Francesca Casalino Selected To Second Team

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale softball team enjoyed a successful 2017 season, and five players who played key roles have been recognized by the Ivy League. Catcher Madison Sack, who led the team with seven home runs, and third baseman Allison Skinner, who batted nearly .400 in 20 league games, each earned first team All-Ivy recognition. Second baseman Laina Do, outfielder Shelby Kennedy and pitcher/utility player Francesca Casalino were named to the second team.

Five is the most All-Ivy selections for Yale since six Bulldogs were honored in 2011.  

Sack, a sophomore, started all 20 Ivy games behind the plate, belted five home runs and knocked in 20 runs in league play. Her seven home runs overall are tied for the third most in a season in school history. The highlight of her season came when she belted two home runs, including a grand slam, in a 14-6 win at Harvard.

Skinner, who will captain the Bulldogs in 2017-18, has now earned All-Ivy recognition in each of her first three seasons. She was a second team selection as a freshman and honorable mention last spring. Her .397 average in Ivy games this year tied for fifth in the league. In addition, she started all 20 league games and knocked in 16 runs, which was second on the team to Sack.

Do, who is set to graduate Yale on Monday, started all 170 games during her time as a Bulldog. In Ivy games this spring, she batted .291 and had a team-best four doubles. Do provided one of the most memorable moments of the season when she belted a late grand slam, her first career home run, that sparked a win over Dartmouth.

If there was an award for most improved player in the Ivy League, Kennedy would have been a strong contender. She raised her batting average by 100 points from her rookie season to finish at .336. In Ivy games, she was even better, batting .387, which was third on the team. Her .500 on base percentage in Ivy games was the third highest in the league, and her 17 stolen bases overall were the second most in the league.

Casalino, a junior, shined both at the plate and in the circle. She led the team with a .351 overall batting average and also belted a career-best three home runs. Two of her long balls came in Ivy play. As a pitcher, Casalino finished with 70 strikeouts, which was the third most in the league. She also led the Yale pitching staff in ERA.