Six Players Represent Rivier on GNAC All-Conference Teams

Nashua, NH- The 2010 Great North East Conference (GNAC) Champs had six of its players selected to one of the four GNAC All-Conference Teams. The Raiders posted their best season in history with a 32-2 overall record (23-1 in conference) and have a chance to be the first team to bring a national title back to Rivier.

Senior pitcher Monica White (Augusta, ME) received triple accolades as she was named the GNAC Player of the Year, GNAC Pitcher of the Year, and selected to the GNAC First Team All-Conference after her dominant senior campaign. Monica went 26-1 on the mound, where she posted a 0.65 ERA and struck out 282 batters in 173.1 innings. She also did damage at the plate by hitting .356 with 3 homers and 28 RBIs on the season. She even showed a little love for the glove as she made all 52 plays that came her way on defense.

Freshman shortstop Taylor Cournoyer (Mansfield, MA) was also selected to the First Team All-Conference and was selected as the GNAC Rookie of the Year. Taylor led the team with a .532 batting average, which ranks 2nd in the entire country. Cournoyer also led the team with 66 total hits, 45 RBIs and a .535 on-base-percentage. She also played solid defense at the 6 position with a .938 fielding percentage.

Left fielder and fellow freshman Katie Bachinski (Northfield, MA) joined Monica and Taylor on the First Team All-Conference, which marks the first time the Raiders have put multiple freshman on the all-conference team. Bachinski, who started in all 34 games, showed that she could handle the bat as she was second on the team with a .414 batting average with 41 RBIs. Bachinski showed her speed and power as she recorded 14 stolen bases and led Rivier and the GNAC with 11 homeruns on the year.

Senior Jess Mellen (Rockland, MA) showed that she's not just a basketball player as she was selected to the Second Team All-Conference as an outfielder. The center fielder showed all kinds of range in the outfield as she only made one error for a .963 fielding percentage. She also did well at the dish as she hit .324 with 16 RBIs and was 9-9 in steal attempts.

Freshman Amanda Thornton (Hanover, MA) was selected to the Third Team All-Conference as a designated player. Thornton started 30 games for the Raiders where she hit .326 with 17 RBIs and a .360 on-base percentage. Thornton also showed us that she can get the job done under pressure, as she knocked in the winning run for the Raiders in the 8th inning of the GNAC Championship game.

Sophomore Karen Waterman (Rutland, VT) made her way into the line-up in 27 of the Raiders 34 games after seeing limited action during her freshman campaign; spending time in the outfield as well as becoming the team's starting designated hitter down the stretch. Waterman was named by her teammates to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team after hitting .250 at the plate with 6 RBIs including 1 homerun.

The Raiders will start their NCAA Championship run on May 13, 2010 at the Division III Softball Championship Regional Tournament. Until then, Rivier will play one more double header against non-conference opponent Tufts University on April 29, 2010, with the first game slated to start at 6:00 pm.