At College: Sylvia repeats as Softball Player of the Year

South Coast Today.com

South Dartmouth's Chelsea Sylvia has been named the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Year for the second straight season.

The senior at Westfield State College was 15-6 with a 1.53 earned-run average for the Owls, who wrapped up a 23-14 season with 3-0 loss to Bridgewater State College in the MASCAC tournament championship game.

Sylvia, who played for Bishop Stang and New Bedford in high school, set a single-season school record with 181 strikeouts in 132 2/3 innings this year. In her three seasons at Westfield State, Sylvia shattered the school record for strikeouts, fanning 475 batters in 371 innings. She also ranks first on the Owls' all-time career lists with 41 wins and a 1.49 ERA.

Miner honored at Salem St.

Rochester's Alan Miner Jr. was named the John D. Galaris Male Student Athlete of the Year at Salem State College.

The baseball team captain saw action at the plate (.421, eight RBIs) and on the mound (3-4, 5.01 ERA) for the Vikings, who finished 16-19 overall and 4-10 in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference. Miner posted a 15-10 career record in four years on the team with a 4.32 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 170 innings of work

A Phi Kappa Phi honor student, Miner graduated with a 3.91 grade-point average and a degree in criminal justice.

Three other local players saw action for the Vikings this past season: Rochester's Ben Garlington, a senior outfielder who hit .237 and knocked in 15 runs; Westport's Jeff Borges, a sophomore pitcher who finished with a 3-4 record and 4.14 ERA; and Matt Kerr, a freshman pitcher from Freetown who was 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA.

Elliot solid for Bears

Brockton's Brendon Elliot, a graduate of Old Rochester Regional, batted .408 with eight home runs and 45 runs batted in for the Bridgewater State College baseball team, which finished 24-16 overall and 10-4 in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference.

Tom Couet, a junior first baseman/catcher from East Freetown, hit .286 and knocked in three runs in 12 games for the Bears. Brian Guillotte, a sophomore pitcher from New Bedford, finished 5-0 with a 4.50 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings of work.

The Bears' season came to an end with a 9-8 loss to Worcester State College in the MASCAC tourney.