Tufts softball secures player, coach of the year honors; 10 spring athletes named to All-NESCAC teams

Medford/Somerville, Mass. [05.16.01] -- As the spring sports season draws to a close, many Tufts athletes have continued to rack up dominating performances on and off the field. Their most recent triumph came by way of the newly named conference All-Star rosters.

   Coaches from across New England named 10 Tufts athletes from men's tennis, softball and women's lacrosse to the All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) teams. At the same time, Tufts also secured the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors in softball, following another strong season by the team.

   According to the Portland Press Herald, Tufts senior and center fielder Randee McArdle was selected as this year's NESCAC Player of the Year. She leads the conference champion Tufts softball team in runs batted in with 35 in 34 games and is hitting .369 with 11 doubles, four triples and six home runs.

   This isn't the first time the conference coaches have singled out McArdle's play -- she was also named as Player of the Week twice during the spring season.

   The Herald also reported that Tufts' Kris Talon is the top coach in the division, making her the third Tufts coach this year to earn top honors. Women's soccer coach Martha Whiting and women's tennis coach Jim Watson were also named Coach of the Year following their seasons.

   Ten athletes in three sports took spots on the conference All-Star rosters, including five softball players. Among them:

Softball -- McArdle, sophomore Lis Drake, juniors Jen Mackey, Tiffany Trahan and Jodie Moreau.

Men's Tennis -- Sophomore David Ruttenberg.

Women's Lacrosse -- Jen Gregorian, junior Christina Orf, sophomores Kathy Kenney and Ari Kristan