SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 29, 2025) – Five members of the Western New England softball team have been honored by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) organization on the 2025 Academic All-District Teams, announced by the group this week. Among those honored include Ava Blanchard, Alex Ferriouolo, Gracie Hemstock, Shea McDaniel, and Marley Rodriguez.

In order to the eligible for consideration for the award, a student-athlete must meet all of the following criteria.  A student-athlete must be at least a sophomore, eligibility-wise, must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average or higher, and the student-athlete must have played in at least 90% of their team's games or have started in at least 66% of their team's games. Pitchers must also meet the above criteria, but must have pitched 25 innings or appear in 17 games overall.

Blanchard pitched in 24 games on the year for the Golden Bears, making 18 starts overall, accumulating a 10-6 record in the circle. The WNE senior tossed 114 innings, giving up 126 hits and just 49 earned runs while walking 37 batters and striking out 73 this year. Following her outstanding career, Blanchard will enter the record books in the top-ten in wins (45, fourth), strikeouts (327, sixth), saves (3, tied-seventh), opponent batting average against (.279, tenth), innings pitched (435.1, third), appearances (97, second), and games started (66, tied-fourth).

Ferriouolo was one of the most consistent power hitters for Western New England softball this season, coming up with five home runs on the year while collecting a career-high 29 RBIs. 16 of Ferriouolo's 37 hits this season were extra-base hits. The mainstay at shortstop played in and competed in all 45 games for the Golden Bears on the season and made a total of 67 putouts and 108 assists on the season. Over her four years, the West Haven, Connecticut native made 261 putouts and assisted on 346 others at shortstop, collecting a .931% fielding percentage. 

Hemstock helped captain the WNE softball team to their second straight Conference of New England title this past season and came alive during the latter part of the season. Hemstock played in all 45 games for the blue and gold during the year, making all but one start. A true contact hitter, 27 of Hemstock's 31 hits on the year were singles, while the four remaining were doubles. Hemstock recorded 12 RBIs to end the season, matching her totals from both her sophomore and junior seasons, ending her career with 36 RBIs overall. Eight of the final nine games prior to the NCAA Tournament saw Hemstock pick up at least one hit, including in the CNE Championship victory over Nichols College.

McDaniel put together career highs in nearly every statistical category this season for the Golden Bears during their championship season. The Seymour, Connecticut native hit. 300 over 45 games played and 45 starts, collecting a career high 33 hits, seven of those doubles, two triples, and her first career home run coming against Curry College (3/30). Additionally, McDaniel picked up 14 RBIs, had a .427% slugging percentage, produced eight walks, and had 12 sacrifice hits on the year.

Rodriguez had an all-conference worthy season in 2025, being named to the CNE all-conference first team on the year. Rodriguez played in 44 games, making all 44 starts on the year, collecting 50 hits, 15 of those for extra bases, including her first career home run against Suffolk University (5/3). Rodriguez netted a career high 22 RBIs on the season while slugging at .456% for the year, also a career high. The Austin, Texas native made a total of 61 putouts in the field for Western New England on the year. 

The Golden Bears softball team finished their 2025 season with a 26-17-1 record, winning their second straight CNE title and advancing to the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament for the second year in a row and ninth time overall in the program's history.