DeCicco & Battersby Named to GNAC Softball All-Conference Second Team
WINTHROP, Mass. – Two members of the Mitchell College softball team were named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Conference Second Team, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. Senior Olivia DeCicco (Haverhill, Mass.) was one of two pitchers selected to the Second Team, while junior Zoe Battersby (West Warwick, R.I.) earned one of the three outfield spots.
DeCicco, who was an All-Conference Third Team selection in 2024, turned in an outstanding senior campaign for the Mariners, excelling both at the plate and in the circle while serving as one of the team's top all-around performers. In the circle, DeCicco made 20 starts, posting eight victories and 15 complete games over 122.1 innings pitched. She finished the season with a 2.80 ERA and 73 strikeouts while ranking among the conference leaders in innings pitched, ERA, and strikeouts. In GNAC play, she compiled a 2.01 ERA across 62.2 innings of work.
Offensively, she batted .397 with 48 hits, nine doubles, two triples, three home runs, 40 RBI, and 21 runs scored while posting a .479 on-base percentage and .579 slugging percentage across 38 games.
The senior ranked among the GNAC leaders in several offensive categories, finishing third in RBI while also placing within the top 10 conference-wide in batting average, hits, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. In conference play, DeCicco elevated her numbers even further, batting .403 with three home runs, 21 RBI, and a .645 slugging percentage in 18 league contests.
One of the most difficult hitters in the conference to strike out, DeCicco fanned just four times in 144 plate appearances throughout the season. She recorded 14 multi-hit games and nine contests with multiple RBI, highlighted by a four-RBI performance in a conference win over Rivier University and a three-hit, three-RBI effort against New England College.
Battersby, meanwhile, put together a strong all-around campaign during her first spring in New London, appearing in 38 games while batting .355 with 43 hits, 13 doubles, two home runs, 31 RBI, and 28 runs scored. She also posted a .440 on-base percentage and a .512 slugging percentage while ranking among the team leaders in hits, doubles, RBI, and total bases. Battersby also ranked among the conference leaders, finishing third in doubles and placing in the top 10 in RBI.
In conference play, Battersby elevated her production even further, batting .365 across 18 GNAC contests with 23 hits, eight doubles, one home run, and 14 RBI while slugging .540. She reached base at a .437 clip against conference opponents and recorded multiple hits in seven league games.
One of the team's most consistent run producers throughout the spring, Battersby recorded 14 multi-hit performances and drove in multiple runs in seven contests. Among her top performances of the season was a 3-for-5 outing with two doubles, a home run, and six RBI in a conference victory over Elms College.
Additionally, senior Kaylee Drago (Danbury, Conn.) represented Mitchell on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
