YORK, Pa. - CAC champion Salisbury swept the major awards and led all teams with eight players who earned recognition on the 2016 All-CAC Softball team. Senior Molly Simpson was named the CAC Player of the Year, freshman Brooke Mizelle earned Rookie of the Year honors, and head coach Margie Knight was tabbed as the Coach of the Year to complete the Sea Gull sweep of the three major honors.

Simpson collected her third-straight All-CAC nod and became the 15th Salisbury player to claim Player of the Year honors. She was a second-team selection in 2015 and a first-teamer in 2014 before adding another first-team honor and Player of the Year to her resume this spring. Mizelle, a freshman pitcher, is the ninth Sea Gull to receive Rookie of the Year honors, while Knight was named Coach of the Year for the 14th time in the 26-year history of CAC softball.

Senior pitcher Annah Brittingham, senior utility player Paige Knussman, senior infielders Kim Dorsey and Katie Sebbane, and junior outfielder Caitlin Lake all joined Simpson on the All-CAC first team for the Sea Gulls. Knussman earned first-team honors for the fourth-straight year, while Sebbane also claimed her fourth-straight all-conference honor, including three-straight years as a first-team selection. Dorsey secured her third-consecutive spot on the first team, while Brittingham was a repeat first-team honoree. LeAnne Collins rounded out the Sea Gull all-stars as a second-team outfielder, her second-straight All-CAC honor.

Frostburg State, which finished third in both the regular season and postseason, placed seven players on the AllCAC squad. A trio of Bobcats earned all-star recognition for the first time in their careers as first-team selections - senior first baseman Renay Aubel, senior outfielder Taylor Blevins, and sophomore pitcher Allison Short. Senior Hannah Tavik was named to the second team as a utility player for the third straight season, while sophomore Sam Gatton was a repeat second-team pick in the outfield. Also earning second-team honors for Frostburg State were senior infielder Lauren Capece and infielder Emily Zengel, both first-time all-stars.

CAC runner-up Christopher Newport had four players receive all-conference honors, led by senior outfielder Scoop Simon on the first team. Simon also claimed first-team accolades in 2015. Three Captains were named to the second team, with junior infielder Tori Clarke earning her third straight All-CAC nod. Clarke was a first-team pick in 2015 and second-teamer in 2014. Joining Clarke on the second team for CNU were sophomore outfielder Leah Andrews and junior pitcher Tara Heatwole.

York, which finished fourth in the regular season, landed a trio of players on the all-conference squad, headlined by sophomore pitcher Melissa Jurkiewicz on the first team. Junior shortstop Katie Maloney, the 2014 Co-Rookie of the Year, was a second-team honoree for the third year in a row. Junior first baseman Carleigh Ruleman joined Maloney on the second team with the first all-star nod of her career.

Wesley was represented by three players on the All-CAC team, with senior DP Kayla Fromal landing on the first team and junior catcher Nina Marcano and freshman utility player Samantha Burns securing second-team recognition. Fromal was a second-team pick last season, while Marcano earned all-conference honors for the first time. Burns was the lone freshmen on this year's all-star team.

Mary Washington and Penn State Harrisburg each grabbed on spot on the All-CAC team. UMW junior catcher Olivia Tatara was named to the first team after collecting second-team accolades in 2015. Penn State Harrisburg senior catcher Rieley Loch represented the Lions as a second-team selection, the first all-conference honor of her career. 

2016 All-CAC Softball Team

First Team Yr. Pos. Team Hometown/High School Previous Honors

Annah Brittingham Sr. P Salisbury Pocomoke, Md./Pocomoke 1st in '15
Melissa Jurkiewicz So. P York Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.
Allison Short So. P Frostburg State Hampstead, Md./North Carroll
Olivia Tatara Jr. C Mary Washington Leesburg, Va./Stone Bridge 2nd in '15
Renay Aubel Sr. 1B Frostburg State Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County
Molly Simpson Sr. 2B Salisbury Port Tobacco, Md./McDonough 2nd in '15, 1st in '14
Kim Dorsey Sr. SS Salisbury Baltimore, Md./Franklin 1st in '15, 1st in '14
Katie Sebbane Sr. 3B Salisbury Frederick, Md./Urbana 1st in '15, 1st in '14; 2nd in '13
Taylor Blevins Sr. OF Frostburg State Frederick, Md./Frederick
Caitlin Lake Jr. OF Salisbury Whitehouse Stat., N.J./White. Stat.
Scoop Simon Sr.  OF Christopher Newport Richmond, Va./James River 1st in '15
Kayla Fromal Sr. DP Wesley Middletown, Del./Appoquinmink 2nd in '15
Paige Knussman Sr. Util. Salisbury Easton, Md./Easton 1st in '15, 1st in 14; 1st in '13

Second Team Yr. Pos. Team Hometown/High School Previous Honors

Leah Andrews So. OF Christopher Newport Newport News, Va./Menchville
Samantha Burns Fr. Util Wesley Magnolia, Del./Polytech
Lauren Capece Sr. 3B Frostburg State Hampstead, Md./North Carroll
Tori Clarke Jr. 2B Chris. Newport Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls 1st in '15, 2nd in '14
LeAnne Collins So. OF Salisbury Sparks, Md./Hereford 1st in '15
Sam Gatton So. OF Frostburg State Owings, Md./Northern 2nd in '15
Tara Heatwole Jr. P Christopher Newport Williamsburg, Va./Jamestown
Rieley Loch Sr. C Penn State Harrisburg Madison Twp., Pa./North Pocono
Katie Maloney Jr. SS York Aston, Pa./Sun Valley 2nd in '15, 2nd & Co-ROY in '14
Nina Marcano Jr. C Wesley Townsend, Del./Middletown
Carleigh Ruleman Jr. 1B York Owings, Md./Northern
Hannah Tavik Jr. Util Frost. State Glen Burnie, Md./Seton Keough 2nd in '15, 2nd in '14
Emily Zengel Jr. 2B Frostburg State Stockton, N.J./Hunterdon Central

2016 CAC Player of the Year: Molly Simpson, Salisbury
2016 CAC Rookie of the Year: Brooke Mizelle, Salisbury (Fr., P, Holland, Va./Southampton Acad.)
2016 CAC Coach of the Year: Margie Knight, Salisbury (14th time, also in 1997-98, 2000, 2003-05, 2008-14)