the conference and third in NCAA DII. Osikowicz speed also was prevalent elsewhere as she was perfect in stolen-base attempts at 20-for-20. Osikowicz is the first repeat Athlete of the Year in the West since Jillian Russell of Cal U from 2010-12.
Cal U’s Caleigh Rister was solid all around the field for the Vulcans earning Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Western Division player to win both awards since Kristin Erb of Lock Haven in 2006-07. As a pitcher, Rister had a 1.58 ERA in 102.0 innings pitched. She had 78 punchouts, just 17 walks and opponents hit just .242 against her. She finished her first year with a 13-4 record, 11 complete games and six shutouts.
As a hitter, Rister was one of the top sluggers batting .412 with five home runs and 23 RBIs. Her .812 slugging percentage was stops in the West and second in the entire PSAC to Marsteller. She also had a 1.366 OPS, which was also second in the PSAC overall and first in the West.
Hurst’s Leanne Baker also garnered consecutive coach of the year honors after a season in which the Lakers were 32-14 overall and 10-6 in league games earning the third seed in the tournament. Under her direction, the Lakers battled throughout the tournament falling to Kutztown in the championship game. However, their late push earned them a spot in the DII Atlantic Region Tournament which begins Thursday.
The full all-conference teams in the West are below.
WESTERN DIVISION
FIRST TEAM
| POS. |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CL. |
HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Catcher |
Brooke Wilson**^ |
Cal U |
Sr. |
Coraopolis, Pa. / West Allegheny |
| First Base |
Marisa Cartellone |
Mercyhurst |
Jr. |
Medina, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit High School |
| Second Base |
Nicole Bush |
Gannon |
R-Sr. |
Painesville, Ohio / Lake Catholic |
| Shortstop |
Olivia Porter |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Sr. |
Scottdale, Pa. / Southmoreland |
| Third Base |
Kristina DeMatteis* |
Gannon |
Gr. |
Boyers, Pa. / Moniteau |
| Outfield |
Allison Dejidas^ |
Mercyhurst |
Jr. |
Freeport, Pa. / Freeport High School |
| Outfield |
Jenna Osikowicz* |
Seton Hill |
Gr. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield |
| Outfield |
Makenzie Wolfe |
Clarion |
Sr. |
Schnecksville, Pa. / Parkland |
| Designated Player |
Mackenzie Freeman |
Slippery Rock |
So. |
Georgetown, Pa. / South Side Beaver |
| Pitcher |
Morgan Hilty |
Mercyhurst |
So. |
Jeannette, Pa. / Penn-Trafford High School |
| Pitcher |
Morgan Ryan |
Seton Hill |
Gr. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Notre Dame |
| Utility/Pitcher |
Caleigh Rister |
Cal U |
Fr. |
Bucyrus, Ohio / Bucyrus |
| Utility/Non-Pitcher |
Madison Fry* |
Mercyhurst |
Jr. |
Gasport, N.Y. / Royalton-Hartland Central School |
SECOND TEAM
| POS. |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CL. |
HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Catcher |
Jenna Rhue |
IUP |
Sr. |
Buffalo, N.Y. / Lewistown-Porter |
| First Base |
Morgan Toal |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Moon Township, Pa. / Moon |
| Second Base |
Brooklyn Fukushima |
Seton Hill |
Fr. |
Lakeside, Calif. / El Capitan |
| Shortstop |
Joelle Snyder* |
IUP |
Gr. |
Dornsife, Pa. / Mansfield |
| Third Base |
Cheyenne Hindman* |
Mercyhurst |
Sr. |
Harrisville, Pa. / Slippery Rock |
| Outfield |
Mackenzie Carson |
Cal U |
Jr. |
Tucson, Ariz. / Cienega |
| Outfield |
Nichole McClendon |
Seton hill |
Gr. |
Lutz, Fla. / Steibrenner |
| Outfield |
Taylor Mendicino |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Sr. |
Monongahela, Pa. / Rinngold |
| Designated Player |
Brooke Cleland |
Seton Hill |
Fr. |
Manor, Pa. / Penn-Traford |
| Pitcher |
Kennedy DeMatteis* |
Gannon |
Gr. |
Boyers, Pa. / Moniteau |
| Pitcher |
Chloe Elliot |
Seton Hill |
Fr. |
Cairo, W.Va. / Ritchie |
| Utility/Pitcher |
Alexsa Hurd |
Slippery Rock |
Fr. |
Suffield, Ohio / Field |
| Utility/Non-Pitcher |
Katie Sidare |
Gannon |
So. |
Rochester, N.Y. / Victor Central |
Athlete of the Year: Jenna Osikowicz, Seton Hill
Pitcher of the Year: Caleigh Rister, Cal U
Freshman of the Year: Caleigh Rister, Cal U
Coach of the Year: Leanne Baker, Mercyhurst
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Mercyhurst University, Millersville University, The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Seton Hill University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University and West Chester University.