Full Release
PHILADELPHIA- The Philadelphia Sports Information Directors Association (PhillySIDA) released its Softball Academic All-Area selections on Wednesday morning, and West Chester was well represented as the Golden Rams had a pair of players honored with
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) and
Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) earning a final Academic honor to round out their outstanding careers wearing the Purple and Gold.
The Academic All-Area team is voted upon by the Sports Information Offices of 30 Institutions in the greater Philadelphia region. To be eligible, student-athletes must be in at least their second year at their current institution and hold a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher.
Ciliberto is one of three repeat selections on the All-Area squad, along with Emily McCutcheon of Rowan, who is a three-time honoree, and Maranda Runco of Villanova, who is another two-time honoree. This is the latest Academic honor for both Ciliberto and Hopkins, as they were both Collegiate Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections earlier in May. Ciliberto and Hopkins were also both All-PSAC selections and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Region honorees, while Ciliberto was also a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region pick.
Hopkins had an outstanding senior season, during which she broke the Golden Rams' career home run record and posted a host of other accomplishments at the plate. The veteran right fielder finished her final season wearing the Purple and Gold with a .373 batting average with 72 hits, including 16 doubles, 10 home runs, and a triple, while also scoring 56 runs and driving in 41 more. Hopkins, who broke the program record for career home runs during the Golden Rams run at the PSAC Tournament, including the record-tying home run that made the difference in a win over California (Pa.), finished the year with a 1.066 OPS, including a .622 slugging percentage.
In her final season in the circle, Ciliberto pitched to a record of 15-12 with a 3.06 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 180.2 innings of work with 10 complete games and two shutouts, along with five saves, while limiting opponents to a .292 batting average against. Ciliberto was at her best in the circle down the stretch for West Chester as the senior pitched the Golden Rams into a PSAC Tournament spot on the final day of the regular season before picking up multiple wins at the PSAC Tournament in Binghamton to help West Chester return to the NCAA Tournament. Ciliberto was also excellent at the plate, batting .320, which was third best on the team with 33 RBI and 15 runs scored.
Lily Goldberg, a standout pitcher for Swarthmore, who went 20-4 with a 1.37 ERA in her sophomore season, earned Performer of the Year honors and was one of three Swarthmore players on the Academic All-Area squad. Ciliberto and Hopkins are two of three Division II honorees, as they are joined by sophomore infielder Liv Stevens of Jefferson.
