WINTHROP, Mass. – Fresh off a season to remember under Interim Head Coach Maddie Castigliego, who arrived on campus in January, Simmons University Softball placed four starters on the All-Conference Teams as released by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) office today. Piper Kinney earned the Pitcher of the Year award, first team honors from the circle, and second team utility honors. Battery mate Emery Kreidel-Reimer garnered a second team nod, sophomore Zoe Soule joined her teammates from the outfield on the second team, while Teagan Buckley booked a spot on the third team.
For the third time in her historic career, Kinney captured the Pitcher of the Year accolade after a record-setting senior campaign. Through 164.1 innings, the right-hander sported a career-best 1.87 earned run average, 19 wins, 19 complete games, and nine complete game shutouts. In GNAC play, the senior boasted a 0.74 ERA, leading the league in wins (10) and strikeouts (92). On Saturday, April 4, Kinney became the all-time strikeout leader in program history against New England College and continued to separate herself from the rest with a career total of 667. The two-way player also earned All-Conference Second Team honors in the utility position after sharing time in the circle, at DP, and at first base. Statistically her best season at the plate, she sported a .364 batting average with 48 hits and a team-leading 35 runs scored. In the field, Kinney recorded 84 putouts with a .975 fielding percentage.
Kreidel-Reimer stepped up behind the plate and in the batter's box this season, putting up career numbers consistently through 39 games played. Ranking 15th in the conference in batting average (.370) and second among catchers, the senior had 27 hits, including 10 doubles, two triples, and a home run. Additionally, Kreidel-Reimer knocked in a team-leading 27 RBI and also led the team in OPS (1.011), slugging percentage (.540), and on-base percentage (.471). On the defensive side, she boasted a .991 fielding percentage despite the high amount of chances, recording just two errors on the year.
The only non-senior representing the Sharks on the All-Conference list, Soule had a breakout sophomore season and has now been named an All-Conference in back-to-back years. Starting all 44 games, Soule had a .365 batting average with 50 hits, including 12 doubles, and 30 runs scored through 137 at bats. Soule's clutch hitting particularly shined in the postseason, knocking in a pair of runs in a 3-1 victory over Emmanuel, as well as recording an RBI in each of the next three tournament games. The commander of the outfield, Soule was reliable in center field with a .944 fielding percentage.
After notching her 150th career hit yesterday, Buckley makes her fourth appearance on the GNAC All-Conference team. Buckley secured a .302 batting average with a career-high 39 hits this year. The senior collected 21 RBI and also set a career best in runs scored with 22. With her consistency fully on display, Buckley had a team-best 11-game hitting streak this season. Spanning from April 8 to April 29, Buckley recorded a hit in every game the Sharks played during the month of April.
Additionally, sophomore Lauren Stenmon was selected as the Simmons representative on the All-Sportsmanship Team, displaying a team-first mindset and positivity all season long.
