Junior first baseman Katie Smith was awarded with NESCAC Softball's highest accolade last week when she was voted as the conference Player of the Year by conference coaches.
Smith is the fourth straight Jumbo to win Player of the Year since the inception of the NESCAC tournament in 2001, following such big names as Lis Drake, Jen Mackey, and Randee McArdle.
In addition, Smith was also selected to the NESCAC First Team and a New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) Honorable Mention.
The native of Convent Station, N.J. absolutely tore up opposing pitching this season, leading both the Jumbos and the conference in hitting with a .414 average.
She was second in hits (41), tied for second in runs batted in (23) with junior teammate Courtney Bongiolatti, second in home runs (4) to Bongiolatti (6), second in total bases (61) to Bongiolatti's 63, and tied for fourth in doubles (8).
In addition, she played outstanding first base with just three errors in 270 chances for a .989 fielding percentage this year, good for tops on the Tufts squad.
Joining Smith on the All-NESCAC First Team are Bongiolatti and senior tri-captain Deana Davidian.
Bongiolatti, who hit .346 on the season and was also named a NEISCA Honorable Mention, led the NESCAC in home runs with six and total bases with 63 and was tied with Smith for second in RBIs with 23.
Davidian, who was also named a NEISCA Second Team All Star, single handedly carried the Jumbos through a nine game winning streak that propelled them into the playoffs.
She hit .365 on the season and led the league with 42 hits and 24 runs scored. She also was third in the league with 55 total bases.
In addition, the second baseman made only four errors in 173 chances, giving her a fielding percentage of .977.
Representing the Jumbos on the All-NESCAC Second team was senior tri-captain catcher Julie Fox.
Fox started all 32 games at catcher this spring for a pitching staff that saw five different pitchers including one freshman.
She didn't let that stop her at the plate, though, as she hit .340 with three home runs, good for third in the conference behind Smith and Bongiolatti, and 16 RBIs.
-- Aman Gupta
