Alexis Walkden named Pirates first-ever BIG EAST Rookie of the Year; DeStaso, Harrell land on first-team
BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Alexis Walkden has belted a program record 20 home runs in 2015; the second-highest total among all Division I freshmen
May 6, 2015
NEW YORK -- The Seton Hall softball program made history in more ways than one on Wednesday as standout freshman Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) was unanimously selected as the Pirates' first-ever BIG EAST Rookie of the Year as well as a first-team All-BIG EAST performer alongside teammates Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) and Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.), the league office announced.
With the announcement, Walkden, DeStaso and Harrell become the first Seton Hall trio to earn first-team honors in the same season.
Just the second Pirate in program history to earn a major individual BIG EAST award, Walkden has been at the center of an ascendant Seton Hall offense that has already shattered the school record for home runs in a single season.
One of two unanimous first-team selections along with BIG EAST Player of the Year Erin Burner (St. John's), the Cibolo native has launched the second-most home runs among all Division I freshmen and ranks 14th in the nation overall. With 20 dingers to this point in the year, Walkden has usurped the top spot on the school's all-time list from Laura Taylor, the 2005 BIG EAST Player of the Year, who recorded 18 as a rookie in 2002.
As a team, the Pirates have notched a BIG EAST-best 59 home runs in 51 games; far surpassing the program's previous single season standard of 40 which had stood for nearly a decade.
A run-producing force from the third spot in the order, Walkden has also matched the single-season school record with 50 runs batted-in and enters the conference tournament as the BIG EAST leader in HR, RBIs, runs scored (38).
More than just a power threat, Walkden boasts a .374 average that is tops among all BIG EAST newcomers and her 55 hits are tied for the sixth-most league wide. Such consistency has helped her rack up 126 total bases in her debut campaign, 21 clear of Creighton's Liz Dike who stands second in the conference with 105.
Danielle DeStaso
With her third All-Conference selection in as many years, the senior DeStaso becomes just the fourth Pirate named an All-BIG EAST performer on three occasions; joining Taylor (2002, 2004-05) as well as Misty Beaver and Vickie Lamb who were each recognized in consecutive years from 1999-2001.
A first-team selection in 2014 as well, DeStaso made her way back onto the first team by shining in trademark fashion from both the plate and the circle as a designated player and pitcher for the Pirates this season. Now ranked second all-time at The Hall in RBIs (121) and third in strikeouts (485), the Congers product has belted a career-high 11 home runs in 2015 to push her total to 34 in a Pirate uniform; a mark that trails only Taylor (59) in the 40-year history of the program.
DeStaso also currently stands eighth in the league with a career-best .652 slugging percentage and has had a knack for coming through in the clutch for a Seton Hall team that has notched 10 of its 24 victories by a one-run margin; ranking fourth in the BIG EAST with 15 two-out RBIs.
Equally adept at silencing bats as she is with one in her hands, DeStaso has racked up 11 wins while averaging 6.20 strikeouts per game as the Pirates' ace. Her 129 Ks represent the third-highest mark in the BIG EAST, exceeding the totals of three out of four pitchers who garnered a spot on the All-League teams as well.
Harrell takes home All-BIG EAST accolades for the first time in a decorated career after serving as one of the most dangerous leadoff hitters in
Yasmin Harrell
the conference while occupying a variety of defensive roles. Her combination of speed and bat control have enabled her to thrive as one of the premier table-setters in the league as evidenced by the 56 hits and 14 stolen bases she will carry into the conference championship this weekend -- both totals which rank third in the BIG EAST.
One of the elite stolen base threats in program history, Harrell is one of only three players to swipe more than 60 bags for The Hall (62) and needs just five more to match the all-time mark of 67 established by Michelle Reed from 2008-11.
The junior is also fifth in the BIG EAST with 1.1 hits/game and her versatility defensively helped her fill in at shortstop and the outfield before recently settling at second base.
In all, Seton Hall's three first-team honorees were the second-most in the conference behind only regular season champions St. John's who landed six players on the 12-member squad.
The BIG EAST first and second teams were comprised of 12 players with two pitchers, one of each of catcher, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B; three outfielders, one utility player and one designated player.
The Hall has now had three All-BIG EAST selections in each of its three seasons under head coach Paige Smith after a three-year absence from the All-Conference awards list prior to her arrival.
The Pirates will travel to Rosemont, Ill. later this afternoon in preparation for the 2015 BIG EAST Championship presented by New York Life which will be held on consecutive days from May 8-9.
SHU recorded its highest overall (24) and BIG EAST (10) win totals since 2009 to earn the #3 seed in the four-team, single-elimination tournament and will kick-off play against hosts and reigning champions DePaul in the semifinal round.
First pitch between the Pirates and Blue Demons is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT on Friday, May 8 with a second semifinal between St. John's and fourth-seeded Villanova to follow.
All three contests throughout the weekend are scheduled to be shown live nationally onFOX Sports 2with a stream available online and on mobile devices through theFOX Sports Goapp.
For more information on the championship, clickHERE
BIG EAST Championship Ticket Info
Ticket prices per day are $5 (Age 13 and Over) and free admission is available for those 12 and under. BIG EAST students can also receive complimentary game tickets by showing a valid school I.D. at the box office. To reserve tickets in advance, call the DePaul University Ticket Office at (773) 325-SLAM (7526). Tickets will also be available on game days at The Ballpark at Rosemont box office.
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Erin Burner, St. John's, Sr., C*
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year
Tori Free, St. John's, Jr., P
BIG EAST Rookie of the Year
Alexis Walkden, Seton Hall, Fr., 3B*
BIG EAST Coach of the Year
Amy Kvilhaug, St. John's
All-BIG EAST First Team
Tori Free, St. John's, Jr., P
Francesca Carrullo, St. John's, Sr., P
Erin Burner, St. John's, Sr., C*
Krystal Puga, St. John's, Fr., 1B
Morgan Maize, DePaul, Jr., 2B
Liz Dike, Creighton, Sr., SS
Alexis Walkden, Seton Hall, Fr., 3B*
Yasmin Harrell, Seton Hall, Jr., UT
Danielle DeStaso, Seton Hall, Sr., DP
Nicole Lundstrom, Providence, So., OF
Brittany Garcia, St. John's, So., OF
Lauren Zick, St. John's, Fr., OF
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Mary Connolly, DePaul, Sr., P
Kate Poppe, Villanova, Jr., P
Sabrina Kuchta, DePaul, Fr., C
Alex Kotter, Butler, Jr., 1B
Kristen Boros, Butler, Sr., 2B
Monique Landini, St. John's, So., SS
Alyssa Lach, Butler, Fr., 3B
Blake Ringle, Creighton, Jr., UT
Kristie Dederick, Providence, Sr., DP
Brandyce Sallee, Butler, So., OF
Allie Reinhart, Creighton, So., OF
Yvonne Rericha, St. John's, Jr., OF
*unanimous selection
BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Alexis Walkden has belted a program record 20 home runs in 2015; the second-highest total among all Division I freshmen
May 6, 2015
NEW YORK -- The Seton Hall softball program made history in more ways than one on Wednesday as standout freshman Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) was unanimously selected as the Pirates' first-ever BIG EAST Rookie of the Year as well as a first-team All-BIG EAST performer alongside teammates Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) and Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.), the league office announced.
With the announcement, Walkden, DeStaso and Harrell become the first Seton Hall trio to earn first-team honors in the same season.
Just the second Pirate in program history to earn a major individual BIG EAST award, Walkden has been at the center of an ascendant Seton Hall offense that has already shattered the school record for home runs in a single season.
One of two unanimous first-team selections along with BIG EAST Player of the Year Erin Burner (St. John's), the Cibolo native has launched the second-most home runs among all Division I freshmen and ranks 14th in the nation overall. With 20 dingers to this point in the year, Walkden has usurped the top spot on the school's all-time list from Laura Taylor, the 2005 BIG EAST Player of the Year, who recorded 18 as a rookie in 2002.
As a team, the Pirates have notched a BIG EAST-best 59 home runs in 51 games; far surpassing the program's previous single season standard of 40 which had stood for nearly a decade.
A run-producing force from the third spot in the order, Walkden has also matched the single-season school record with 50 runs batted-in and enters the conference tournament as the BIG EAST leader in HR, RBIs, runs scored (38).
More than just a power threat, Walkden boasts a .374 average that is tops among all BIG EAST newcomers and her 55 hits are tied for the sixth-most league wide. Such consistency has helped her rack up 126 total bases in her debut campaign, 21 clear of Creighton's Liz Dike who stands second in the conference with 105.
Danielle DeStaso
With her third All-Conference selection in as many years, the senior DeStaso becomes just the fourth Pirate named an All-BIG EAST performer on three occasions; joining Taylor (2002, 2004-05) as well as Misty Beaver and Vickie Lamb who were each recognized in consecutive years from 1999-2001.
A first-team selection in 2014 as well, DeStaso made her way back onto the first team by shining in trademark fashion from both the plate and the circle as a designated player and pitcher for the Pirates this season. Now ranked second all-time at The Hall in RBIs (121) and third in strikeouts (485), the Congers product has belted a career-high 11 home runs in 2015 to push her total to 34 in a Pirate uniform; a mark that trails only Taylor (59) in the 40-year history of the program.
DeStaso also currently stands eighth in the league with a career-best .652 slugging percentage and has had a knack for coming through in the clutch for a Seton Hall team that has notched 10 of its 24 victories by a one-run margin; ranking fourth in the BIG EAST with 15 two-out RBIs.
Equally adept at silencing bats as she is with one in her hands, DeStaso has racked up 11 wins while averaging 6.20 strikeouts per game as the Pirates' ace. Her 129 Ks represent the third-highest mark in the BIG EAST, exceeding the totals of three out of four pitchers who garnered a spot on the All-League teams as well.
Harrell takes home All-BIG EAST accolades for the first time in a decorated career after serving as one of the most dangerous leadoff hitters in
Yasmin Harrell
the conference while occupying a variety of defensive roles. Her combination of speed and bat control have enabled her to thrive as one of the premier table-setters in the league as evidenced by the 56 hits and 14 stolen bases she will carry into the conference championship this weekend -- both totals which rank third in the BIG EAST.
One of the elite stolen base threats in program history, Harrell is one of only three players to swipe more than 60 bags for The Hall (62) and needs just five more to match the all-time mark of 67 established by Michelle Reed from 2008-11.
The junior is also fifth in the BIG EAST with 1.1 hits/game and her versatility defensively helped her fill in at shortstop and the outfield before recently settling at second base.
In all, Seton Hall's three first-team honorees were the second-most in the conference behind only regular season champions St. John's who landed six players on the 12-member squad.
The BIG EAST first and second teams were comprised of 12 players with two pitchers, one of each of catcher, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B; three outfielders, one utility player and one designated player.
The Hall has now had three All-BIG EAST selections in each of its three seasons under head coach Paige Smith after a three-year absence from the All-Conference awards list prior to her arrival.
The Pirates will travel to Rosemont, Ill. later this afternoon in preparation for the 2015 BIG EAST Championship presented by New York Life which will be held on consecutive days from May 8-9.
SHU recorded its highest overall (24) and BIG EAST (10) win totals since 2009 to earn the #3 seed in the four-team, single-elimination tournament and will kick-off play against hosts and reigning champions DePaul in the semifinal round.
First pitch between the Pirates and Blue Demons is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT on Friday, May 8 with a second semifinal between St. John's and fourth-seeded Villanova to follow.
All three contests throughout the weekend are scheduled to be shown live nationally onFOX Sports 2with a stream available online and on mobile devices through theFOX Sports Goapp.
For more information on the championship, clickHERE
BIG EAST Championship Ticket Info
Ticket prices per day are $5 (Age 13 and Over) and free admission is available for those 12 and under. BIG EAST students can also receive complimentary game tickets by showing a valid school I.D. at the box office. To reserve tickets in advance, call the DePaul University Ticket Office at (773) 325-SLAM (7526). Tickets will also be available on game days at The Ballpark at Rosemont box office.
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Erin Burner, St. John's, Sr., C*
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year
Tori Free, St. John's, Jr., P
BIG EAST Rookie of the Year
Alexis Walkden, Seton Hall, Fr., 3B*
BIG EAST Coach of the Year
Amy Kvilhaug, St. John's
All-BIG EAST First Team
Tori Free, St. John's, Jr., P
Francesca Carrullo, St. John's, Sr., P
Erin Burner, St. John's, Sr., C*
Krystal Puga, St. John's, Fr., 1B
Morgan Maize, DePaul, Jr., 2B
Liz Dike, Creighton, Sr., SS
Alexis Walkden, Seton Hall, Fr., 3B*
Yasmin Harrell, Seton Hall, Jr., UT
Danielle DeStaso, Seton Hall, Sr., DP
Nicole Lundstrom, Providence, So., OF
Brittany Garcia, St. John's, So., OF
Lauren Zick, St. John's, Fr., OF
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Mary Connolly, DePaul, Sr., P
Kate Poppe, Villanova, Jr., P
Sabrina Kuchta, DePaul, Fr., C
Alex Kotter, Butler, Jr., 1B
Kristen Boros, Butler, Sr., 2B
Monique Landini, St. John's, So., SS
Alyssa Lach, Butler, Fr., 3B
Blake Ringle, Creighton, Jr., UT
Kristie Dederick, Providence, Sr., DP
Brandyce Sallee, Butler, So., OF
Allie Reinhart, Creighton, So., OF
Yvonne Rericha, St. John's, Jr., OF
*unanimous selection
