Softball | 5/11/2011 12:29:12 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY - Seven members of the RIT softball were named to the 2011 All-Empire 8 Softball team on Wednesday, as the league announced its yearly award winners.  Sophomore Brittany Kemp (Dansville, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) was named the Pitcher of the Year, while Kemp, Carlissa Cole (Alden, NY/Alden), and Tori Nadow (Charlton, MA/Shepherd Hill) earned first team honors.  Michelle Tabisz (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch), Allee Emmi (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), Shannon McCormick (Auburn, NY/Auburn), and Cole were also named to the second team, while Megan O'Connell was the Sportsperson of the Year.

Kemp enjoyed a tremendous season for the Tigers, finishing 5-2 in league play with a 1.78 earned run average, and 58 strikeouts in 43 innings, allowing just 26 hits and 11 walks.  Overall, Kemp was 10-7 with a 2.89 ERA, 129 strikeouts in just 101 2/3 innings.  She was a two-time Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week, and threw RIT's first seven-innng no-hitter since 2003, striking out a career-high 13 batters in a 2-0 win over Utica.  Kemp recorded three shutouts and had at least 10 strikeouts in a game five times.  At the plate, Kemp added 17 runs batted in.

She is the first RIT player to be honored as a Pitcher of Player of the Year since Shari McNamara (Rome, NY/Rome Catholic) in 2002 and 2003.

Cole enjoyed a tremendous senior season, earning first team honors as a pitcher, and second team honors as a utility player.  She finished 14-4 this season with a 1.66 ERA. In Empire 8 play, Cole was 6-1 with a 1.43 earned run average in 53 2/3 innings.  Over her last 14 appearances, Cole was 10-1 with a 0.91 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, recorded four shutouts, and tossed 11 complete games, spanning 84 1/3 innings.

Cole finished her career second all-time at RIT in wins (46), shutouts (15), complete games (71), and innings pitched (568).  At the plate, Cole hit .342 with three home runs and 18 runs batted in, slugging .544.  She hit 13 career home runs at RIT, second most all-time in the history of the program.  Cole earned her fourth All-Empire 8 honor in four seasons.  She was an honorable mention selection in 2008, and a second team pick in 2009 and 2010.

Nadow, also a second team selection in 2010, hit .348 with a home run and 22 runs batted in this season, while leading the team with 14 walks, and stealing seven bases.  In league play, the sophomore shortstop hit .364 in 44 at-bats.  Nadow hit .435 (20-for-46) over her last 14 games with 10 RBIs.  She has a .347 average with two homers and 55 runs batted in 70 games over two seasons.

Tabisz led the Tigers with four home runs and tied for the team lead with 22 RBIs, while playing in all 36 games.  In Empire 8 play, Tabisz hit three home runs and drove in 10 runs in 14 games.  The junior first baseman opened the season with a 14-game hitting streak, and was named the Empire 8 Player of the Week on March 15.

Emmi enjoyed a breakout season for the Tigers, hitting .322 with her first two collegite home runs and 16 runs batted in, while playing 32 games.  The junior second baseman hit both homers in Empire 8 play, against Ithaca and Alfred.  It is her first Empire 8 selection.

McCormick led the Tigers with 26 runs scored and 14 stolen bases, hitting .291 on the season with one home run.  The junior centerfielder played in 35 games, and hit her first collegiate home run in a win over Ithaca on April 9.  In league play, McCormick hit .304 and stole three bases.  It is his first All-Empire 8 honor.

One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2011 Softball Sportswoman of the Year Team. Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.

O'Connell played in 32 games, 30 behind the plate, and helped RIT's pitching staff record a 2.42 earned run average.  O'Connell had a sensational .990 fielding percentage.

The Tigers finished with a 24-12 record, advancing to the Empire 8 Championship game for the first time since 2003.