Six Spartans Earn All-Conference Honors
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference presents the 2022 softball postseason awards. The Spartans totaled six accolades, including Freshman and Pitcher of the Year. Voting for the All-SSC softball awards is conducted among the league's head coaches. This year's honors include an All-Defensive Team for the first time in league history.
Mary Beth Feldman claims Pitcher of the Year, sharing the award with Rollins' Ashley Worrell, as Lilly Kiester wins Freshman of the Year honors, which she shares with Nova Southeastern's Ashley Connor. No SSC softball athletes had ever shared Pitcher or Freshman of the Year accolades until this season, dating back to 1995. Kiester and Feldman have also been named to the All-SSC First Team.
Feldman appeared in 17 games in 2022 and made 14 starts for the Spartans. She closed out the regular season with a 13-1 record, 11 complete games, and six shutouts. The Lithia, Florida product struck out 86 batters and produced a 0.43 ERA and a 0.753 WHIP in her 97 innings pitched while holding opposing batters to a .164 average. The sophomore is the fifth Spartan athlete to earn Pitcher of the Year laurels.
Kiester started 31 of Tampa's 46 games this season and provided her team with 25 hits and a .338 batting average. The Tampa native scored 16 times, drove in six runs, and swiped three bases in 2022. Defensively, the outfielder sported a perfect fielding percentage following 38 putouts and two assists in 40 chances. Kiester is the third Spartan to win Freshman of the Year accolades and the second consecutive.
Winning the first-ever All-SSC Defensive Team honors is Lauren Fantone, producing a 0.989 fielding percentage, 85 putouts, and three assists in 89 chances. Mariah Galhouse and Corynn Miner earn All-SSC First Team honor, both athletes tallying the second All-Conference award of their careers. Fantone also made her way onto the All-SSC Second Team. Joining her is Lexie Chevalier, earning the first All-Conference honor of her career.
Player of the Year: Tia Williams, Nova Southeastern
Pitcher of the Year: Mary Beth Feldman, Tampa
Pitcher of the Year: Ashley Worrell, Rollins
Freshman of the Year: Ashley Connor, Nova Southeastern
Freshman of the Year: Lilly Kiester, Tampa
Coach of the Year: Julie LeMaire, Nova Southeastern