LOCAL COLLEGE NOTES
Mariners riding a wave
• Mitchell College, the regular season and conference tournament champions, dominated the New England Collegiate Conference baseball awards with a record 10 players taking home honors. The Mariners had an all-conference pick at every infield position. Senior highlighted the list, becoming the fourth Mariner to win NECC player of the year honors in the league's 10-year history. A fouryear starter at second base, he led the conference with a .408 batting average and 52 runs scored in 36 games. He hit safely in all 16 NECC games. He is Mitchell's all-time career leader in games played (155), total bases (312), hits (231), runs (167) and RBI (125). Other Mariners in the first team include: seniors of New London,
and junior
of Old Saybrook, and sophomore It was Griffin's second first team selection of his career. Senior juniors and made the second team. Senior of New London was named to the all-sportsmanship team. Mitchell (30-8) qualified for the NCAA tournament, which starts on May 17. The field will be announced on Sunday. • Five softball players collected All-NECC honors, as senior and freshman earned spots on the first team
and freshman made the third team. Senior of Waterford was named to the all-conference sportsmanship team. DelConte, a second baseman and four-year starter, batted .304 with 14 RBI and a team-high 31 runs scored while playing in 34 games for the Mariners (14-21). It is the third all-conference honor in her career. She ranks third all-time in the program's Division III history in hits (136) and runs (107). Thibodeau-Corey, a designated player, battled through an injury to bat .356 with seven RBI and six runs scored in 20 games. Duchesneau, a pitcher, went 8-9 overall, 6-2 in league play with a 3.87 earned run average. Adams, a centerfielder, had a team-best .380 average with 17 RBI and 19 runs scored while Elphick, a two-year starter at third base, finished hitting .293 with 20 RBI and 17 runs scored in 35 games. and junior
Around the region
• Entering this week's action, UConn (27-14-1) is locked in a three-way tie for second place at 11-7 in the American Athletic Conference baseball standings. The Huskies have a big series next weekend, hosting first-place Houston (29-19, 14-7). They play Friday (7:05 p.m.) and Saturday (2:05 p.m.) at Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford and Sunday morning at 11 in Storrs. • Four local athletes on the roster for the Endicott College women's lacrosse team that's headed to its second straight NCAA Division III tournament. Endicott beat Roger Williams, 11-9, Friday to win the Commonwealth Coast Conference championship and earn a post-season bid. Senior (Old Lyme) has chipped in 18 goals and 13 assists while freshman goalie (East Lyme), freshman attack (Old Lyme) and freshman midfielder (Old Lyme) also have made contributions. • East Lyme High School graduate is headed to the NCAA tournament as a member of the Springfield College men's lacrosse team. Smallidge has appeared in 17 games, starting five, for the Pride who won their 11th straight New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday by beating Coast Guard Academy, 11-7. Springfield visits Stevens Institute of Technology Wednesday in first round action in Hoboken, N.J. • Old Lyme's a sophomore midfielder, has five goals in 10 games off the bench for the New England College men's lacrosse team. The Pilgrims won the North Atlantic Conference
Kyle Hartenstein Garet Griffin, Eddie Santiago Finnegan James Rangel,
Eric Marriott Jakari Pellegrini.
Bryton Ferris, Peter Abate Sam Sabilia Steven Pagan Jack Samantha DelConte Thibodeau-Corey Taylor Duchesneau Adams Elphick Kaitlin
Stephanie Megan Ryan Powers, Erin McCarthy
Alexandra Rose Maggie Berger Abigail Berger
Zane Smallidge g.keefe@theday.com