UMBC

Amanda Fefel was named to the all-conference first team and all-rookie team.

Boston-Six UMBC softball players earned America East post-season awards, the conference announced Wednesday evening at the annual awards banquet.

Senior Melanie Denischuk and freshman Amanda Fefel were named to the all-conference first team, while junior Ashley Gray and shortstop Reilly Ward garnered second-team nods. Fefel was also joined on the all-rookie team by classmate Lauren O’Malley, and Denischuk was joined on the all-academic squad by junior Kali Shirk.

Denischuk, the 2006 America East Player of the Year, led UMBC with 40 RBI while hitting .317 with 10 doubles and six home runs.

Fefel excelled both at the plate and on the mound, hitting .295 with 32 RBI and a team-best 12 home runs and posting a 12-3 record with a 3.30 ERA and 71 strikeouts. Fefel’s 12 homers set a new UMBC rookie record.

Gray went 12-7 on the season with a 1.50 ERA and 124 strikeouts, and she held opponents to a league-low .178 batting average. In addition, she hit .292 with eight home runs and 29 RBI.

Ward is batting .231 with 20 RBI, but she ranks among UMBC’s all-time leaders in almost every offensive category, including second in home runs and doubles and third in RBI.

O’Malley hit .357 with one home run and seven RBI. Shirk batted .325 with eight doubles, five home runs and 11 stolen bases.

Boston University swept the major awards. Catcher Christy Leath was tabbed Player of the Year, first baseman Rachel Hebert was named Rookie of the year, Megan Currier earned Pitcher of the Year and head coach Shawn Rychik was voted Coach of the Year.

The four-team double-elimination America East Championships begin Thursday. The No. 2 Retrievers take on No. 3 Hartford at 3:30 p.m. at the Boston University Softball Field.