NEW HAVEN, Conn. (May 3, 2022) -- Georgian Court University standout Kaitlyn Stufft on Tuesday was named the 2022 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Softball Player of the Year, as announced by Commissioner Dan Mara. The voting for the all conference and major awards was conducted by the 13 head coaches in the sport in the CACC.

In addition to Stufft, teammate Mikayla Gilgert was named the CACC Pitcher of the Year, while Caldwell University's Jessica Klein was tabbed the CACC Rookie of the Year. Klein's coach, Dean Johnson, was named CACC Coach of the Year, and Wilmington University was named the Team Sportsmanship Award winner for demonstrating class and outstanding character during the regular season.

Stufft, who was also named to the All-CACC First Team as a first baseman, leads the conference with 66 runs batted in as she propelled a GCU lineup that led the Lions to the conference's regular season championship. She also paces the conference with 61 hits, home runs (18), total bases (130) and slugging percentage (.844). Stufft has smacked 13 doubles this season for the second highest total in the CACC.

Gilgert leads the league in several pitching categories as she has been dominant in the circle all season long. She leads the league in appearances (33), starts (29), wins (23), earned run average (1.94), complete games (18), shutouts (7), innings pitched (159.0) and strikeouts (157). Gilgert was also named to the All-CACC First Team.

Klein has had a sensational collegiate debut season. She leads the CACC with a .509 batting average (only player above .500 this year), runs (39) and on-base percentage (.548). Klein, who was named to the All-CACC First Team as an outfielder, also ranks third in hits (58) and fourth in stolen bases (24).

Johnson was named the league's top leader as he has guided the Cougars to 34 wins and a ranking in the latest NCAA Division II East Region Poll.

2022 CACC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kaitlyn Stufft (Georgian Court University)

2022 CACC SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Mikayla Gilgert (Georgian Court University)

2022 CACC SOFTBALL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jessica Klein (Caldwell University)

2022 CACC SOFTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
Dean Johnson (Caldwell University)

2022 CACC SOFTBALL TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP
Wilmington University

2022 CACC SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
1B ... Kaitlyn Stufft (Georgian Court University)
2B ... Taylor Mischler (Caldwell University)
3B ... Courtney Grundhauser (Caldwell University)
SS ... Lauren Lopez (Wilmington University)
C ... Adriana Mungo (Georgian Court University)
OF ... Emma Cooney (Caldwell University)
OF ... Jessica Klein (Caldwell University)
OF ... Jadalynn Rodriguez (Georgian Court University)
P ... Mariah Culver (Caldwell University)
P ... Mikayla Gilgert (Georgian Court University)
P ... Kylee Gunkel (Wilmington University)
DP ... Allison Winters (Caldwell University)
UTIL PLAYER ... Alexis Velotta (Felician University)
UTIL PITCHER ... Ashley Remington (Holy Family University)

2022 CACC SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
1B ... Maya Rodriguez (Caldwell University)
2B ... Carly Setting (Goldey-Beacom College)
3B ... Elaina Hansen (Holy Family University)
SS ... Ashleigh Tavaska (Caldwell University)
C ... Emma Zimmerman (Wilmington University)
OF ... Kiara Meikle (Georgian Court University)
OF ... Kristin Miscia (Dominican College)
OF ... Gabbie Saucedo (Wilmington University)
P ... Kayla Daly (Caldwell University)
P ... Gianna DeLorenzo (Thomas Jefferson University)
P ... Renamarie Rocha (Wilmington University)
DP ... Madison Walker (Dominican College)
UTIL PLAYER ... Kasey Jusino (Post University)
UTIL PITCHER ... Haley Downin (Wilmington University)

ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 13 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, Thomas Jefferson University, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.