Paige Stringer Named NEC Player of the Year
Stringer Named Player of the Year, First Team All-NEC; Kassandra (KC) Machado First Tea,m All-NEC; Liz Hamilton NEC All-Rookie Team
Senior third baseman Paige Stringer was announced as the Northeast Conference Player of the Year on Wednesday afternoon.
Head Coach Breanne Gleason praised the senior for what she has brought to this program on and off the field by saying, "Paige has been such a joy to coach over the years. She is the heart and soul of this program and we will be forever grateful for her choosing us. Paige is the greatest hitter we have ever had and she has left such an impressive mark on this program."
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - PAIGE STRINGER
Paige Stringer dominated offensively and led the Blue Devils with a .356 average, 48 hits, 12 homers, 36 RBIs, and a .407 OBP. Hailing from Monroe, Washington, she led the NEC with 12 home runs, secured a .649 slugging percentage—second only to teammate KC Machado—and boasted the league's third-highest average. Stringer follows in the footsteps of Kat Malcolm, who was awarded Player of the Year honors in 2013, making her the second Blue Devil to receive this prestigious award. Paige has dominated the offensive stats for her team this season, leading in categories such as home runs and RBIs. She stands out as the only player in the program's history to earn both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors and the first player in the conference to earn both awards since Andrea Lazzari (Wagner 2008 & 2009 POTY, 2006 ROTY). Moreover, Stringer broke her own single-season home run record by hitting her twelfth in Central's final regular-season game.
BLUE DEVILS NAMED THREE PLAYERS TO ALL-NEC TEAM
That's awesome news for the team! Alongside Stringer, Kassandra (KC) Machado, a transfer from Liberty, received First Team All-Northeast Conference honors. Central's freshman hurler, Liz Hamilton was also named to the NEC All-Rookie Team.
MACHADO NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-NEC
Junior utility player KC Machado led her team with an impressive slugging percentage of .688, hitting 13 doubles and nine home runs. Not only was she the Northeast Conference leader in slugging percentage, but she also ranked second in home runs, OPS (1.080), and doubles. Additionally, she finished fifth in the circuit with 32 RBIs.
HAMILTON NAMED TO ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Rookie sensation Liz Hamilton snagged NEC All-Rookie honors, notching 10 wins with a stellar 2.90 ERA, ranking her ninth in the NEC. Opponents hit just .248 against the Ohio native who also led the team in shutouts with five. Hamilton had a breakout rookie season and was named Rookie of The Year at the Blue Devil Choice awards on Monday.
The Blue Devils take on #1 seeded Saint Francis PA Thursday at 12:00 in Loretto, PA for the first round of the Northeast Conference Tournament.