#RSCSOFTBALL Teams & Awards recognized at RSC Softball Tournament
VIENNA, W.Va. -- The All-River States Conference Softball Teams and Awards were recognized this weekend at the RSC Softball Tournament in Vienna, W.Va. There were 17 players named to the All-RSC Softball First and Second Teams and an RSC Champions of Character Team was also named.
University of Rio Grande led the all-conference selections as well as the individual awards. The RedStorm, champions of the RSC Tournament and regular season and ranked No. 18 in the NAIA, had four players on the All-RSC First Team, four on the All-RSC Second Team and some big awards.
Rio Grande's Kelsey Conkey took home big honors as the RSC Softball Player of the Year and the RSC Softball Pitcher of the Year. Conkey, a sophomore, is hitting .333 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs. As a pitcher, she has a record of 21-1 with a 0.87 ERA in 136.2 innings. She has struck out 96 and walked 22.
Rio Grande also had Chris Hammond named RSC Softball Coach of the Year. Hammond, in his second year, has led the RedStorm to a record of 45-8 overall, 17-1 RSC and back-to-back conference tournament and regular-season titles.
Midway University catcher Kelsey Gravens received RSC Softball Newcomer of the Year honors as a transfer this year. She hit .438 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs.
Conkey and Gravens led the All-RSC Softball First Team, which had four pitchers, two catchers, five infielders, four outfielders, a designated player and a utility player. The All-RSC Second Team followed a similar pattern and honored 17 players as well.
Joining Conkey on the All-RSC First Team from Rio Grande was fellow pitcher Jenna Jones, second baseman Alex Stevens and shortstop Michaela Criner.
Midway, which finished second in the RSC regular season, had three players on the first team with catcher Gravens, pitcher Tiffany Wickline and outfielder Carly Benz.
Placing two players each on the All-RSC First Team were IU Southeast, Point Park, WVU Tech and Cincinnati Christian. IU Southeast garnered infielder Emily Hollis and designated player Sydney Seger. Point Park had pitcher Ashley Iagnemma and first baseman Kim Corcoran make the first team.
WVU Tech's first-teamers were outfielder Skyler Connelly and utility player Genna Trippett. CCU's first-team selections included catcher Bailey Blair and outfielder Valerie Hudepohl. Rounding out the first team were Brescia outfielder Megan Myers and Carlow third baseman Allison Hryadil.
The following are the All-RSC Softball First & Second Teams as well as the RSC Champions of Character Teams. The Champions of Character Teams had one player from each team named who best exhibits the NAIA's five core character values of the respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
2017 ALL-RSC SOFTBALL TEAMS & AWARDS
RSC Softball Player of the Year -- Kelsey Conkey, Rio Grande
RSC Softball Pitcher of the Year -- Kelsey Conkey, Rio Grande
RSC Softball Newcomer of the Year -- Kelsey Gravens
RSC Softball Coach of the Year -- Chris Hammond, Rio Grande
2017 All-RIVER STATES CONFERENCE SOFTBALL FIRST TEAM
| Pos. | Name | School |
| P | Kelsey Conkey | Rio Grande |
| P | Jenna Jones | Rio Grande |
| P | Ashley Iagnemma | Point Park |
| P | Tiffany Wickline | Midway |
| C | Kelsey Gravens | Midway |
| C | Bailey Blair | Cincinnati Christian |
| 1B | Kim Corcoran | Point Park |
| 2B | Alex Stevens | Rio Grande |
| 3B | Allison Hyradil | Carlow |
| SS | Michaela Criner | Rio Grande |
| IF | Emily Hollis | IU Southeast |
| OF | Sklar Connelly | WVU Tech |
| OF | Valerie Hudepohl | Cincinnati Christian |
| OF | Megan Myers | Brescia |
| OF | Carly Benz | Midway |
| DP | Sydney Seger | IU Southeast |
| UT | Genna Trippett | WVU Tech |
ALL-RIVER STATES CONFERENCE SOFTBALL SECOND TEAM
| Pos. | Name | School |
| P | Emily Gray | IU Southeast |
| C | Jess Beitler | Point Park |
| C | Tayler Arndt | Rio Grande |
| 1B | Danielle Levato | Carlow |
| 1B | Katelynn Mogelberg-Kaufman | Midway |
| 2B | Caroline Rice | Ohio Christian |
| 2B | Becca Schoenung | IU Southeast |
| 3B | Rachel Tanner | Brescia |
| 3B | Alexis Rouse | Cincinnati Christian |
| 3B | Gabby Gregg | Rio Grande |
| SS | Becca Babincak | Point Park |
| SS | Aleesha Rodriguez | Cincinnait Christian |
| OF | Kyndl Olds | IU Southeast |
| OF | Kenzie Young | Carlow |
| OF | Carly Skeese | Rio Grande |
| DP | Whitney Fielder | Ohio Christian |
| UT | Cheyenne Hamaker | Rio Grande |
2017 RIVER STATES CONFERENCE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM
| School | Name |
| Asbury | Amara Wiley |
| Brescia | Rachel Tanner |
| Carlow | Brittany Baxendell |
| Cincinnati Christian | Emily Orrender |
| IU Southeast | Justice Kline |
| Midway | Addison Murphy |
| Ohio Christian | Lexi Williams |
| Point Park | Katie Tarr |
| Rio Grande | Tiffany Bise |
| WVU Tech | Kayla Harbin |