Softball Puts 10 on All-Conference, Cline Named Coach of the Year

(LATHAM, N.Y.) – The United East announced its end of the year awards for the Skye Division in softball on Tuesday morning and the representatives are plentiful. A total of 10 Phoenix student-athletes highlight the list as Wilson easily had the most selections by any team in the division. In addition to that Brett Cline was named by his peers as Coach of the Year.

First team selections for the Blue and White include Taylor Barker (Sr., Chehalis, Wash. / WF West) at first base, Lindsey Dalenberg (FY, Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg) in outfield, and Madison Heuer (Jr., Greencastle, Pa. / Boonsboro) in outfield. Payton Kendall (Jr., McConnellsburg, Pa. / Conestoga Valley) and Haiden Brookens (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) patrol the second team middle infield selections.

The Phoenix placed five on the third team with Rylee Piper (FY, Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) at pitcher, Madison Briggs (So., Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain) at third base, Alyssa Wenger (Sr., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) in outfield, Haley Privett (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) as the designated player, and Waverly Moffett (FY, Westminster, Md. / Winter Mill) at utility.

Cline's Coach of the Year Award is the fifth of his historic career and fourth under the United East banner. He was previously took the honors in 2010, 2012, and 2014 when the conference was known as the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC). He was also named Coach of the Year in the CSAC in 2019. Cline guided the Phoenix to the top seed in the Skye Division where Wilson won the championship. The Phoenix ended the year with 29 wins, two more than the previous best in program history.

Barker proved to be one of the best hitters in the nation as she hit .453 with 58 hits, No. 45 nationally. Her slugging percentage of .836 put her in the top 25 in Division III. She hit nine home runs this season, also No. 45 in the country, for the most in a single season at Wilson in at least the past 10 seasons. Barker was also a first team selection in 2022 and a second team pick in 2021.

Dalenberg had an incredible rookie debut as she was second in the division behind only Barker and fifth in the conference with 52 hits. She was a catalyst in Wilson having the top offense in the United East as she scored .90 runs per game, No. 11 with Wenger and Barker ahead of her. Dalenberg was also a threat to steal as she was fifth in the conference with 26 swiped bags on the year.

Heuer was second on the team with a .406 batting average after she went 41-for-101 and was top 10 in the conference with a .473 on-base percentage. Six of her hits went for extra bases with a home run, three triples, and a double. She put together a 15-game hit streak and an 18-game on base streak this season to help move the offense along.

Brookens was in the conference in RBIs with 33 behind only Barker who had 49. Brookens patrolled short stop and hit .391 after she went 45-for-115 with six doubles and two triples. Her .477 on-base percentage was eighth in the conference. Throughout the year she amassed an amazing 30-game reached base streak, the longest in over 10 years and 10 more than the next-best.
On the opposite side of the middle infield was Kendall. She led the team in sacrifices with seven, six of which were on bunts. She hit .296 with 21 hits and three doubles on the season. She was second on the team in walks with 16.

Piper also had an incredible season with a conference-best 19 wins, one shy of the program record held by assistant coach Megan Potter and a new record for first year players. The mark is also No. 12 in the country and leads the nation among first year players. She also added a pair of saves on the season.

Briggs hit .313 on the season with 31 hits, seven doubles and a triple. She added 20 RBIs and had six multiple RBI games on the season. Fielding third base, she led the team in double plays with seven.

Wenger becomes a four-time all-conference selection after being named a first team pick the previous three seasons. The speedy center fielder hit .318 after she went 41-for-129. She hit seven triples on the season which has her 16th in Division III. Wenger also stole 22 bases on the season to put her sixth in the United East. Her agility and arm strength made any ball hit to center almost a sure out and prevented multiple sacrifice flies from occuring.

Privett becomes a two-time all-conference selection after she was named to the first team a year ago. She hit .364 with 32 hits. Her 22 RBIs and six doubles both rank third on the team. She had an 11-game reached base streak during the season and served as a catcher.

Moffett played in 28 games with 15 starts, but made her appearances as a utility player count as she hit .431 with 25 hits in 58 at-bats. She had an OPS of 1.036, scored 16 runs, and hit in 10 more.

Major Award Winners
Player of the Year - Jessie Leatherwood (Notre Dame of Maryland University)
Pitcher of the Year - Jessie Leatherwood (Notre Dame of Maryland University)
Rookie of the Year - Evelyn Johnson (Cairn University)
Coach of the Year - Brett Cline (Wilson University)

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Name	Yr	School	Position
Jessie Leatherwood	Gr	Notre Dame of Maryland University	Pitcher
Kylee Miller	FY	Clarks Summit University	Pitcher
Emily Bingman	Gr	Rosemont College	Catcher
Taylor Barker	Sr	Wilson College	1B
Abigail Becker	So	Saint Elizabeth University	2B
Haley Brag	So	Clarks Summit University	SS
Harley Wakeman	So	University of Valley Forge	3B
Jadyn Barker	FY	Saint Elizabeth University	Outfield
Lindsey Dalenberg	FY	Wilson College	Outfield
Madison Heuer	Jr	Wilson College	Outfield
Josilynn Garcia	FY	Saint Elizabeth University	DH
Julianna Leatherwood	FY	Notre Dame of Maryland University	Utility

 

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Name	Yr	School	Position
Lauren Begg	Gr	Rosemont College	Pitcher
Courtney Cienki	Sr	Keystone College	Pitcher
Charlene Torres	Jr	Notre Dame of Maryland University	Catcher
Elle Olivero	Sr	Keystone College	1B
Payton Kendall	Jr	Wilson College	2B
Haiden Brookens	Sr	Wilson College	SS
Allison Goodman	Gr	Rosemont College	3B
Isabella Benitez	So	Keystone College	Outfield
Anna Popola	FY	Saint Elizabeth University	Outfield
Analisa Yoder	Gr	Rosemont College	Outfield
Hanaje Riley	Jr	Keystone College	DH
Maddison Atkins	So	Clarks Summit University	Utility

THIRD TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Name	Yr	School	Position
Malorie Gogel	FY	Notre Dame of Maryland University	Pitcher
Rylee Piper	FY	Wilson College	Pitcher
Brooke Staple	Sr	Keystone College	Catcher
Olivia Hamme	Jr	Rosemont College	1B
Taylor Faw	So	Cedar Crest College	2B
Emily Schultz	So	Keystone College	SS
Madison Briggs	So	Wilson College	3B
Natalie Hasert	So	Cedar Crest College	Outfield
Karina Jennings	FY	Keystone College	Outfield
Alyssa Wenger	Sr	Wilson College	Outfield
Haley Privett	Sr	Wilson College	DH
Waverly Moffett	FY	Wilson College	Utility