Bronx, N.Y. – Two incoming Fordham softball recruits have added to their decorated careers with at least one final accolade – state Player of the Year honors. Both Maryland's Madison Aughinbaugh and Maine's Stephanie Rundlett were recently named their respective state's top high school player for the 2016 season.
Madison Aughinbaugh was named Maryland's Gatorade Softball high school Player of the Year, according to USA Today, after a phenomenal two-way senior campaign. In the circle, the senior struck out 241 batters in 141.1 innings and pitched to a 0.45 ERA, with 61 hits and 36 walks allowed, on her way to an 18-1 overall record. She is the first student athlete to win the award at St. Mary's Ryken. At the plate, the Port Tobacco, Md. native hit .416 and slugged .561, with 11 doubles and 30 runs scored. Academically, she maintained a 3.87 GPA, while volunteering at a local animal shelter, with the Charles County Humane Society, and working as a youth softball and basketball coach. In the past, she's been named the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a two-time All-Met first team selection, leading her Knights to back-to-back conference championships as a sophomore and junior.
York High School's Stephanie Rundlett was named the Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year after helping her team reach the Class B state championship game for the first time in 25 years as the state's most dominant pitcher. Rundlett struck out 303 batters in just 119 innings, including 64 over 29 postseason frames, while compiling a 16-1 overall record. Rundlett is a two-time Telegram All-State selection and finishes her career with 684 punchouts. She also led the Wildcats this year with a .632 batting average, hitting four home runs, driving in 24, and scoring 12 runs. Academically, the York native is a member of the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society and plans to major in biology.
Both players signed their national letters of intent to play in the Bronx in the winter.
