Valparaiso's Ranieri and YSU's Castiglione Named Horizon League Softball Co-Players of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS -- Valparaiso sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Ranieri and Youngstown State sophomore first baseman Miranda Castiglione were named the Horizon League Softball Co-Players of the Year, in voting of the League’s coaches.

Youngstown State senior teammate Casey Crozier was League Pitcher of the Year, who paced the Horizon League with an 18-6 record in 30 appearances. Crozier fanned 186 batters in a conference-high 175.0 innings in the circle.

The Penguins also captured Freshman of the Year accolades by outfielder Sarah Dowd. Dowd tallied a .286 batting average with seven home runs and 27 RBI, while her 29 runs scored were amongst the top in the League.

Leading Green Bay to its first conference regular season title in program history, Jean Rivett was unanimously voted Horizon League Coach of the Year. Rivett led the Phoenix to an overall record of 24-12 and an 11-5 mark in League play.

In League-only play, Ranieri led all hitters in the conference with a .532 batting average, .887 slugging percentage, .597 on-base percentage, 33 hits and 55 total bases. Overall on the year, the sophomore has a .371 batting average with eight home runs and 32 RBI.

Castiglione leads all conference hitters with a .407 batting average while hitting 10 home runs and collecting 33 RBI. The sophomore also has a League-leading 68 hits, 43 runs scored and 109 total bases.

Regular season champion Green Bay placed three players on the All-League First Team with Miranda Reinke, Marissa Michalkiewicz and pitcher Briana Cavin. Joining the squad was Wright State’s Jess Gorman and Oakland’s Erika Polidori.

Cleveland State, UIC and Youngstown State placed two players respectively on the first team, with the Viking’s Erica McNew and Cynthia Woodard, the Flames’ Natalie Hernandez and Jacki Fletcher, and the Penguins’ Castiglione and pitcher Crozier. Valparaiso’s Ranieri rounded out the 12 first team honorees.

Wright State will host the Horizon League Softball Championship, which begins on Wednesday, May 7. The Horizon League Network will bring fans the action across all four days, culminating with the League championship game on May 10.  

2014 SOFTBALL AWARDS

CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Katelyn Ranieri, Valparaiso
Miranda Castiglione, Youngstown State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Sarah Dowd, Youngstown State
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Casey Crozier, Youngstown State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jean Rivett, Green Bay

ALL-LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
Erica McNew, Cleveland State
Natalie Hernandez, UIC
Kaitlyn Ranieri, Valparaiso
Miranda Castiglione, Youngstown State
Miranda Reinke, Green Bay
Marissa Michalkiewicz, Green Bay
Cynthia Woodard, Cleveland State
Jacki Fletcher, UIC
Erika Polidori, Oakland
Jess Gorman, Wright State
Casey Crozier, Youngstown State (P)
Briana Cavin, Green Bay (P)

SECOND TEAM
Kayla Kostich, Detroit
Alyson Broschk, Cleveland State
Paige Peterson, UIC
Jenna Marsalli, UIC
Taylor Lawson, Valparaiso
Shannon Butts, Green Bay
Courtney Ewing, Youngstown State
Sarah Ingalls, Youngstown State
Christa McGahuey, Detroit
Sarah Dowd, Youngstown State
Krystian DeWitt, Wright State (P)
Ashley Nannemann, Green Bay (P)

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Taylor Lawson, Valparaiso
Kelly Kennedy, UIC
Kaley Waalkes, Oakland
Jorgi Calombaris, Valparaiso
Heather Sanderson, Green Bay
Katelyn Huemmer, Green Bay
Allie Taylor, Green Bay
Libby Pfeffer, Wright State
Becka Peterson, Wright State
Sarah Dowd, Youngstown State