Four Softball Players Named NFCA All-Region

NFCA Release

Louisville, K.Y. – Fordham softball landed four players on two National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Mid-Atlantic Region teams, the organization announced on Thursday. Both Madison Shaw and Sydney Canessa were named to the Mid-Atlantic Second Team, while Lindsay Mayer and Jessica Hughes were selected for the Mid-Atlantic Third Team.  It is the first such honor for all four players.
 
Shaw, who has seen time at first base, third base, and as the designated player, enjoyed a tremendous sophomore campaign in maroon and white after an injury plagued freshman season. The Raynham, Mass. native paced the team with a .361 batting average and a joint-team-high 10 home runs. Shaw added 11 doubles and 52 total hits, driving in 39 runs, for the second-most total bases on the squad (93). Her .646 slugging percentage was tops on the team and .435 on-base percentage second-highest. The sophomore played in 53 contests, starting 49, and had nearly as many strikeouts as walks (18 to 20). She also chipped in seven steals in eight attempts and made just one error in the field for a .994 fielding percentage.
 
Canessa continued her excellent Fordham career with a .335/.411/.581 slash line at the plate with 10 home runs and a conference-leading 52 RBIs to go along with 12 doubles and 60 total hits, whiling scoring 43 runs. Canessa is also the 23^rd-toughest hitter to strike out in the country, with just one whiff in every 28.8 at bats, or six strikeouts to 24 walks in 179 at bats. One of only three players to start all 58 contests this year, the standout centerfielder made just two errors in the field and displayed tremendous acumen manning the middle of the outfield. Canessa drove home the game-winning run in Fordham's 1-0 defeat of Dayton to advance to a three-game Sunday to eventually win a fourth consecutive conference championship. The junior has recently entered the school's all-time runs batted in and runs scored lists, sitting in eighth and sixth, respectively, while improving her standing on the all-time walks list at seven with 70 free passes over her career.
 
Mayer was named A-10 Player of the Year for her spectacular all-around play and over the weekend added an All-Atlantic 10 Tournament honor, as well. Mayer hit .352/.403/.494 over the campaign with four home runs, including one in the first inning of Sunday's first match-up against Saint Joseph's, and 43 RBIs, second on the team, plus a team-leading 13 doubles. Mayer walked 19 times to just eight strikeouts and is second on the team with 62 hits. Like Canessa, Mayer has started in all 58 games and is also one of the hardest batters to strike out in the nation, averaging just one ever 21.4 at bats, good for 56^th in the country.
 
Hughes was named A-10 Rookie of the Year after a scorching start to her Fordham career, featuring a new all-time single season record in stolen bases with 36, moving her up to fifth-most all-time already, and a new record of walks for a freshman, with 37, most in the conference. Hughes' .354 batting average is second-highest on the team and the freshman also added a team-high 63 hits, a conference-leading 56 runs, six doubles, three home runs, and 21 RBIs, plus a .470 on-base percentage, second-highest in the league. Hughes started all 57 contests she featured in.
 
The Rams play #5 Oregon in their first game of this weekend's NCAA Regionals in Eugene. First pitch is set for 11:31 p.m. EST with the contest being shown live on ESPN2.