Mazanec and Despines Earn All-MAC Honors
5/7/2024 3:00:00 PM | Softball
CLEVELAND — Kent State graduate student Julia Mazanec and sophomore Bri Despines were among the student-athletes recognized on Wednesday as the Mid-American Conference announced its 2024 postseason softball awards. Mazanec earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team and Despines was voted to the All-MAC Second Team.
Mazanec had a breakout final season in a Golden Flashes uniform and ranked in the top 10 in the conference in batting average, runs, hits and slugging percentage. Her .391 batting average and 40 runs scored are ninth on Kent State's single-season leaderboard and her 59 hits are tied for the 10th most all-time. Mazanec shared the team lead with 17 multi-hit games and her 13-game hitting streak was the longest by a Flash this season.
Despines was one of only three Kent State players to start all 49 games. She was second on the team in several offensive categories, including batting average (.338), hits (53), doubles (11), walks (18) and on-base percentage (.408). Despines also totaled three home runs, 24 RBIs and five stolen bases. Defensively, she posted a .992 fielding percentage at the catcher position. Despines is just three hits away from 100 after two seasons as a Flash and ranks in the top 10 in program history in career batting average (.324) and on-base percentage (.418).
Be sure to follow Kent State Softball on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
Player of the Year: Karli Spaid, Miami
Pitcher of the Year: Rissa Bajusz, Western Michigan
Freshman Player of the Year: Sami Bewick, Miami
Freshman Pitcher of the Year: Madilyn Reeves, Miami
Coach of the Year: Kirin Kumar, Miami
Nan Harvey Award Winner: Abbey Tolmie, Central Michigan
All-MAC First Team
Addy Jarvis, Pitcher, Miami
Skipp Miller, Pitcher, Ohio*
Rissa Bajusz, Pitcher, Western Michigan
McKayla Timmons, Catcher, Ball State
Holly Blaska, First Base, Miami
Skylar Coberly, Second Base, Central Michigan
Sidney Griffith, Second Base, Toledo
Reagan Bartholomew, Shortstop, Miami
Julia Mazanec, Shortstop, Kent State*
Karli Spaid, Third Base, Miami
Jenna Golembiewski, Outfield, Miami
Kate Kobayashi, Outfield, Miami
Hadley Parisien, Outfield, Miami*
Ellis Erickson, Outfield, Northern Illinois
Payton Kelly, Outfield, Western Michigan*
Danielle Stewart, Utility Pitcher, Northern Illinois
Sami Bewick, Utility Player, Miami
*At Large Selection
All-MAC Second Team
Julia Tarantino, Pitcher, Buffalo
Mikie Lieving, Pitcher, Ohio
Bri Despines, Catcher, Kent State
Haley Boxwell, Catcher, Western Michigan*
Sophia Wygast, First Base, Akron
Riley Mohr, First Base, Toledo*
McKenna Mulholland, Shortstop, Ball State
Haley Wynn, Third Base, Ball State
Meagan Lee, Outfield, Akron
Ashlee Lovett, Outfield, Ball State
Aaralyn Nogay, Outfield, Bowling Green
Izzie Wilson, Outfield, Ohio*
Alexis Lucyshyn, Utility Pitcher, Buffalo
Lily Sullivan, Utility Player, Akron
*At Large Selection
MAC All-Freshman Team
Lily Sullivan, Akron
Sophia Wygast, Akron
Aaralyn Nogay, Bowling Green
Carly Sleeman, Central Michigan
Sami Bewick, Miami
Hadley Parisien, Miami
Madilyn Reeves, Miami
Alana Powell, Northern Illinois
Mikie Lieving, Ohio
Mady Yackee, Toledo
