PASADENA — Five members of the University of La Verne softball team were named to softball All-SCIAC teams, the conference office announced on Thursday.
Katherine Kibbe, Alexis Schiff, Danielle Vela and Mackenzie Dutton landed on the First Team while Rebecca Ireland earned a Second Team nod. In addition, Angelica DeAngelo was named to All-Sportsmanship Team.
Kibbe was selected as a pitcher, but has emerged as a true dual-threat this year. In the circle, the junior went 10-3 in SCIAC play with 11 complete games and posted a league-best1.71 ERA. She also hit .438 in the SCIAC and had two home runs, 19 RBI and 21 runs scored. She was top-five in the SCIAC in wins (3rd), complete games (3rd), shutouts (2nd), strikeouts (2nd), batting average against (3rd) and ERA (1st).
After earning a Second Team recognition in 2014 as a freshman, Schiff broke out this season, hitting .379 with 11 home runs, 46 RBI and 25 runs. Her nine SCIAC home runs were good for second in the league and she led the SCIAC in RBI (39) and total bases (76).
Vela, who earned First Team honors as a sophomore and Second Team last year, was her usual steady self in the middle of the infield and at the top of the batting order. She hit .372 in SCIAC play with 11 RBI and 23 runs.
Dutton had a breakout season as a junior. She came into this season with two career home runs, but slugged seven this year—all in SCIAC play—and drove in 31 runs and scored 32.
Ireland, who almost exclusive played at shortstop last year, was selected as the Second Team catcher and saw time at short as well. Despite the position change, Ireland did not see any dropoff in performance. The senior hit .346 with two home runs, 24 RBI and 28 runs. She also stole 15 bases.
Tara Robinson of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was named Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row and Marialena Ahern of Whittier was tabbed Newcomer of the Year. Whittier's Dee Dee Kingsbury was named Coach of the Year after leading the Poets to a SCIAC Championship in her first campaign.