Lancaster, Pa. – (5/14/2024) – Honoring the league's top regular-season performers, Commissioner Jessica Huntley has officially released the members of the All-Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Softball Team and major award winners for the 2024 season. Marywood University junior first baseman/second baseman Emma McNally (Scranton, Pa.) was recognized with the AEC Elite 20 Award while Centenary University (N.J.) Head Kim Broking and her staff were honored as the AEC Coaching Staff of the Year. The AEC Rookie of the Year, AEC Pitcher of the Year, and AEC Player of the year titles respectively went to Marywood University freshman middle infielder Kat Davis (Throop, Pa.), Centenary University junior pitcher infielder Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J.), and Marymount University senior third baseman/first baseman Kaylynn Johnson (Alexandria, Va.). Gwynedd Mercy University placed four Griffins on the All-AEC roster, including First Tea honors for senior utility Shylynn Cordero (Allentown, Pa.) and freshman infielder Avery Schwartz (Collegeville, Pa.), as well as At-Large Second Team recognition for senior third baseman Grace Scally (Philadelphia, Pa.) and senior pitcher/infield Jocelyn Baumeister (Philadelphia, Pa.).
 
The AEC established The Elite 20 Award Program in the fall of 2021 to honor the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each Atlantic East-sponsored sport. Modeled after the NCAA Elite 90 Academic Recognition Award Program, The Atlantic East Elite 20 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) competing at the finals site at each of the Atlantic East's 20 team championships. An early childhood and elementary education dual major, McNally carried a 3.97 GPA through the fall semester of his junior season.
 
Broking and her staff, Len Kunz and Justine Stefura directed the Cyclones to a 10-2 conference record (29-14 overall) and the #1 seed in the 2024 AEC Softball Championship Tournament. Centenary University showed a 14-game improvement in the win column and doubled their conference win total from 2023.

As the league's top rookie, Davis led the AEC in runs (34) and stolen bases (30-for-32, .938), while also ranking among the Top-10 in walks (T6th, 12) and hits (10^th, 38). Meanwhile, the league's top player, Johnson was the AEC leader home runs (1^st, 10), total bases (1^st, 95), and runs-batted-in (1^st, 45 RBI), while sharing the hitting crown with the league's top pitcher; Miller (T1st, 50). Miller impressed at the plate and also shared the league lead in doubles with 16 (T1st, 2B). From the circle, she posted a league-best 1.71 earned run average (1^st, ERA) in a league-high 172.1 innings pitched (1^st, IP) to earn a league-high 23 wins (1^st, W). Miller totaled four shutouts (SHO) in 18 complete games (CG) and she struck out (1^st, 160) an AEC-best 160 opponents.  
 
Cordero was the ignition for the Red and Gold offense, leading off the Gwynedd Mercy University lineup with a league-high 24 walks (1^st, BB) and a league-best .496 on-base percentage (1^st, OBP). She also ranked among the AEC Top-10 in hits (6^th, 42), batting average (6^th, .372 BA), and runs (7^th, 26), while playing a solid centerfield (.926 FLD%; 47PO+3A/54TC)
 
Schwartz played a good second base (.962; 73+57/135) and made the All-AEC First Team At-Large in her debut season with a league-best four triples (1^st, 3B). She totaled 16 runs and 15 RBI with a .308 (33-for-107)/.342/.449 slash line and stole a team-high nine bases (9-for-10, .900). Schwartz also garnered AEC Weekly Honor Roll recognition on April 30.
 
Scally earned her third consecutive All-AEC Second Team honor with a share of the league lead in 2B (T1st) with 16. She was outstanding at third base (.964 FLD%; 56+79/140), while also ranking among the AEC Top-10 in RBI (4^th, 30), hits (T7th, 40), total bases (T8th, 56), on-base plus slugging (9^th, .896 OPS), BA (T9th, .354) and slugging (10^th, .496 SLG). Like Schwartz, she made an AEC Weekly Honor Roll (Apr. 2) appearance.
 
Baumeister made four appearances on the AEC Weekly Report with three Honor Roll (Mar. 26, Apr. 8, Apr. 15) and was named the AEC Pitcher of the Week on April 2. She ranked fourth in the AEC in ERA (4^th, 2.47) and tied for sixth in wins (6^th, 6), while ranking eighth in IP (8^th, 85.0). She also ranked among the AEC Top-10 in starts (8^th, 13), CG (T4th, 11), SHO (T5th, 1), strikeouts (5^th, 71), and BA-Against (.249; 85-for-341). Baumeister also totaled 13 runs and a dozen (12) RBI with a .291 (25-for-86)/.337/.326 slash line while making appearances in the lineup as a second baseman and first baseman (.938; 76+14/96).
 
The complete 2024 All-AEC Softball Team and major award winners are provided below and available using the provided links.
   
All-AEC First Team
Utility Pitcher: Courtney Gable (Immaculata University), Dorian Llyes (Cabrini University)
Utility Non-Pitcher: Priscilla Grill (Marywood University)
Designated Player: Carlee Karcher (Immaculata University)
Pitchers: Jaelynn Miller (Centenary University), Shanyn Burch (Marymount University), Marissa Gregory (Marywood University)
Catcher: Jaclyn Burch (Marymount University)
First Base: Jessica Hanley (Marywood University)
Outfield: Shylynn Cordero (Gwynedd Mercy University), Bryele Anthony (Immaculata University), Ariana Mirenda (Cabrini University)
Second Base: Kat Davis (Marywood University)
Shortstop: Jess Oldham (Immaculata University)
Third Base: Kaylynn Johnson (Marymount University)
At Large: Emma McNally (Marywood University), Kaitlyn Delaney (Cabrini University), Rylee Martin (Immaculata University), Avery Schwartz (Gwynedd Mercy University), Toni Cacopardo (Centenary University)
 
All-AEC Second Team – At Large
Grace Scally (Gwynedd Mercy University)
Emma Pinto (Immaculata University)
Alyssa Celi (Neumann University)
Kaylee Atkins (Marymount University)
Ashleigh Mannion (Marymount University)
Abbey Stalter (Marywood University)
Jenna Jew (Marymount University)
Jocelyn Baumeister (Gwynedd Mercy University)
Emma Barbera (Cabrini University)
Madison Gugel (Cabrini University)
Tori Para (Marywood University)
Allison Hill (Immaculata University)