Martin Named Rookie of the Year to Headline Three All-CC Selections for Softball

Posted: May 12, 2024

HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team was well represented in the end of the year Centennial Conference awards and All-Conference teams, the Centennial Conference office announced in a release on Monday morning.

Haverford first-year outfielder Lauren Martin was named the Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year, the first winner from Haverford since Jess Koshinski in 2015. In addition to the Rookie of the Year designation, Martin also picked up a spot on the All-Centennial Conference first team.

In addition to Martin's inclusion on the first team, sophomore catcher Abby Litchfield was named a second-team All-Centennial Conference selection while Mia Kessinger was named an honorable mention selection.

Martin, from nearby Drexel Hill, Pa. hit a whopping .358 in her first year as a Ford. She appeared in all 34 games, logging 39 hits, 23 runs scored, nine doubles, three triples, a home run, and 11 RBI while striking out just nine times. She also walked seven times and stole nine bases. Martin ranked ninth in the CC for batting average, and in the top 15 for hits, OPS and slugging percentage.

Litchfield, of Colorado Springs, Colo. added a second-team honor after hitting .315 with 28 hits in 89 at-bats during a breakout sophomore season. She logged 14 runs scored and roped five doubles for 17 total RBI. Defensively she served as Haverford's primary catcher with a .967 fielding percentage, catching 11 runners stealing.

Kessinger, a product of Kentfield, Calif. hit .363 with 38 hits in 110 at-bats, roping 10 doubles and clubbing three home runs. She added 28 RBI and a stolen base for the Fords during the 2024 season.

Abby Olivier, of Flower Mound, Texas, earned a spot on the Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship team. Olivier appeared in 22 games for Haverford, with four hits in 14 at-bats. She slashed .286/.412./286 and stole a base.

The Fords will miss the contributions and leadership in the circle from their lone senior Alexa Finkele but should be well prepared for a 2025 run with soon-to-be seniors Maddie Etheridge, Kessinger, Rachel McQueen, and Abby Olivier ready to lead the team back to a CC playoff berth while lineup stalwarts such Addie Sapirstein, Jocelyn Leal, Litchfield and Sarah Fan take another big step forward into upperclassmen roles after strong sophomore campaigns. The emergence of Martin, Grace Stowe and Kyra Van Denburgh in their first seasons on campus will help support a young pitching core.