Westfield, Mass. — Westfield State’s Sarah Hough and Angelina Vartuli have been named the 2026 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year and head up the all-conference squad which is voted on by the coaches from around the conference.

 

Hough, a senior from Southwick, Mass., was a dominant force for the MASCAC Regular Season Champion Owls who ended the regular season 35-1and 15-1 in conference play. They are currently ranked 21st nationally by the National Fastpitches Coaches Association (NFCA). This season, Hough is batting .402 with a school-record tying nine home runs as part of a lineup that has launched an all-out assault on the Owls’ record books while ranking third in the nation in runs scored per game.  She has set the school record for career hits (179) and doubles (45) and ranks in the top five in home runs, runs scored, and RBI. In the field this season she has just six errors and .957 fielding percentage.

 

Joining Hough as a major award winner, Vartuli, a sophomore from Middletown, Conn., made her mark as part of the Owls rotation this season. Vartuli has pitched to 12-0 record and three saves with a 1.02 ERA – which ranks eighth in the nation in DIII -  in 75.1 innings pitched. Struck out 62 and walked just 21 to date this season, and was 6-0 with 1 save against MASCAC opponents.

 

Charlie Benesh of Salem State is the 2026 MASCAC Rookie of the Year. The freshman pitcher from Naperville, Ill. led the Vikings with a 1.82 ERA, 11-3 record, 11 complete games, two shutouts, 48 strikeouts and a 1.20 WHIP over her 96.1 innings pitched. Nine of her victories, she netted a 2.00 or less ERA while helping the Vikings to a 12-4 conference mark and the third seed in this week’s tournament. 

 

After leading the Owls to their third straight MASCAC Regular Season title and top seed in the tournament, Joe Hough of Westfield State was voted by his peers as the 2026 BSN Sports Coach of the Year. 

 

Joining Hough and Vartuli on First Team are Angelina Lynch of Bridgewater State, Jessica Mueller of Fitchburg State, Ellie Etemad-Gilbertson of Framingham State, Hailey Peabody of MCLA, Kelsey Booker of Mass. Maritime, Alanis Toledano of Salem State, Mia Alfonso, Rylie Camacho, Kassidy LaTour and Hannah Wodecki of Westfield State and Peyton Maloney of Worcester State.

 

Grabbing a spot on the MASCAC Second Team All-Conference with Benesh are Eliza Carignan and Jocelyn Pepe of Framingham State, Hannah Gilbert and Amelia Leasure of MCLA, Allison Frost of Salem State, Joss Mettey of Westfield State and Amanda Adamuska, Cali Brouilliard, Morgan Keefe, Emma Lapoint and Bailey Tammaro of Worcester State. 

 

First Team
Alanis Toledano, Salem State | Jr. First Base Boston, MA

Hailey Peabody, MCLA | Sr. Second Base W. Springfield, MA

Hannah Wodecki, Westfield State | Sr. Third Base Southampton, MA

Sarah Hough, Westfield State | Sr. Short Stop Southwick, MA

Jessica Mueller, Fitchburg State | Jr. Catcher Fitchburg, MA

Mia Alfonso, Westfield State | Sr. Catcher Pittsfield, MA

Angelina Lynch, Bridgewater State | Sr. Outfield Taunton, MA

Ellie Etemad-Gilbertson, Framingham State | So. Outfield Boston, MA

Kassidy LaTour, Westfield State | Jr. Outfield Lebanon, CT

Kelsey Booker, MA Maritime | Sr. Des. Player Corning, NH

Rylie Camacho, Westfield State | So. Utility Attleboro, MA

Angelina Vartuli, Westfield State | So. Pitcher Middletown, CT

Peyton Maloney, Worcester State | Jr. Pitcher W. Bolyton, MA

 

Second Team
Amanda Adamuska, Worcester State | Sr. First Base Dudley, MA

Morgan Keefe, Worcester State | Sr. Second Base Dracut, MA

Eliza Carignan, Framingham State | Jr. Third Base Epsom, NH

Emma Lapoint, Worcester State | Sr. Short Stop Westfield, MA

Jocelyn Pepe, Framingham State | So. Catcher Lagrangeville, NH

Allison Frost, Salem State | Sr. Outfield Auburn, MA

Cali Brouillard, Worcester State | Jr. Outfield Millbury, MA

Bailey Tammaro, Worcester State | Sr. Outfield Fitchburg, MA

Amelia Leasure, MCLA | So. Des. Player Pittsfield, MA

Hannah Gilbert, MCLA | Fr. Utility Colrain, MA

Charlie Benesh, Salem State | Fr. Pitcher Naperville, IL

Joss Mettey, Westfield State | Jr. Pitcher Easthampton, MA