Six Earn Postseason Honors for Softball

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BATAVIA, NY (05/18/2015)(readMedia)-- Six members of the Genesee Community College softball team were recently recognized by Region III of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the Western New York Athletic Conference (WNYAC) for their play throughout the 2015 season.

Freshman pitcher Shannon Baker (Cory, PA) and sophomore utility player Karissa Schuster (Perry, NY) were both named to the All-Region III First Team.

Baker was among the Region III leaders in multiple categories this season for GCC. She was second in wins (16), second in strikeouts (125), fourth in ERA (2.58) and tied for fourth in home runs (6). She batted .434 at the plate and totaled 20 extra-base hits, both of which led Genesee.

Schuster scored a team-high 36 runs and hit .398, batting primarily lead-off for the Cougars this year. She collected 41 hits, five of which went for extra-bases and stole all four bases she attempted. Schuster was also named to the Region III All-Tournament team for GCC after batting .533 in the tournament.

In addition to regional honors, Baker was also named to the All-WNYAC First Team and Schuster earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. Also named to the All-Conference First Team were freshmen infielders Dani Wilshire (Attica, NY) and Andrea Torres (Geneva, NY). Sophomore infielder Chelsey Ruzewski (Attica, NY) and freshman outfielder Bailee Welker (Batavia, NY) were both named to the All-Conference Second Team.

Wilshire was the team-leader in hits this spring with 45. She was second on the team in batting average, hitting .433. Wilshire also led the Cougars in runs batted in with 31 and was second on the team in home runs with three. She was the only member of the team to appear in all 36 games.

Torres stole a team-high 11 bases and hit .383 in 94 at bats. Her 27 runs batted in were third-highest for GCC and she recorded one home run.

Ruzewski hit .394 and scored 28 runs. The slap-hitter drove in 14 runs and stole two bases and played in 34 games, appearing mostly at third base for the Cougars.

Welker tied for the team-lead in at bats with 104 and hit .308, scoring 23 runs and driving in 22. She collected 35 hits, six of which went for extra-bases, and played in all but one game this spring.

Genesee finished the season 25-11 and captured the WNYAC title for the first time in school history. The Cougars advanced to the Region III Group B Finals and were one win away from the NJCAA National Tournament.

Genesee Community College athletics program endeavors to provide a quality and competitive intercollegiate athletics program consistent with the National Junior Collegiate Athletics Association (NJCAA) philosophy and the overall educational mission of Genesee Community College. Participation in collegiate athletics should be an extension of the total educational experience for the student athlete. The inherent philosophy emphasizes the athletic setting as a classroom used to teach character, commitment, work ethic, respect for differences, and the importance of sacrifice, teamwork, and cooperation.

For further information and pictures go to Genesee's Athletic webpage, which is updated regularly with game results, team rosters, photographs and information about Genesee's overall athletic program. http://www.geneseeathletics.com