Kat Malcolm, Softball

Central Connecticut softball's Kat Malcolm was named 2013 Northeast Conference Player of the Year on Thursday morning.  The sophomore from Branford, CT also earned NEC Most Improved Player honors after missing time last season due to injury.  Malcolm was also named to the All-NEC First Team as an outfielder.

Malcolm started all 45 games for the Blue Devils this season and posted a .429  batting average on the season to lead the league (.415 NEC), while posting 66 hits, 35 RBI and 11 doubles. She slugged .675 (.761 NEC) while also making seven of eight steal attempts overall. The sophomore also smacked nine home runs in 2013. She nearly doubled her average and RBI, while nearly tripling her hits from 2012.

In addition, Malcolm was joined on the All-NEC squad by seven of her teammates.  Also on the first team were sophomore Laura Messina, junior Arielle Bruno and senior Nicole Springer.  Senior Kelsey Barlow, junior Tessa Brown, freshman Evie Rentzel and freshman Brittany Ernst all claimed a spot on the second team.

Head coach Jeff Franquet and assistant coach Brianne Gleason were honored as the NEC's Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Blue Devils to a school record 32 victories and a share of the NEC Regular Season Title.