4 Major Awards Spotlight Liberty's 17 Big South Softball Honors
5/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
With one day left prior to the 2017 Big South Softball Championship, Liberty collected a conference-record 17 postseason honors, including four major awards.
Fourth-year Head Coach Dot Richardson was named Big South Coach of the Year, while sophomore Julia DiMartino was voted Big South Pitcher of the Year. Infielder Amber Bishop was tabbed Big South Freshman of the Year, while redshirt senior pitcher Kenzie Friesen was voted Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Campbell senior designated player Amber Schisler, the Preseason Player of the Year, was voted Big South Player of the Year.
The Lady Flames placed four players each on the Big South All-Conference first team, second team and All-Freshman team, while being represented by Friesen on the All-Academic team.
Liberty's All-Big South first-team selections were: junior outfielder Tori Zavodny, freshmen Amber Bishop (2B) and Autumn Bishop (UTL) and sophomore pitcher Julia DiMartino.
Liberty was represented on the second team by sophomores Jasmeen Click (OF) and Sarah Robertson (SS), junior third basemen Alexia Taylor and redshirt senior pitcher Kenzie Friesen.
The Lady Flames' All-Freshman team members were: Amber Bishop and Autumn Bishop, designated player Emily Sweat and outfielder Taylor Hoffman.
Liberty ties a Big South softball record, becoming the fifth team to earn eight members on the all-conference teams. The Lady Flames join the 2000 Coastal Carolina, 2007 Winthrop, 2008 Radford and 2016 Longwood teams with eight all-conference players.
DiMartino is just the second player in program history to earn Big South All-Conference first team honors as both a freshman and a sophomore, joining Stacy Radulovich (1996-97). Zavodny becomes the seventh Liberty player all-time with three or more all-conference honors, with the last being her older sister, Katie (2012-14). Taylor earns her second career all-conference award, also being awarded second team mention as a freshman in 2015.
Richardson receives her first Big South Coach of the Year honor, and fourth in program history. Paul Wetmore earned the award in 1996, 1999 and 2000. Richardson has led a revival of Liberty softball, guiding the team to improved win totals each of the last three seasons. This year has been highlighted by a 35-20 record, 16-5 conference mark and Big South regular-season championship. The Lady Flames also went on a program-record 13-game winning streak in April. Richardson earned her 100th career coaching win, April 14 at Gardner-Webb.
Hailing from Brockport, N.Y., DiMartino posted a 17-9 record with a 1.89 ERA, seven shutouts and 151 strikeouts. She pitched 48 consecutive scoreless innings during April, going over two weeks without allowing a single run. DiMartino led the Big South in ERA, shutouts and strikeouts. In conference play, she went 11-3 with a 1.62 ERA and four shutouts. For her career, DiMartino has posted a 23-7 record with a 1.91 ERA and 171 strikeouts in Big South regular-season games. She was twice named Big South Pitcher of the Week this season.
A native of Murrieta, Calif., Amber Bishop has been one of the nation's top freshmen this year. She is a Top 25 Finalist for the 2017 Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year. She is ranked 25th in the nation, and fourth among all NCAA Division I freshmen, with 52 RBI. Bishop has set new program freshman records in both home runs (10) and RBI (52) this season. She ranks in the top five in the Big South in seven offensive categories. For the season, Bishop has posted a team-leading 20 multiple-hit games, including seven three-hit contests.
Friesen, a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, has thrived during her final season. She has completed her bachelor's degree in exercise science, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in exercise science. Liberty's opening-game starter this season, Friesen holds the best winning percentage in the Big South, at 11-2 (.846). She has tossed three shutouts this season, bringing her career total to five. Additionally, she went on a personal 23-inning scoreless streak during April. In Big South play, she went 5-1 with a conference-leading 1.26 ERA.
The 2017 Big South Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting begins on Wednesday at Lancer Field in Farmville, Va. Top-seeded Liberty has received a bye to the second day. Liberty will face the winner of No. 4 seed Charleston Southern and No. 5 seed Winthrop, Thursday at noon.
2017 Big South Softball Award Winners
First Team All-Conference
Jade Gandara, So., OF, Charleston Southern
Tori Zavodny, Jr., OF, Liberty
Taesha DuBoise, Sr., OF, Campbell
Alia Booth, Fr., 1B, Gardner-Webb
Amber Bishop, Fr., 2B, Liberty
Maddie Antone, Sr., SS, Winthrop
Hunter Mundy, Fr., 3B, Radford
Kaylynn Batten, So., C, Longwood
Julia DiMartino, So., P, Liberty
Elizabeth McCarthy, Sr., P, Longwood
Amber Schisler, Sr., DP, Campbell
Autumn Bishop, Fr., UTL, Liberty
Second Team All-Conference
Amanda Matsumoto, Sr., OF, Charleston Southern
Jordan Clark, So., OF, Longwood
Jasmeen Click, So., OF, Liberty
Leah Young, Sr., 1B, Winthrop
Stevi Johnson, Sr., 2B, Charleston Southern
Sarah Robertson, So., SS, Liberty
Alexia Taylor, Jr., 3B, Liberty
Paige Haley, Sr., C, Winthrop
Kenzie Friesen, R-Sr., P, Liberty
Sydney Gay, So., P, Longwood
Karleigh Donovan, So., DP, Longwood
Caitlyn Emberson, So., UTL, Charleston Southern
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Ashley Westbrooks, Fr., OF/UTL, Winthrop
Bailey Bjorson, Sr., C, Campbell
Kaylee Wacaster, So., OF, Gardner-Webb
Katie Baker, Sr., P, Campbell
Cheyenne Gandara, R-Jr., P, Charleston Southern
Abby Morrow, Jr., P, Radford
All-Freshman Team
Amber Bishop, 2B, Liberty
Autumn Bishop, UTL, Liberty
Hunter Mundy, 3B, Radford
Alia Booth, 1B, Gardner-Webb
Mallory Kasinger, 3B, Charleston Southern
Kasey Carr, UTL, Longwood
Ashley Westbrooks, OF/UTL, Winthrop
Emily Sweat, DP, Liberty
Holly Clark, P, Charleston Southern
Taylor Hoffman, OF, Liberty
Madyson Watson, UTL, Winthrop
Olivia Henson, P, Gardner-Webb
All-Academic Team
Katie Baker, Sr., P, Campbell
Taylor Powell, Sr., OF, Charleston Southern
Callie Thornton, So., 3B, Gardner-Webb
Kenzie Friesen, R-Sr., P, Liberty
Kelsey Sweeney, Jr., 1B, Longwood
Hope Rogers, Sr., 2B, Presbyterian
Kayla Bishton, Sr., 1B, Radford
Paige Haley, Sr., C, Winthrop
Player of the Year – Amber Schisler, Sr., DP, Campbell
Pitcher of the Year – Julia DiMartino, So., P, Liberty
Freshman of the Year – Amber Bishop, 2B, Liberty
Coach of the Year – Dot Richardson, Liberty
Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Kenzie Friesen, R-Sr., P, Liberty
Liberty All-Conference Capsules
Amber Bishop - Fr. 2B (Freshman of the Year; All-Conference first team; All-Freshman team)
Amber Bishop, a Top 25 Finalist for National Freshman of the Year, was named Big South Player of the Week on Feb. 13 and was voted Freshman of the Week three times. She is currently second in the Big South with 52 RBI, tying for second with 64 hits. She ranks 25th nationally in RBI and 59th in hits. In Big South play, she batted .415 with four homers and 25 RBI.
Autumn Bishop, Fr. UTL (All-Conference first team; All-Freshman team)
Autumn Bishop, a three-time Big South Freshman of the Week honoree, hasn't missed a beat, despite missing a month with an injury. She batted .481 in 10 conference games, and finished the regular season at .400 overall. She is tied for fourth in the Big South in both doubles (11) and triples (3) and is tied for 10th in the conference in runs scored (33). She went on a 10-game hitting streak late in the season.
Julia DiMartino - So. P (Pitcher of the Year; All-Conference first team)
Julia DiMartino, a two-time Big South All-Conference first team selection, has been dominant this year. At 17-9, she leads the Big South in shutouts (7), ERA (1.89) and strikeouts (151). She pitched 48 straight scoreless innings, going over two weeks without allowing a single run. DiMartino was twice named Big South Pitcher of the Week this year. In conference play, she leads the Big South with 11 wins, 74 strikeouts and four shutouts.
Tori Zavodny – Jr. OF (All-Conference first team)
Tori Zavodny, a three-time all-conference outfielder, has had her best year yet, leading the Big South in batting average for a majority of the season. She currently ranks second in average (.399), tied for third in runs (40), fourth in on-base percentage (.457) and tied for fourth in both doubles (11) and triples (3). Zavodny reached base safely in each of the last 17 games of the regular season, scoring 15 runs during that span. The Concord, N.C., native was named Big South Player of the Week on March 13.
Jasmeen Click – So. OF (All-Conference second team)
Jasmeen Click has burst onto the scene in the outfield this year, starting every game in center field. She bats .320 and is tied for fourth in the Big South with 22 stolen bases. In conference play, she leads the Big South with 10 steals. She came through with a game-winning, walk-off hit against Longwood, helping Liberty seal at least a share of the Big South regular-season title.
Kenzie Friesen - R-Sr. P (Scholar-Athlete of the Year; All-Conference second team; All-Academic team)
Kenzie Friesen has been a strong starter for Liberty, posting an 11-2 record with a 2.05 ERA and three shutouts. In conference play, she went 5-1 with a Big South-best 1.26 ERA. She pitched 23 consecutive innings without allowing a single run during a stretch in April. In 14 starts this season, she has posted a 9-2 record and 1.23 ERA. The redshirt senior was named Big South Pitcher of the Week, April 3.
Sarah Robertson - So. SS (All-Conference second team)
Sarah Robertson has posted a career year in 2017, batting .358 with a team-leading 14 doubles and 40 RBI. Her 13-game hitting streak in March was the longest by a Lady Flame this season. She ended the regular season ranking third in the Big South in doubles, fourth in RBI and hits, and fifth in total bases. The Panama City, Fla., native finished the regular season tied for the team high with 20 multiple-hit games.
Alexia Taylor - Jr. 3B (All-Conference second team)
Alexia Taylor has been one of Liberty's top hitters this season. She was named Big South Player of the Week on March 20. A native of Oviedo, Fla., Taylor played her best in conference games, batting .391 with three homers and 19 RBI. She also went on a career-best 12-game hitting streak, from April 4-18. Taylor ranks in the top 10 in the Big South in batting average, on-base percentage and RBI. She has posted 12 multiple-hit games. Taylor was previously the 2015 Big South Freshman of the Year.
Emily Sweat, Fr. DP (All-Freshman team)
Emily Sweat had a standout freshman season, batting .319 with nine doubles and 22 RBI. A clutch hitter, she hit a walk-off, two-run single to give Liberty a 6-5 win over Radford on March 25. She went on a season-best 10-game hitting streak, from March 9-25. The native of McDonough, Ga., recorded six multiple-hit games and five multiple-RBI contests. In conference play, she hit .385 with three doubles and six RBI.
Taylor Hoffman – Fr., OF (All-Freshman team)
Taylor Hoffman was named Big South Freshman of the Week on April 17 after batting .500 during the previous week. She ranks third on the team with eight stolen bases, and is one of seven Lady Flames to score 20 or more runs on the campaign. A Greensburg, Pa., product, Hoffman posted four two-hit games, and is second on the team with 51 outfield putouts.
