LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its Softball Athletes of the Week. In the East, Lock Haven's Blaire Balestrini was named Athlete of the Week while Shippensburg's Dani Hayward and Shepherd's Madelayne Ruffner were selected as Co-Pitchers of the Week. In the West, IUP's Delaney Patella (Athlete of the Week) and Seton Hill's Lacey Lynn (Seton Hill) were recognized.
Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
Blaire Balestrini
Shepherd
Third Base
Senior
Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora
Balestrini was on a tear all week to lead the Bald Eagles to a 4-0 record and vault the program back into postseason contention. The freshman finished the week 9-for-15 with four home runs, nine RBIs, seven runs scored, two doubles, and a triple. Balestrini hit three home runs on Sunday in the sweep of Millersville, including two in the game two victory. In the sweep over Mansfield, Balestrini finished 6-for-7 with a grand slam, a triple, two doubles, four runs scored, and five RBIs.
Co-Eastern Division Pitcher of the Week
Dani Hayward
Shippensburg
Pitcher
Freshman
Hamburg, Pa. / Berks Catholic
Hayward, a freshman, helped the Raiders defeat two of the top teams in the PSAC East standings last week. She held Shepherd to one run in a complete game victory Wednesday on the road, 2-1. She scattered three hits and fanned seven. She also helped herself with a double and two hits at the plate. She continued her hot streak Sunday, pitching five shutout innings to earn the victory against No. 15 East Stroudsburg. She outdueled NCAA Division II strikeout leader Sarah Davenport by holding the Warriors' lineup to just three hits, and sealed the 9-0 run-rule victory with a two-run fifth-inning homer. In two games, Hayward allowed a combined one run in 12 innings of work.
Co-Eastern Division Pitcher of the Week
Madelayne Ruffner
Shepherd
Pitcher
Sophomore
Charles Town, W. Va. / Washington
Ruffner went 2-1 on the week with a pair of two-hit shutout victories. She fanned 36 and walked six in 19.0 innings. She allowed only two earned runs. She tied the Shepherd career strikeout mark (443) on Sunday in less than two complete seasons.
Western Division Athlete of the Week
Delaney Patella
IUP
Infield / Catcher
Junior
Mount Royal, N.J. / Kingsway Regional
Patella had a prolific week at the plate, batting .600 (9-for-15) with six runs scored, 15 RBIs, five doubles, and two home runs as the Crimson Hawks went 4-2. IUP's 13 conference wins is the most in the Western Division heading into the week.
Western Division Pitcher of the Week
Lacey Lynn
Seton Hill
Pitcher
Sophomore
Roaring Spring, Pa. / Central
Lynn went 2-0 on the week with a pair of shutouts. She threw a complete game, five-inning no-hitter in the Griffins' win over California. Lacey followed that up with a complete game three-hit shutout at Clarion. She struck out six opposing batters on the week.