Wesleyan Standout, BHS Alumna Rebekah Honce Named to All-MEC Softball Second Team as Shortstop
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on April 28, 2016 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
The Mountain East Conference today announced its top individual softball award winners for the 2016 season with Fairmont State's Courtney Iacobacci (Player of the Year), Charleston's Alli Burdette (Pitcher of the Year) and Wheeling Jesuit's Molly Welsh (Freshman of 
the Year) claiming honors. UC head coach Ray Loeser was tabbed as the conference's Coach of the Year.
the Year) claiming honors. UC head coach Ray Loeser was tabbed as the conference's Coach of the Year.
Also honored was Bridgeport High School alumna Rebekah Honce. Honce, a senior members of the highly successful Bobcats' program, was chosen at shortstop.
Iacobacci, a senior outfielder from Stow, Ohio, was near or at the top of nearly every offensive category in the MEC this season. She ranked first in the league in average (.455), slugging (.877), home runs (19), runs scored (52), total bases (135) and on-base percentage (.528). She was a two-time MEC Player of the Week and is one of 25 finalists for the NFCA Player of the Year award.
Burdette, a junior from Charleston, W.Va., led the MEC in wins (25), opponent batting average (.180) and strikeouts (161). The four-time MEC Pitcher of the Week posted a 1.42 ERA in 167.2 innings pitched with 17 complete games and eight shutouts. She allowed two or fewer runs 25 times in 32 appearances (26 starts).
A Bethel Park, Pa., native, Welsh ranked sixth in the league with a .392 batting average in her freshman campaign for the Cardinals. She notched a team-best 13 doubles to go with 16 stolen bases and drove in 25 runs on the season.
In his fifth season at the helm of UC, Loeser guided the Golden Eagles to a 42-7 record and the MEC South Division title going 29-3 in league play. The team also earned its first national ranking in program history this season earlier this season and is currently 23rd in the country.
In addition to the award winners, the MEC also announced its all-conference teams. The all-conference teams and individual awards are selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
Iacobacci, a senior outfielder from Stow, Ohio, was near or at the top of nearly every offensive category in the MEC this season. She ranked first in the league in average (.455), slugging (.877), home runs (19), runs scored (52), total bases (135) and on-base percentage (.528). She was a two-time MEC Player of the Week and is one of 25 finalists for the NFCA Player of the Year award.
Burdette, a junior from Charleston, W.Va., led the MEC in wins (25), opponent batting average (.180) and strikeouts (161). The four-time MEC Pitcher of the Week posted a 1.42 ERA in 167.2 innings pitched with 17 complete games and eight shutouts. She allowed two or fewer runs 25 times in 32 appearances (26 starts).
A Bethel Park, Pa., native, Welsh ranked sixth in the league with a .392 batting average in her freshman campaign for the Cardinals. She notched a team-best 13 doubles to go with 16 stolen bases and drove in 25 runs on the season.
In his fifth season at the helm of UC, Loeser guided the Golden Eagles to a 42-7 record and the MEC South Division title going 29-3 in league play. The team also earned its first national ranking in program history this season earlier this season and is currently 23rd in the country.
In addition to the award winners, the MEC also announced its all-conference teams. The all-conference teams and individual awards are selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
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All-MEC First Team
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Pos.
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Name
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School
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Cl.
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Hometown
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C
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Morgan Bruce
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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So.
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Lynchburg, Va.
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C
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Alyssa Morris
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Concord
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Sr.
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Virginia Beach, Va.
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1B
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Laura Ashlock
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Charleston
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Jr.
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Kansas City, Mo.
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2B
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Sissy Stubbs
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Fairmont State
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Sr.
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Berlin Center, Ohio
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2B
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Brooklyn Waddell
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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Jr.
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Buckhannon, W.Va.
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SS
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Courtney Clemons
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Shepherd
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So.
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Thurmont, Md.
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SS
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Alayna Furr
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Concord
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Jr.
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Lovettsville, Va.
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3B
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Kelly Browning
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Charleston
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Sr.
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Fairfield, Ohio
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DP/Util
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Carly Gregory
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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Sr.
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Buckhannon, W.Va.
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OF
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Cassie Holstein
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Wheeling Jesuit
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So.
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Millersport, Ohio
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OF
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Courtney Iacobacci
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Fairmont State
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Sr.
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Stow, Ohio
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OF
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Rachelle Toppings
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Charleston
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Jr.
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Logan, W.Va.
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P
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Alli Burdette
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Charleston
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Jr.
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Charleston, W.Va.
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P
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Kaitlin Munda
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Shepherd
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So.
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Nokesville, Va.
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P
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Hannah Vet
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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So.
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Naples, Fla.
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All-MEC Second Team
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Pos.
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Name
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School
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Cl.
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Hometown
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C
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Bethany Williams
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Charleston
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So.
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Cooper City, Fla.
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1B
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Connor Gilligan
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Shepherd
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Fr.
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Medford, N.J.
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2B
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Alexa Hernandez
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UVa-Wise
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Sr.
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Woodbridge, Va.
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SS
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Rebekah Honce
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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Sr.
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Bridgeport, W.Va.
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3B
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Learic Kinser
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Urbana
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Fr.
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Springfield, Ohio
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DP/Util
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Kelsi Johnson
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West Liberty
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So.
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Wheeling, W.Va.
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DP/Util
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Courtney Stewart
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Urbana
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Jr.
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Zanesfield, Ohio
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OF
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Olivia Gore
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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Jr.
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Berryville, Va.
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OF
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Sydney Kaplan
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W.Va. State
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Sr.
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Milton, W.Va.
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OF
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Lauren Lewis
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Concord
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Jr.
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Kearneysville, W.Va.
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OF
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Molly Welsh
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Wheeling Jesuit
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Fr.
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Bethel Park, Pa.
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P
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Taylor Brandts
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UVa-Wise
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So.
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King George, Va.
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P
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Mallory Chapman
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Wheeling Jesuit
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So.
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New Martinsville, W.Va.
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P
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Sayaka Foley
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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Jr.
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Peoria, Ariz.
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P
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Jessie Rowe
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Charleston
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So.
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Lavalette, W.Va.
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Player of the Year: Courtney Iacobacci (Fairmont State)
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Pitcher of the Year: Alli Burdette (Charleston)
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Freshman of the Year: Molly Welsh (Wheeling Jesuit)
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Coach of the Year: Ray Loeser (Charleston)
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Editor's Note: Photo of Rebekah Honce courtesy of her Facebook page.
