The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team re-wrote the program's record book this season.
The season-ending loss to nationally ranked LIU Post in the third round of the East Coast Conference playoffs capped one of the finest seasons in the 35-year history of the program. STAC's 25-21 record included a 14-10 mark in the ECC, one of the top leagues in the NCAA Division II circuit. The improbable campaign came after the Spartans were picked to finish last in the pre-season ECC coaches poll.
The season highlights were plentiful:
-- A new college record for most single-season wins with 25.
-- The first NCAA Div. II East Region rating. The Spartans were ranked No. 9 in all three regular-season polls that include 36 colleges in three conferences.
-- The first NCAA post-season playoff berth since 2006.
-- The first winning record since 1997.
-- Most regular-season victories in the ECC since joining the NCAA in 2001.
-- The seventh 20-win season in program history.
"I was optimistic about the season after our very successful fall season that included a win over Fordham University, one of the top Division I programs in the northeast," said STAC Head Coach Kristen Sullivan. "We had some very impressive wins on our Florida trip and we continued to improve over the course of the season."
The Spartans' winning formula was strong pitching, sound defense and timely hitting. In the circle, senior Colleen Borum (Mountain Top, Pa.) and junior Adrianna Dilal (Rochester, N.Y.) performed at a high level all season. Borum closed her outstanding four-year collegiate career with a 13-10 record that included a playoff victory over NYIT and a one-hitter against Molloy. Her 34 career victories rank third on the college's all-time list.
Dilal was named to the second team All-ECC team for her exceptional mound work. She threw a no-hitter against Molloy and struck out 13 batters in a win over Queens College. She was among the conference leaders in wins, strikeouts and earned run average.
Leading the offense were junior Ashley Landolina (Tolland, Ct.), senior Kelcy McGeehan (Bayville, N.J.), senior Briana Keaveney (New City, N.Y.) and junior Melissa Sadler (Milton, N.Y.). Landolina led the team in hits, home runs, RBI and batting average. McGeehan batted .348 in ECC play, while Keaveney led the team in runs and triples. Sadler batted .318 and shared the team lead in doubles (nine) with McGeehan. Landolina and McGeehan earned second-team All-ECC honors.
Landolina and Keaveney set program records. Landolina's 51 hits marked only the eighth time a STAC player had eclipsed the 50-hit plateau, while Keaveney's 42 runs was the second highest in college history. Landolina and Keaveney finished with 16 stolen bases each to set a new single-season record. Keaveney, McGeehan and Amanda Leone (Milford, Ct.) all closed their careers in the prestigious 100-hit club, while Landolina's 147 hits are now fourth on the all-time list. Leone's 16 career homers is fourth best all-time.
Landolina (shortstop), McGeehan (third base), right fielder Alyssa Chelak (Poughquag, N.Y.) and first baseman Taylor Sullivan (Suffern, N.Y.) played well defensively. Freshman Amanda Castro also had important contributions.
"This season is a turning point for our program," said Sullivan, who notched her 150th career win this season. "This year's team broke new ground for STAC and this group of players deserve a lot of credit for their resolve and determination. We will now focus on sustaining this level of excellence in coming seasons. We have a very strong foundation to build on for next season."