Marist Softball Selected as Preseason Favorites in MAAC; Canisius’ Lindsey Silfer & Marist’s Claire Oberdorf Named Co-Preseason Player of the Year
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today that Marist College has been selected as the 2017 MAAC Softball Preseason favorites based on a vote by the league’s 11 head coaches. The Red Foxes received 10 first place votes and a total of 119 points overall. Canisius College senior outfielder Lindsey Silfer and Marist College sophomore infielder Claire Oberdorf have been named the 2017 Co-Preseason Player of the Year.
Marist captured the 2016 MAAC Softball Championship, its third in program history. The Red Foxes defeated Monmouth University, 3-2 in the 2016 MAAC Softball Championship game on a walk-off single by Brittany Colombo in the bottom of the seventh inning. Marist compiled a (45-13, 16-4 MAAC) record last season. As MAAC Champions, the Red Foxes earned the league’s automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Softball Championship.
In 2016 Marist led the MAAC in batting average (.325), runs scored (338), hits (514), doubles (94), triples (12), home runs (54), and stolen bases (157). On the mound the Red Foxes recorded a league-high in wins (45), saves (11), strikeouts (268), and innings pitched (384.0). Marist pitching tallied a 2.73 ERA, which was the third-lowest in the MAAC last season.
Monmouth ranked second in the 2017 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, with 107 total points. The Hawks were the 2016 MAAC Softball Championship runner-up after posting a (29-21, 13-7 MAAC) mark last regular season. Monmouth ranked second in the conference in runs scored (279) and home runs (41) and third in batting average (.298), hits (422), doubles (73), and home runs (41). Hawks’ pitching registered a 2.54 ERA in 2016, which was the second-lowest in the league.
Fairfield University placed third in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll, with 91 total points. The Stags finished the 2016 regular season with a (25-23, 12-8 MAAC) record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2016 MAAC Softball Championship, but were defeated by Marist.
Canisius’ Lindsey Silfer and Marist’s Claire Oberdorf are the 2017 MAAC Softball Co-Player of the Year. Silfer batted .417 (70-168), with eight homers, and 40 RBI. The outfielder led the MAAC in hitting (.417), ranked second in hits (70), and total bases (108). Silfer ranked third in doubles (14), on-base percentage (.462), slugging percentage (.643), and was tied for third in RBI (40).
As a freshman, Oberdorf was named the 2016 MAAC Softball Rookie of the Year. She batted .376 (53-141), with seven home runs, 39 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. The infielder ranked fourth in the MAAC in hitting (.376), tied for third in triples (three), sixth in RBI (39), sixth in steals (16), and eighth in runs scored (37).
The 2017 Preseason All-MAAC Team is made up of two catchers, four infielders, three outfielders, two designated players, one utility, and two pitchers. Marist placed a league-high four student-athletes on the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
Fairfield’s Tori Reed and Marist’s Rebecca Freeman were selected to the team at catcher. Iona’s Kristen Turner (unanimous selection), Marist’s Claire Oberdorf, Monmouth’s Justene Reyes, and Siena’s Paige Hess made the team on the infield. Canisius’ Lindsey Silfer, Manhattan’s Shannon Puthe, and Marist’ Janna Korak join the team in the outfield. At designated player, Manhattan’s Jenn Vazquez and Siena’s Brooke Taylor. Manhattan’s Briana Matazinsky is the team’s lone utility. Marist’s Jayne Oberdorf and Monmouth’s Amanda Riley were selected at pitcher.
For all information on the 2017 MAAC Softball Championship, visit maacsports.com/softball.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
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1.
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Marist (10)
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119
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2.
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Monmouth (1)
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107
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|
3.
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Fairfield
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91
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|
4.
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Canisius
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81
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|
5.
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Manhattan
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80
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|
6.
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Quinnipiac
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71
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7.
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Iona
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49
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|
8.
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Siena
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48
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|
9.
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Niagara
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42
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10.
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Rider
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24
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11.
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Saint Peter’s
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14
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Preseason All-MAAC Team
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Tori Reed
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Catcher
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Fairfield
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Rebecca Freeman
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Catcher
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Marist
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Kristen Turner*
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INF
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Iona
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Claire Oberdorf
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INF
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Marist
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Justene Reyes
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INF
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Monmouth
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Paige Hess
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INF
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Siena
|
|
Lindsey Silfer
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OF
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Canisius
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Shannon Puthe
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OF
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Manhattan
|
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Janna Korak
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OF
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Marist
|
|
Jenn Vazquez
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DP
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Manhattan
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Brooke Taylor
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DP
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Siena
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|
Briana Matazinsky
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UT
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Manhattan
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|
Jayne Oberdorf
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P
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Marist
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|
Amanda Riley
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P
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Monmouth
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Co-Preseason Player of the Year
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Lindsey Silfer
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OF
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Canisius
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Claire Oberdorf
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INF
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Marist
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*Denotes unanimous selection