Softball: "Awards Show Rewind"

"Awards Show Rewind" is a Wells College Athletics 13 segment feature that reviews each 2019-20 Wells athletics team and its honorees from the May 20 Express Awards Show in reverse order from the show's countdown. Today's featured team is the 2020 softball team. Links for the entire show can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YCv2s5JgVc or Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WellsExpresslive

Wells College softball team's head coach Taylor Policay handed out three awards to four winners and recognized two seniors at the Wells College Express Awards Show on Wednesday, May 20.

Policay awarded rookie of the year to Olivia Maish. "Olivia was our lead-off batter and starting centerfielder. Her speed and knowledge of the game made her a very big contributor to our team. I'm very excited to see what Olivia will do in the future on the field and in the classroom at Wells," said Policay.

Jessica Conover and Hailie Bennett received the Express Award, which goes to the player who embodies the true ideals of team commitment: leadership, discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship. Policay added, "These two always did whatever I asked of them. They were two workhorses in the pitching circle – always ready when I needed them to go in and they always pitched as much as I needed them to without ever complaining."

Finally, the most valuable player of the year went to Naomi Kubo. "Naomi battled through injuries but continued to find her way on the field. She was our most versatile player on the field with the ability to play literally any position. She led the team in batting average with a .467 and on-base percentage with .579," Policay said.

Two of the winners were seniors that included Kubo and Conover.

"I'd like to thank our two seniors. They were my right-hand this year; always helping me, giving me advice on what they thought was best for the team. They were freshmen when the softball team restarted a couple of years ago and they have had such a great impact on the program. We are going to miss them dearly next year, but wish them all the best for their future," said Policay.

Prior to Policay announcing her team's award winners, Provost and Dean of the College Dr. Cindy Speaker announced the inaugural class of Wells College's New York State Alpha Omicron Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, a national organization that recognizes student-athletes from accredited four-year institutions who excel in both the classroom and competition. In order to be inducted, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, or NCCAA. The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4. One member of the softball team was among those named, Jessica Conover.

A link to the Athletics Awards Program is at: https://wells.prestosports.com/general/2019-20/files/2020AwardsProgram.pdf