BIDDEFORD, Maine – Suffolk softball's 2021 season was one for the history book, not solely due to the global COVID-19 pandemic that jumbled up the Rams schedule, but it was also the first year competing in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). Four blue-and-gold student-athletes made a mark on their new conference counterparts as Ally Cifaratta, Caitlin Murphy, Ashley Zulla and Savannah Scripter were acknowledged for their efforts on the diamond as the foursome garnered All-CCC accolades.
Cifaratta took home a first-team nod, Murphy and Zulla represented the Rams on the second-team squad and Scripter rounded out the quartet on the third-team.
Cifaratta, who earned the first all-league honor of her collegiate career in which she was able to after last season was cancelled, is the first Rams' third baseman to pick up a first-team nod since Marie Trainor did so in 2009. At the hot corner, the Cicero, New York, local produced a .907 fielding percentage. Offensively she was one of the top bats in Suffolk's line-up and a threat to her opponents with a slash line of .357/.387/.469. The right-handed hitter knocked 35 hits, good for a share for top on the Rams team and third amongst CCC batters. The sophomore brought in the second-most runs for the Rams and the ninth-most of CCC players with 21 to her credit to go along with 22 runs scored, which sat just outside the league's top-10 in 11th.
Murphy sealed her second all-league recognition in as many years as she has been eligible. The outfielder from Abington, Massachusetts, was the stealthiest runner on the bags in the conference with a league-best 23 stolen bases, a stat that sits second in the New England region and 33rd across NCAA Division III this season. In addition to her swiped bags, the junior also ranked in the top ten in multiple offensive categories in the CCC including runs (31), doubles (8), triples (5) and hits (34). Defensively, she made top, game-saving plays in centerfield where she put together a .910 fielding percentage.
Zulla, who capitalized on her fifth-year of eligibility after having her traditional senior season cancelled a year ago, became the fourth Ram to receive an all-league award in each of their four years in a Suffolk jersey becoming the first to do so since Devlin Frost '18 and Delaney Sylvester '18 each accomplished the feat with their fourth All-GNAC nod in 2018. Zulla sealed up her Suffolk career as one of the most prominent bats in the Rams' record books; 12 hits shy of the 200 mark and one double away from breaking Suffolk's all-time doubles record of 45 hits for two bags. In 2021, the super senior catcher provided a team-best 35 hits, which ranked third in the CCC, with four doubles, five jacks, to bring in the fourth-most runs in the conference (25), while she scored the 11th-most runs in the league herself (22). The Columbus, New Jersey native compiled a CCC top-25 slash line of .361/.415/.557.
In the first year she was eligible, Scripter secured a spot on the conference's third team thanks to her plate production. Behind a .364 average, the Lancaster, California, product brought in 20 runs on 32 hits, which included four bombs and two doubles. She added 13 runs to Suffolk's 144-run offense.
Behind this group of four Suffolk built a 12-17 overall mark and went 6-7 versus its new league foes under the leadership of ninth-year head coach Jaclyn Davis.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CCC
P - Michaela Hamill, Endicott
P - Maria Hanchuk, Endicott
C - Meghan Connor, Endicott
1B - Cori Rizzo, Western New England
2B - Adrianna Favreau, Endicott
3B - Ally Cifaratta, Suffolk
SS - Katrina Goria, Roger Williams
OF - Tara Chatowsky, Roger Williams
OF - Lauren Misiaszek, Endicott
OF - Sydney Provencal, Roger Williams
DP - Dina DiBlasio, Western New England
UTL - Taylor Newcomb, Curry
SECOND TEAM ALL-CCC
P - Maddy Fluke, Salve Regina
P - Jordan Strum, U. of New England
P - Paige Uliase, Western New England
C - Ashley Zulla, Suffolk
1B - Carly Marchitto, Endicott
2B - Nikki Vanelli, Salve Regina
3B - Lily Rivera, Gordon
SS - Keelin Spencer, Endicott
OF - Lexie Hemstock, Western New England
OF - Caitlin Murphy, Suffolk
OF - Kaitlin Pettenger, Wentworth
DP - Jessica Roberts, Salve Regina
UTL - Makenzy Herron, U. of New England
THIRD TEAM ALL-CCC
P - Mara Little, Gordon
P - Lia Nocella, Roger Williams
C - Madison Mason, Western New England
C - Bay Naples, Roger Williams
1B - Alex Lombardo, Roger Williams
2B - Laura Bieren, Gordon
3B - Taylor Chatowsky, Roger Williams
SS - Maddie Capetta, Salve Regina
OF - Hailey Bogusz, Nichols
OF - Jordan Ferullo, Curry
OF - Karissa Hatchell, Gordon
OF - Katie Watts, Endicott
DP - Savannah Scripter, Suffolk
UTL - Taylor Howell, Roger Williams
MAJOR AWARDS
Player of the Year - Adrianna Favreau, Endicott
Pitcher of the Year - Maria Hanchuk, Endicott
Defensive Player of the Year - Taylor Chatowsky, Roger Williams
Rookie of the Year - Meghan Connor, Endicott
CCC Scholar-Athlete - Tara Chatowsky, Roger Williams
Coach of the Year - Amanda Novak, Western New England
Team Sportsmanship - Gordon