BSpa grad Groat wins award
CORTLAND, N.Y. » Sophomore catcher Jennifer Groat, a 2015 Ballston Spa grad, has been named the first State University of New York Athletic Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year of for her play for Plattsburgh State.
Scholar-Athletes of the Year are selected from each of the SUNYAC’s 20 sponsored sports. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must have a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.30, be a starter or significant reserve on his or her team and have an academic class standing of sophomore or higher.
Groat boasts a 3.79 cumulative grade-point average as a childhood education major and has been a sparkplug in the Cardinals’ lineup during her two seasons at Plattsburgh State. She is a twotime National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Northeast Region selection and a two-time First-
Team All-SUNYAC choice, and she earned Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III North First-Team All-Star status this past season. She also was named the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year in 2016.
In 2017, Groat ranked among the SUNYAC leaders in runs scored (38, second), triples (2, tied for third), hits (51, fifth), doubles (10, tied for fifth) and batting average (.364, 11th). In addition, she posted a .990 fielding percentage with 180 putouts and 21 assists in 203 total chances. As a result of her SUNYAC Tournament that saw her bat .467 (7-for-15) and collect five runs scored, three doubles, two RBI and a home run, she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Groat notched her 100th career hit in 2017 and now boasts 108 through just two years at Plattsburgh State. A .401 (108-for-269) career hitter, Groat currently holds the career program record in batting average; the highest mark prior to Groat was .364 set by Brianna Clarke ‘14 from 2011-14.
Plattsburgh State finished its season at 25-19 overall (11-7 SUNYAC) and earned the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament.
Youth soccer
SARATOGA WILTON SOCCER CLUB WINS TOURNEY » The Saratoga Wilton Soccer Club U12 Girls Select team went 4-0 to be crowned the 2017 Nordic Cup champions at the tournament in Stowe, Vt.
The girls beat two Vermont teams — Capital Soccer Club 9-0 and Essex United 3-1 — before topping local teams Capital United and Clifton Park with two 4-0 shutouts.
ECHL
THUNDER TO REMAIN IN NORTH DIVISION » The East Coast Hockey League announced that the Adirondack Thunder will remain in the North Division for the 2017-18 season.
The division includes rivals Brampton Beast, Manchester Monarchs, Reading Royals, Wheeling Nailers and the Worcester Railers, an expansion franchise.
Adirondack claimed the only North Division title in league history during the 2016-17 season as they finished with 41 victories and 93 points.
The Thunder are still looking for an NHL affiliate after former parent club Calgary Flames announced a new affiliation with the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL Central Division June 8.
The Thunder will hit the ice again in October as they kick off the 201718 ECHL season, their third as a member of the league.