James Madison’s Hannah Shifflett was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year in the reveal of the conference's softball year-end awards. Additionally, Delaware and UNCW received two major awards each as voted by the league’s eight head coaches. 

A pair of UNCW freshmen pitchers, Emily Winstead and Kara Hammock earned the respective honors of CAA Pitcher and CAA Rookie of the Year. Delaware’s Hanna Garber was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year, while the Blue Hens’ Jen Steele was tabbed as the CAA Coach of the Year by her peers. 

Shifflett is the ninth JMU player in the past 10 seasons to claim CAA Player of the Year accolades. The redshirt junior first baseman led the CAA with a .393 batting average, recording 53 hits, 15 home runs, 39 RBIs and 42 runs scored. She ranks first in the CAA in runs batted in and third in runs scored. Additionally, Shifflett topped the conference in on-base percentage (.468), slugging percentage (.800) and OPS (1.268). Shifflett recorded at least one hit in 33 of 42 games this season, including 13 multi-hit performances, and ended the year on an eight-game hitting streak. 

Winstead is the first Seahawk in program history to collect CAA Pitcher of the Year honors. The freshman right-hander anchored the conference’s top pitching staff as UNCW posted a league-best 1.78 team ERA. Winstead led the CAA with a 1.72 ERA and held the opposition to a .163 batting average, the best among all pitchers in the conference. The Bunn, N.C. native led the CAA with 167 strikeouts in addition to pacing the league in strikeouts per seven innings (9.6) and strike-to-walk ratio (3.48). Winstead has thrown 122.1 innings, posting an 11-8 record in 23 appearances. 

Garber, a two-time All-CAA outfielder, moved to third base for her senior season, earning first-team all-conference honors in her first year at the position. Throughout the transition, Garber posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage during CAA play. In 120 chances this season, she recorded just three errors, posting a .975 fielding percentage overall. In addition to her stellar defense, Garber provides an offensive impact ranking fourth in the CAA with a .368 batting average and leading the league with 48 runs scored. She is the first Delaware major award winner since 2016 and the program’s first CAA Defensive Player of the Year. 

Hammock joins Winstead, making history as UNCW’s first CAA Rookie of the Year in program history. The freshman righty posted an 11-3 record in 14 starts, including eight complete games. Hammock went 5-1 in CAA action with a 1.37 ERA throughout the conference slate. Overall, she has pitched 88.1 innings, posting a 2.14 ERA to rank third in the CAA and recorded 66 strikeouts. The Seahawk duo is just the second and third major award winners in UNCW history, joining Kelsey Bryan, who won CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. 

Steele earned the first CAA Coach of the Year accolades of her tenure, becoming the first Delaware coach to win the honors since B.J. Ferguson in 2003. Under her leadership, the Blue Hens went 28-14, posting an 11-4 mark in conference play en route to Delaware’s first CAA regular-season title in program history. The 11 conference wins are the most for the Blue Hens since 2013, and the .733 conference winning percentage is the program’s best since the CAA began playing softball in 2002.

Seven teams were represented on the CAA Softball First Team. The infield was comprised of Shifflett at first base, Delaware second baseman Brittney Mendoza, Hofstra shortstop Meghan Giordano, Garber at third and James Madison catcher Lauren Bernett behind the plate. The outfield was made up of Drexel’s Grace Abbonizio, Hofstra’s Chelsea Manto, Elon’s Rebecca Murray and Towson’s Briana Ramirez. UNCW’s Mackenzie Amodeo was selected as the designated player/utility, while Winstead and Delaware’s Emily Winburn were the arms in the circle.    

2022 CAA Softball First Team

2022 CAA Softball Second Team

CAA Player of the Year

Hannah Shifflett, James Madison

CAA Pitcher of the Year

Emily Winstead, UNCW

CAA Defensive Player of the Year

Hanna Garber, Delaware

CAA Rookie of the Year

Kara Hammock, UNCW

CAA Coach of the Year

Jen Steele, Delaware

2022 CAA All-Rookie Team