Army West Point Athletics
Drayton, Ballesteros Collect Postseason Honors
May 07, 2019 | Softball
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Sophomore Taylor Drayton and junior Emily Ballesteros of the Army West Point softball team earned postseason honors from the Patriot League, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Drayton earned her second first team honors in as many years, while Ballesteros was named to the second team for the second year in a row.
Drayton improved upon an impressive rookie campaign by either matching or surpassing her totals from 2018 in nearly every offensive category. The Clayton, N.C., native was the Black Knights' most explosive weapon at the plate, finishing in the top 3 in every offensive statistic. She accumulated a .287 average (43-for-150) with eight doubles, six home runs, 30 runs scored and 27 RBI. The sophomore outfielder added 14 walks and was hit by five pitches while going a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts.
Her best performance of the season came on April 17 when she went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in the opening game of a midweek doubleheader at the University of Albany.
Ballesteros produced her third 40-hit season, hitting .286 with 20 runs scored and 19 RBI. The Chino Hills, Calif., native added two doubles and a home run while drawing 15 walks and was hit by eight pitches. She tallied six multi-hit games and three in which she drove in multiple RBI. Ballesteros was one of Army's most consistent hitters, contributing two hitting streaks of 11 games or more.
She blasted her first collegiate grand slam in the series finale at Boston University on April 28.
For more information on Army West Point softball, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow @ArmyWP_Softball on Twitter and Instagram.
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MAJOR AWARDS
Player of the Year: Alex Heinen, Boston University, Sr.
Pitcher of the Year: Ali Dubois, Boston University, So.
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Heinen, Boston University, Sr.
Rookie of the Year: Allyse Volpe, Bucknell, Fr.
Coach of the Year: Joey Lye, Bucknell
FIRST TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
1B – Nicole Amodio, Boston University, Fr.
2B – Mary-Hannah Smith, Lehigh, Jr.
3B – Alexa Ponce, Boston University, Sr.
SS – Anna Gimmestad, Bucknell, Sr.
C  – Alex Heinen, Boston University, Sr.
DP – Marina Sylvestri, Boston University, So.
OF – Taylor Drayton, Army West Point, So.
OF – Allyse Volpe, Bucknell, Fr.
OF – Jaelynn Chesson, Lehigh, Fr.
P – Ali Dubois, Boston University, So.
P – Emily Gant, Boston University, Fr.
At-large – Emily Morrow, Boston University, Sr., 2B
At-large – Meghan Romero, Colgate, Sr., 2B
FIRST TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE*
1B – Nicole Rounsavill, Colgate, Jr.
2B – Lauren Hadley, Bucknell, Sr.
3B – Emily Ballesteros, Army West Point, Jr.
SS – Madison Killebrew, Boston University, Sr.
C – Virginia Irby, Colgate, Jr.
DP – Sarah Baluch, Bucknell, Fr.
OF – Aliyah Huerta-Leipner, Boston University, Fr.
OF – Jen Horita, Boston University, So.
OF – Jess Hom, Bucknell, So.
P – Raeanne Geffert, Bucknell, Jr.
P – Kelly Nelson, Holy Cross, Fr.
*Due to a tie for at-large on the first team, there is no selection for the second team.
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Drayton earned her second first team honors in as many years, while Ballesteros was named to the second team for the second year in a row.
Drayton improved upon an impressive rookie campaign by either matching or surpassing her totals from 2018 in nearly every offensive category. The Clayton, N.C., native was the Black Knights' most explosive weapon at the plate, finishing in the top 3 in every offensive statistic. She accumulated a .287 average (43-for-150) with eight doubles, six home runs, 30 runs scored and 27 RBI. The sophomore outfielder added 14 walks and was hit by five pitches while going a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts.
Her best performance of the season came on April 17 when she went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in the opening game of a midweek doubleheader at the University of Albany.
Ballesteros produced her third 40-hit season, hitting .286 with 20 runs scored and 19 RBI. The Chino Hills, Calif., native added two doubles and a home run while drawing 15 walks and was hit by eight pitches. She tallied six multi-hit games and three in which she drove in multiple RBI. Ballesteros was one of Army's most consistent hitters, contributing two hitting streaks of 11 games or more.
She blasted her first collegiate grand slam in the series finale at Boston University on April 28.
For more information on Army West Point softball, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow @ArmyWP_Softball on Twitter and Instagram.
Â
MAJOR AWARDS
Player of the Year: Alex Heinen, Boston University, Sr.
Pitcher of the Year: Ali Dubois, Boston University, So.
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Heinen, Boston University, Sr.
Rookie of the Year: Allyse Volpe, Bucknell, Fr.
Coach of the Year: Joey Lye, Bucknell
FIRST TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
1B – Nicole Amodio, Boston University, Fr.
2B – Mary-Hannah Smith, Lehigh, Jr.
3B – Alexa Ponce, Boston University, Sr.
SS – Anna Gimmestad, Bucknell, Sr.
C  – Alex Heinen, Boston University, Sr.
DP – Marina Sylvestri, Boston University, So.
OF – Taylor Drayton, Army West Point, So.
OF – Allyse Volpe, Bucknell, Fr.
OF – Jaelynn Chesson, Lehigh, Fr.
P – Ali Dubois, Boston University, So.
P – Emily Gant, Boston University, Fr.
At-large – Emily Morrow, Boston University, Sr., 2B
At-large – Meghan Romero, Colgate, Sr., 2B
FIRST TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE*
1B – Nicole Rounsavill, Colgate, Jr.
2B – Lauren Hadley, Bucknell, Sr.
3B – Emily Ballesteros, Army West Point, Jr.
SS – Madison Killebrew, Boston University, Sr.
C – Virginia Irby, Colgate, Jr.
DP – Sarah Baluch, Bucknell, Fr.
OF – Aliyah Huerta-Leipner, Boston University, Fr.
OF – Jen Horita, Boston University, So.
OF – Jess Hom, Bucknell, So.
P – Raeanne Geffert, Bucknell, Jr.
P – Kelly Nelson, Holy Cross, Fr.
*Due to a tie for at-large on the first team, there is no selection for the second team.
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Players Mentioned
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