ARLINGTON, Tex. - Taylor Fitch, Sydney Frankenberger, Lily Garcia and Karen Spadafora of Seattle U softball are among those honored by the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Monday as the league unveiled its 2024 postseason awards. Spadafora becomes the program's first WAC Defensive Player of the Year and first WAC freshman to do so, while Fitch is named as one of the top-11 student athletes in the conference with her first team selection. Frankenberger's stellar senior season earned her All-WAC second team honors, while Garcia claims All-Defensive Team honors for a third consecutive season.
This is the seventh consecutive year that the Redhawks have earned at least four year-end honors from the WAC.
Spadafora claims Defensive Player of the Year honors after a stellar freshman season behind the plate, starting all 26 WAC contests and ranking 57th in the nation and second in the WAC in runners caught stealing at 11 overall. The native of Tigard, Oregon, posted a perfect 1.000% fielding percentage to go along with 180 putouts, 28 assists and taking part in two double plays over 51 overall games. Spadafora currently ranks fourth on team among qualifying hitters with an average of .329 and holds the 10th spot in the WAC in overall putouts. In addition to being named WAC Defensive Player of the Year, Spadafora was one of five athletes named to the WAC All-Defensive Team.
Fitch has been vital to the Redhawks success all season long, finishing the year as one of two Redhawks to start in all 52 contests and leading the team in average (.372), ops (1.051), doubles (18), home runs (seven), RBIs (36), total bases (102), slugging percentage (.622) and on base percentage (.429). The Woodinville, Wash., native currently ranks 15th in the nation and second in the WAC in doubles, 83rd in the nation and fourth in the WAC in total bases and 85th in the nation and sixth in the WAC in hits. Fitch was phenomenal for the Redhawks during the 26 WAC contests, leading the team in multi-hit games (11) and multi-RBI games (14).
Frankenberger has been fantastic in her transition to center field this season, ranking first on the squad in at bats (176), runs (36), hits (64) and triples (four) as well as second in average (.364), ops (.892), total bases (83), walks (13) and on base (.420). The native of San Ramon, Calif., currently ranks 57th in the nation and third in the WAC in hits as well as 100th in the nation and fifth in the WAC in the toughest to strike out (17.6). Frankenberger has started in all but one contest, including all 26 WAC games with 73 total putouts and a team leading six outfield assists.
Garcia becomes the only WAC athlete to receive All-Defensive Team honors in the first three seasons of the awards existence. The senior from Sylmar, Calif., holds the fourth spot in the WAC in total assists (110) as well as second on the team in that category and fourth on the squad in putouts (103). Garcia has started all 50 of her contests at second base, posting a fielding percentage of .947 and taking part in seven double plays.
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This is the seventh consecutive year that the Redhawks have earned at least four year-end honors from the WAC.
Spadafora claims Defensive Player of the Year honors after a stellar freshman season behind the plate, starting all 26 WAC contests and ranking 57th in the nation and second in the WAC in runners caught stealing at 11 overall. The native of Tigard, Oregon, posted a perfect 1.000% fielding percentage to go along with 180 putouts, 28 assists and taking part in two double plays over 51 overall games. Spadafora currently ranks fourth on team among qualifying hitters with an average of .329 and holds the 10th spot in the WAC in overall putouts. In addition to being named WAC Defensive Player of the Year, Spadafora was one of five athletes named to the WAC All-Defensive Team.
Fitch has been vital to the Redhawks success all season long, finishing the year as one of two Redhawks to start in all 52 contests and leading the team in average (.372), ops (1.051), doubles (18), home runs (seven), RBIs (36), total bases (102), slugging percentage (.622) and on base percentage (.429). The Woodinville, Wash., native currently ranks 15th in the nation and second in the WAC in doubles, 83rd in the nation and fourth in the WAC in total bases and 85th in the nation and sixth in the WAC in hits. Fitch was phenomenal for the Redhawks during the 26 WAC contests, leading the team in multi-hit games (11) and multi-RBI games (14).
Frankenberger has been fantastic in her transition to center field this season, ranking first on the squad in at bats (176), runs (36), hits (64) and triples (four) as well as second in average (.364), ops (.892), total bases (83), walks (13) and on base (.420). The native of San Ramon, Calif., currently ranks 57th in the nation and third in the WAC in hits as well as 100th in the nation and fifth in the WAC in the toughest to strike out (17.6). Frankenberger has started in all but one contest, including all 26 WAC games with 73 total putouts and a team leading six outfield assists.
Garcia becomes the only WAC athlete to receive All-Defensive Team honors in the first three seasons of the awards existence. The senior from Sylmar, Calif., holds the fourth spot in the WAC in total assists (110) as well as second on the team in that category and fourth on the squad in putouts (103). Garcia has started all 50 of her contests at second base, posting a fielding percentage of .947 and taking part in seven double plays.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
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