Starkville, Miss. - May 29, 2012 - Ashley Marino, Kelly Blake, and Breann Joyce were recognized for their outstanding play this season by being named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-New England honorees. Marino and Blake were named to the second team, while Joyce earned third-team honors.Marino was one of three pitchers named to the second team, while both Blake and Joyce were at-large selections.
The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Pitcher of the Year, Marino had a standout sophomore campaign. The righthander posted a 1.69 earned run average while striking out 106 in 124 innings of work. She held her opponents to a .208 batting average and finished the season with a 13-9 record. She hurled a pair of no-hitters during the season and posted six shutouts.
Blake continued her solid play at the plate and at shortstop in her junior season. Leading the team with a .388 batting average, Blake pounded out 54 hits this season, including 18 doubles, while racking up 34 RBI and 33 runs scored. Her consistency at the plate was evidenced by her 19-game hitting streak during the middle of the season. She also was successful on all 13 of her stolen base attempts.
Earning third-team honors, Joyce was a weapon at the plate all year hitting .350 thanks to 43 hits. This year, she tied the program's single-season record for home runs with 10 round trippers, which helped her earn a .683 slugging percentage. She also registered a team-best 38 RBI and had a fielding percentage of .996 at first base, committing just one error this year.
Julie Perrelli enters her fourth season at the helm of the Springfield College softball program and as an assistant professor of physical education. In her first three seasons in the dugout for the Pride, Perelli has guided Springfield to two NEWMAC Championship title games. Read more.
