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2013 Softball All-OAC Teams and Special Award Winners
Capital University senior Devan Boggs has been selected Ohio Athletic Conference Softball Gayle Lauth Player of the Year, while freshman Brooklyn Staten has been tabbed Rookie of the Year as the league announced its all-conference teams and special award winners Saturday following the conclusion of the OAC Tournament at Clowson Field.
Boggs, a shortstop from West Jefferson, Ohio, was also picked first team All-OAC for the third consecutive season. Staten, a second baseman from Grove City, Ohio, also earned second team accolades and is the first Crusader to be named Rookie of the Year since Boggs received the award in 2010.
Sophomore centerfielder Kelsey Swain (Pickerington, Ohio) was named to the second team for the second straight year. Sophomore pitchers Brooke Billings (Clyde, Ohio) and Alyssa Patznick (Newark, Ohio) were also recognized. Billings garnered second team merits, while Patznick received honorable mention.
Boggs currently leads the Crusades and ranks among league leaders in batting average (.487), doubles (16), triples (5), home runs (12), RBIs (51) and slugging percentage (.885). The conference's all-time leader in career doubles, Boggs added All-OAC Tournament accolades to her resume Saturday.
In 2012, Boggs became the fourth-ever All-American in Capital softball history after being selected to the third team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). She is also a two-time NFCA All-Central Region first team pick and a two-time Capital One Academic All-District honoree by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The player of the year award is named for Gayle Lauth, an administrator of women's sports at Ohio Northern for over 30 years.
Staten currently ranks third on the team with a .357 batting average and a pair of stolen bases. A left-handed "slap" hitter, Staten has started all 44 games for Capital to this point and has scored 30 runs.
Swain built on her strong freshman campaign, batting .437 with a team-best 14 stolen bases and 22 RBIs. She has also legged out seven doubles and three triples, building her slugging percentage to .549.
Billings and Patznick formed a superb 1-2 punch at the top of the Crusaders' pitching rotation. Billings owns a 16-4 record to go along with a 2.39 earned run average in 134 2/3 innings on the mound. Patznick is 18-6 with a 3.07 ERA in 150 1/3 frames of work. Billings twice earned OAC Pitcher of the Week honors.
Rachel Byrnes of John Carroll was selected John Wells OAC Pitcher of the Year, becoming the third consecutive Blue Streak to garner the award.
