FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - CAC champion Christopher Newport received three major awards and placed a conference-leading nine players on the 2018 All-CAC Softball Team to headline this year's all-star squad. CNU senior Rachael Payne was named Player of the Year, freshman Patty Maye Ohanian picked up Rookie of the Year, and CNU head coach Keith Parr was honored as Co-Coach of the Year along with Salisbury's Margie Knight. 

Payne, a senior shortstop for the Captains, becomes the second CNU player to receive the conference's top honor as Player of the Year, joining Sabrina Hill, who won the award in 2015. Payne leads the CAC in on-base percentage (.541), ranks second in batting average (.450) and runs scored (51), fourth in triples (5), sixth in RBIs (35), and tied for eighth in stolen bases (11). She earned All-CAC first team accolades for the second straight season. 

Ohanian, a freshman designated player for the Captains who has played multiple positions this spring, becomes the second straight and third overall Captains to collect top rookie laurels. Teammate Liz Andrews claimed the award in 2017, while Krista Lewis also won the award for CNU in 2014. She was also named to the All-CAC first team at the designated player position. Ohanian pieced together a stellar rookie campaign for CNU, leading the conference several statistic categories including batting average (.479), hits (67), RBIs (57), and home runs (8) while ranking second in slugging percentage (.793), fifth in doubles (14), fifth in on-base percentage (.484), sixth in triples (3), and seventh in runs scored (40). 

Parr and Knight were selected by their peers as CAC Co-Coaches of the Year after both leading their squads to the CAC Championship series and appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Parr earns the honor for the second time (also in 2015), while Knight has now won the award a conference-leading 15 times throughout her career. 

CNU secured a conference-best nine spots on the All-CAC team, including six first-team all-stars. Joining Payne and Ohanian on the first team for the Captains were sophomore pitcher Aubrey Bates, sophomore catcher Calah Savage, sophomore first baseman Liz Andrews, and senior outfielder Leah Andrews. All four were repeat All-CAC first-team honorees, with Leah Andrews securing all-conference honors for the third year in a row. 

A trio of Captains landed on the second team - senior third baseman Savannah Couch, sophomore pitcher Laura Kate Moss, and sophomore second baseman Grace Wild. Couch and Moss earned the first All-CAC nods of their careers, while Wild collected back-to-back all-star honors after receiving second team accolades last spring. 

Salisbury nabbed seven spots on the All-CAC team, with three first-teamers and four second-teamers. Senior outfielder LeAnne Collins headlined the first-team all-stars, making her third straight appearance on the All-CAC team. Collins was the CAC Player of the Year last spring. Along with Collins, senior second baseman Annie Pietanza and freshman outfielder Sami Mumford picked up first-team all-star recongition. Pietanza was also a first-team selection in 2017, while Mumford was one of just three freshmen to collect All-CAC honors. 

The four Sea Gulls on the All-CAC second team included sophomore catcher Emily Allen, sophomore shortstop Dakotah Fraley, junior pitcher Shannon Powell, and senior first baseman Kristen Yanarella. Allen was the lone repeat all-star among the group, earning back-to-back second team awards. 

York and Frostburg State each placed a trio of players on the all-conference team. York sophomore Ginger Lewis repeated as a CAC all-star, collecting first team accolades this spring after receiving second team recognition as a freshman last spring. Junior outfielder Joanna Marmo and freshman outfielder Ashley Meekins were named to the second team for the Spartans. 

Three Frostburg State seniors claimed All-CAC second team honors - shortstop Sam Gatton, pitcher Allison Short, and third baseman Brittney Platt. Gatton and Short earned All-CAC honors each of their four seasons for the Bobcats, while Platt was a repeat all-star after being named to the first team last spring.

A pair of Wesley standouts made their way onto the All-CAC first team, as junior third baseman Ashley Royer and sophomore utility player Brandi Dalious represented the Wolverines on the all-star squad. Royer was a second team pick last spring, while Dalious secured all-conference honors for the first time. 

Mary Washington also placed a pair on the all-conference team, led by junior pitcher Kara Deppe on the first team. Deppe was a repeat first-team for the Eagles. Sophomore outfielder Danielle Newman landed on the second team for UMW. 

2018 CAC Player of the Year: Rachael Payne, Christopher Newport
2018 CAC Rookie of the Year: Patty Maye Ohanian, Christopher Newport
2018 CAC Co-Coach of the Year: Keith Parr, Christopher Newport (2nd time)
2018 CAC Co-Coach of the Year: Margie Knight, Salisbury (15th time)

2018 All-CAC Softball First Team

2018 All-CAC Softball Second Team