McNeill, DiBella Earn NFCA All-New England Honors
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sophomore second baseman Julia McNeill (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and junior third baseman Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) both were named to the 2015 NFCA Division III All-New England Teams after elevating the Endicott softball program to a CCC finals appearance this past spring. McNeill earned a First Team nod, making her eligible for All-America honors, while DiBella collected her second All-New England Second Team award from the NFCA after previously winning as a freshman in 2013.
2015 NFCA Division III All-Region Teams
Endicott Softball All-Region History
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sophomore second baseman Julia McNeill (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and junior third baseman Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) both were named to the 2015 NFCA Division III All-New England Teams after elevating the Endicott softball program to a CCC finals appearance this past spring. McNeill earned a First Team nod, making her eligible for All-America honors, while DiBella collected her second All-New England Second Team award from the NFCA after previously winning as a freshman in 2013.
In her first season as a full-time starter at second base for the Gulls, McNeill led the team in nearly every offensive category as she sported a team-best .404 batting average with 42 hits, including 13 doubles, 26 RBIs and nine stolen bases while ranking second with 20 runs behind junior catcher Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.). McNeill was particularly effective in non-conference games as she drove in 17 of her 26 runs with a .382/.443/.509 slash line against non-league opponents. During the team's 16-game CCC schedule (11-5), McNeill hit .429 with nine RBI, six runs, and a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts. She was recognized as an All-CCC Third Team second baseman prior to the start of postseason play.
DiBella provided some pop for the Endicott lineup throughout the year as she matched freshman Margaret Martzolf (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.) for the team lead with four homeruns. DiBella hit .396 in her junior season with 16 of her 38 hits going for extra-bases. She drove in 25 runs, scored 16 times, and walked 17 times. DiBella sported a .487 on-base percentage and a monstrous .656 slugging percentage. At the hot corner, DiBella had a .953 fielding percentage with just four errors in 34 games played. She was named an All-CCC First Teamer for the third straight season.
McNeill and DiBella are the 43rd and 44th Endicott softball players to be recognized on the NFCA All-New England Teams since the 2002 season.