Worcester State’s Couto, Framingham State’s Gunarathne Headline 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball All-Conference Team
Worcester State’s Rachel Couto and Framingham State’s Kelsi Gunarathne have been named the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year and head up the all-conference squad which is voted on by the coaches from around the conference.
Westfield, Mass. — Worcester State’s Rachel Couto and Framingham State’s Kelsi Gunarathne have been named the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year and head up the all-conference squad which is voted on by the coaches from around the conference.
Couto, a senior from Chelmsford, Mass., helped the Lancers to a 9-5 record in MASCAC play and the fourth seed in the conference tournament. She closed out the regular season third in the league in batting average at .408 with a .436 on-base percentage and .495 slugging percentage. She also hit six double, a home run while bringing in 16 runs and scoring 17 of her own.
Leading the Rams to a MASCAC regular season title, Gunarathne earned Pitcher of the Year honors. The sophomore from N. Providence, R.I., led the MASCAC in wins with 16, complete games at 19, shutouts at 7, ERA at 1.51 and strikeouts with 134. She also held her opponents to a .205 batting average and only allowed 33 earned runs on the season.
Mycala Moody of Framingham State is the 2017 MASCAC Rookie of the Year after averaging .376 at the plate with a .442 on-base percentage while also tallying two doubles, two triples, 12 RBI and 21 runs scored. Larry Miller of Framingham State was named the 2017 Champion’s Choice Coach of the Year honors after leading the Rams to a 12-2 record and the top seed in the conference tournament.
Joining Couto, Gunarathne and Moody on the first team are Bridgewater State’s Kacie Carvalho, Framingham State’s Dayna Marchant, Salem State’s Meghan Black, Jen Crovo and Marisa Sanchez, Westfield State’s Sarah Eugenio, Caitlin Hughes and Julia Sullivan and Worcester State’s Sydney Despres and Courtney Salisbury.
Earning a spot on the MASCAC second team all-conference are Bridgewater State’s Shannon Grindle and Courtney Leddy, Fitchburg State’s Damari Grossi and Galen Kerr, Framingham State’s Kylie Boyle, MCLA’s Kaitlyn Berghela and Morgan Watson, Westfield State’s Angelica Banning, Liz Kelly and Bri Tortota and Worcester State’s Dakota Smith-Porter.