ANNVILLE, PA – The Wilkes University softball team returned to the postseason for the first time in nine years and eight different Lady Colonels were rewarded for their play on the 2017 All-MAC Freedom Teams.
 
Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford), Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) and Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) all were named to the first team. Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley) and Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) were selected to the second team, while Christina Gambino (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge), Kaliyah Moore (South Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) and Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton) were tabbed honorable mention.
 
One of the biggest reasons for the Wilkes success this season was in the pitching circle where the Lady Colonels led the conference in earned run average, shutouts and strikeouts. Staunton spear-headed the staff going 13-5 with a 2.25 ERA in 106 innings pitched limiting opposing batters to just a .251 average. She recorded 81 strikeouts to just 17 walks tied for the lead in the MAC Freedom in wins and shutouts. Her 11 complete games and six shutouts were also tied for first in the conference.
 
Staunton also helped herself at the plate hitting .376 with 38 hits including three doubles, two triples, eight sacrifice hits and a team-best 30 RBI's (fourth in the MAC Freedom).
 
Brown continued her clutch hitting for Wilkes throughout the season boasting a .362 average with 38 hits including nine doubles, one triple and 19 RBI's. She played in all 38 games with 37 starts playing primarily at third base but spent time at shortstop and second base. She crossed the plate 23 times, good for second-best on the squad.
 
Welker enjoyed a breakout-season at the plate for Wilkes batting .370 with a team-high 40 hits including nine doubles, one triple and four home runs. She knocked in 24 runs and led the squad with a .583 slugging percentage playing in 37 games with 36 starts all coming in the outfield. Welker also led the team with 28 runs scored, ranking fifth in the MAC Freedom. She also showed her speed on the bases going a perfect 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts.
 
Gibson, another Wilkes rookie, anchored the Lady Colonels pitching staff behind the plate as well as causing opposing pitchers fits at the plate. She batted .348 with 32 hits including nine doubles, one home run and 11 RBI's. Behind the plate she posted a .993 fielding percentage with just two passed balls while throwing out two runners in 36 games played.
 
Birchmeier earned her second consecutive nod on the All-MAC Freedom second team after hitting .312 with 29 hits including five doubles, two triples, one home run and 15 RBI's. She used her speed to steal five bases while ranking third on the team with six sacrifice hits.
 
Gambino flexed her muscle at the plate all year for Wilkes leading the team with five home runs while batting in 24 runs. She hit .278 with 25 hits and 14 runs scored including three doubles and two triples. She finished second on the team in slugging percentage behind Welker at .522 while posting four sacrifice hits. Gambino played and started in all 38 games playing primarily at first base and some time at third base boasting a .992 fielding percentage.
 
Moore hit .351 with 26 hits including three doubles, one triple, one home run and 11 RBI's in her first season in the Navy and Gold. Playing primarily in centerfield, Moore played in 33 games earning 27 starts.
 
Podlesney, the fourth rookie to be named to the all-conference teams, had success both at the plate and in the circle for Wilkes. She hit a team-best .391 (seventh in the MAC Freedom) with 34 hits including seven doubles and 14 RBI's. She boasted a .471 slugging percentage with seven sacrifice hits in 34 games played.
 
In the circle Podlesney finished 9-6 with a 1.93 ERA including 69 strikeouts, 11 complete games and three shutouts in 101.1 inning of work.  
 
Wilkes, the No. 2 seed in the 2017 MAC Freedom Tournament hosted by Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pa., will play No. 3 seed King's College at 12:00 p.m. on Friday.
 
 
2017 All-MAC Freedom Softball Team 
Player of the Year: Brittany Deieso, Manhattanville                                 
Pitcher of the Year: Alycia Feeney, Manhattanville                                  
Rookie of the Year: Taylor Kenerson, Misericordia                                 
Coach of the Year: Dale Martin, Manhattanville                          
                                   
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Alycia Feeney, Manhattanville
Pitcher: G. Staunton, Wilkes
Pitcher: Jamie Stefani, Delaware Valley
Catcher: Michelle Mangini, FDU-Florham
Infield: Megan Beaupre, King's
Infield: C. Brown, Wilkes
Infield: Desiree Buboi, Manhattanville
Infield: Taylor Kenerson, Misericordia    
Infield: Taylor Torre, FDU-Florham
Outfield: Alexa Beaumont, DeSales
Outfield: Brittany Deieso, Manhattanville
Outfield: H. Welker, Wilkes
Utility: Melina Strano, Manhattanville
Designated Player: Aarin Hartenstein, Manhattanville
                                   
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Samantha Bloom, King's
Pitcher: Brooke Moyle, Misericordia
Catcher: S. Gibson, Wilkes
Infield: Dolores Diemicke, Manhattanville
Infield: Alicia Marino, Manhattanville
Infield: Melanie Quintanilla, Misericordia
Infield: Jess Snader, Eastern
Outfield: Alexis D'Amico, Misericordia
Outfield: Sam Jedrey, Manhattanville
Outfield: Amber Saylor, King's
Utility: S. Birchmeier, Wilkes
Designated Player: Maddy O'Donohue, Delaware Valley
                                   
HONORABLE MENTION
Catcher: Lori Brennan, Misericordia
Catcher: Rachael DeTore, King's
Designated Player: Carly Benjamin, DeSales
Designated Player: Caitlin Kennedy, Misericordia
Infield: C. Gambino, Wilkes
Infield: Gabby Young, FDU-Florham
Outfield: Abby Marzzacco, Misericordia
Outfield: K. Moore, Wilkes
Outfield: Jessica Pluta, Misericordia
Pitcher: C. Podlesney, Wilkes