University of Albany's Coach Chris Cannata & Amber Maisonet Recognized on All-America East Softball Team: UAlbany Athletics

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany’s Chris Cannata was named the America East Conference Coach of the Year in softball, as announced at the annual conference banquet held at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Albany on Wednesday, May 7. The Great Danes also placed three team members on the all-conference first team.

Cannata earned the top coaching award for the fourth time since UAlbany joined the America East in 2001. In her 14th season at the helm of the Great Dane program, Cannata guided UAlbany to a 32-15 record overall, and went 16-5 in conference play en route to winning the regular-season title. Cannata won her 400th career game on April 19. She has a 409-203-1 record during her tenure.

Senior left fielder Amber Maisonet leads a group of three Great Danes on the all-conference first team. Maisonet, the first UAlbany player to earn first-team honors four times, is batting .372 and leads the team with 55 hits. She has scored 30 runs and driven in 15 more, while going 25-of-29 on stolen base attempts. Maisonet, who was also named to the all-academic team, became the program’s all-time hits leader this season with 227. She is also tied for first on the career runs chart with 148 and is second with 94 stolen bases.

Junior third baseman Meagan Butsch makes her first appearance on an all-conference team, after being named to the all-rookie squad as a freshman. Butsch, who earned a spot on the conference’s all-academic squad, leads the team with a .381 average and has recorded 53 hits, 27 runs and 28 RBI. She has a team-high .633 slugging percentage after knocking out seven home runs, six doubles and four triples as a junior. Butsch was named the America East and ECAC player of the week on April 13.

Sophomore pitcher Leah McIntosh, an all-rookie choice last year, is also a member of the first team. McIntosh has led the UAlbany staff, accumulating 197 strikeouts in 139.2 innings of work and a 1.65 ERA. In 22 appearances this season, McIntosh has posted a 15-5 record with 19 complete games, including seven shutouts and two no-hitters. McIntosh, who also earned all-academic team honors, was named the conference’s pitcher of the week on four occasions during the season.

Second baseman Michelle Connors earned all-conference second-team recognition after making first-team and all-rookie appearances as a freshman. Connors hit .331 in her second season, recording 41 hits, including a team-high eight doubles and eight home runs. She also led the team with 31 runs scored and 29 RBI.

Sophomore utility player Bailey Van Deest earned All-America East recognition for the first time with a spot on the all-conference second team. Van Deest recorded a .290 average, seeing time in right field and as the designated player. Van Deest had 27 hits on the season, including seven doubles, and drove in 14 runs.

Freshmen Andrianna Walraven and Gina Mason were honored with all-rookie team accolades. Walraven, who started 46 games at shortstop, hit .205 with 26 hits and 15 runs scored. Mason batted .230 with 28 hits, including seven doubles and five home runs. She scored 17 runs and drove in 25 more. Mason earned the conference’s final rookie of the week honor on May 4.

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2008 America East All_Conference Softball Team

First Team: Leah McIntosh, UAlbany; Alyssa Struzenberg, Stony Brook; Kali Shirk, UMBC; Marissa Fleury, Stony Brook; Ashley Waters, Maine; Meagan Butsch, UAlbany; Melissa Dubay, Boston U.; Amber Maisonet, UAlbany; April Setterlund, Boston U.; Shayne Lotito, Boston U.; Ashley Gray, UMBC; Amanda Fefel, UMBC.

Second Team: Cassidi Hardy, Boston U.; Brittney Stratton, Hartford; Christy Leath, Boston U.; Rachel Hebert, Boston U.; Michelle Connors, UAlbany; Terren Hall, Maine; Vicki Kavitsky, Stony Brook; Alexis Souhlaris, Maine; Kelsi Fanelli, Stony Brook; Rachelle Eloschuk, Vermont; Tyler Benson, Boston U.; Bailey Van Deest, UAlbany.

All-Rookie: Andrianna Walraven, UAlbany; Gina Mason, UAlbany; Brianna Andrews, Binghamton; Deannie Plemon, Binghamton; April Setterlund, Boston U.; Melanie Delgado, Boston U.; Kelley Engman, Boston U.; Terren Hall, Maine; Kristin Allen, Maine; Stephanie Weigman, UMBC; Lauren Brummel, UMBC; Caroline Goddard, Vermont.

All-Academic: Leah McIntosh, UAlbany; Meagan Butsch, UAlbany; Amber Maisonet, UAlbany; Bailey Van Deest, UAlbany; Christy Leath, Boston U.; Tyler Benson, Boston U.; Ashley Waters, Maine; Alyssa Struzenberg, Stony Brook; Marissa Fleury, Stony Brook; Vicki Kavitsky, Stony Brook, Kali Shirk, UMBC, Rachelle Eloschuk, Vermont.



Player of the Year: Ashley Waters, Maine

Pitcher of the Year: Alyssa Struzenberg, Stony Brook

Rookie of the Year: April Setterlund, Boston U.

Coach of the Year: Chris Cannata, UAlbany