SOFTBALL: JWU's Pulek, Emmanuel's Long Named GNAC Player & Pitcher of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEAGUE LEADERS | ALL-GNAC HISTORY

JWU's Pulek named Player of Year, GNAC
champ Emmanuel captures other three major awards

WINTHROP, Mass. – Following a unique spring due to COVID-19, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference is pleased to announce its 2021 Softball All-Conference Teams and major award winners, as voted upon by the league's head coaches. 

With Wednesday morning's announcement, Emmanuel College, which as the top seed swept second-seeded Johnson & Wales University (RI) in the GNAC Championship on May 8, witnessed senior Megan Long take home GNAC Pitcher of the Year honors, freshman Olivia Conti capture Rookie of the Year accolades, while fourth-year head coach Olivia Berry was voted GNAC Coach of the Year. 

Meanwhile, JWU senior infielder Jill Pulek was selected as the GNAC Player of the Year after leading the GNAC in hitting (.582), OBP (.630), slugging (.911), runs (31), RBI (28), doubles (13), and extra-base hits (18). The former Suffolk student-athlete was an incredible 46-for-79 at the plate, stole six bases in as many tries, and did not strike out once all season.

Pulek was joined on the All-GNAC First Team by Wildcats sophomore teammate Kaelani Gamble, who was the runaway GNAC homerun leader with eight, to go along with a .360/.389/.663 slash line, 23 runs and 24 RBI. 

Along with the rest of the GNAC champion Saints program, the Emmanuel major award trio got on a flight Wednesday morning, headed to Texas for the NCAA Regional, as the Saints prepare to take on Christopher Newport at Texas Lutheran Univ. on Friday afternoon (5:00 PM). 

As for Long, the right-hander tied for the league-lead with 10 wins, and was tops among conference leaders in innings pitched (73.1), complete games (11) and strikeouts (91) entering NCAA play. She posted a 1.53 ERA overall and did not allow an earned run over 14.0 innings during the GNAC Tournament. 

Rookie of the Year Conti was third amongst GNAC leaders in hitting with a .436 average, to go with three homers, 14 RBI, 27 runs, and 11 stolen bases for Coach Berry, who earned her first-ever GNAC Coach of the Year honor. 

Also garnering First Team accolades from Emmanuel were senior first baseman Emily Blanchard, sophomore outfielders Jadynne Hill and Julyanne Pacheco, and sophomore utility Tianna Dawe.

For the complete All-Conference and All-Sportsmanship selections, please see below.

In the circle, University of St. Joseph (CT) senior Alessandra Milardo joined Long on the All-GNAC First Team after posting a miniscule 1.63 ERA, going 5-3 with two saves and 75 strikeouts in 56.0 innings of work. 

FIRST TEAM
C - Megan Burke, St. Joseph (Conn.)
1B - Emily Blanchard, Emmanuel (Mass.)
2B - Kaelani Gamble, Johnson & Wales (RI)
3B - Jill Pulek, Johnson & Wales (RI)
SS - Olivia Conti, Emmanuel (Mass.)
OF - Jadynne Hill, Emmanuel (Mass.)
OF - Julyanne Pacheco, Emmanuel (Mass.)
OF - Ashlee White, St. Joseph (Conn.)
DP - Tianna Dawe, Emmanuel (Mass.)
UTIL - Devin Scales, Johnson & Wales (RI)
P - Megan Long, Emmanuel (Mass.)
P - Alessandra Milardo, St. Joseph (Conn.) 

SECOND TEAM
C - Elizabeth Niven, Norwich
1B - Hailey Erickson, Johnson & Wales (RI)
2B - Michelle Woodruff, St. Joseph (Conn.)
3B - Maegan Amsler, Emmanuel (Mass.)
SS - Julia Huzi, Johnson & Wales (RI)
OF - Renae Lacroix, Emmanuel (Mass.)
OF - Megan Antaya, Johnson & Wales (RI)
OF - Ally Kirck, Lasell
DP - Ivy Geloso, Albertus Magnus
UTIL - Jenna Masiello, St. Joseph (Conn.)
P - Laura Anderson, Albertus Magnus
P - Livia Feole, Johnson & Wales (RI)

THIRD TEAM
C - Avery Webb, Emmanuel (Mass.)
1B - Talia Smaller, Johnson & Wales (RI)
2B - Kiana Hinson, Emmanuel (Mass.)
3B - Katie Hopkins, Lasell
SS - Eden Forget, Anna Maria
OF - Olivia DiGiacomo, Johnson & Wales
OF - Dara Kelly, Norwich
OF - Madison Mayo, Dean
DP - Annika Beebe, Norwich
UTIL - Jess Stettinger, Albertus Magnus
P - Eryn Sheeley, Lasell
P - Natalie Amato, St. Joseph (Conn.) 

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Megan Anderson, Albertus Magnus 
Kassandra Register, Anna Maria
Jaylee Martinez, Dean
Kiana Hinson, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Jessica Rynne, Johnson & Wales (RI)
Kelsey Scannevin, Lasell
Elizabeth Niven, Norwich
Kasey Smith, Rivier 
Abigail Dillon, St. Joseph (Conn.)
Taylor Owen, Saint Joseph's (ME)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Jill Pulek, Johnson & Wales (RI)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR - Megan Long, Emmanuel (Mass.)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Olivia Conti, Emmanuel (Mass.)
COACH OF THE YEAR - Olivia Berry, Emmanuel (Mass.)
INSTITUTIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD - Anna Maria College

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

– #TheGNAC –