BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University sophomore first baseman Shannon Grindle has been selected to the 2018 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-New England Team.
Grindle marks the Bears' first NFCA All-New England selection since former standout pitcher Amber White earned the accolade in 2014.
A third team honoree, Grindle batted .404 (42-104) over 35 games in 2018 with nine home runs, nine doubles, 26 runs scored and 34 runs batted in. The Halifax, Massachusetts product also walked 28 times and posted a .534 on base percentage and a .750 slugging percentage..
Grindle led the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in home runs, walks and defensive put outs (238). She also ranked second in the conference in slugging percentage, third in both doubles and on base percentage, fourth in RBI and total bases (78), fifth in batting average, eight in hits (42) and ninth in runs.
In 70 games over her first two seasons with the Bears, Grindle has a career batting average of .383 (85-222) with 11 home runs, 19 doubles, 36 walks, 41 runs and 68 RBI to go along with a .617 slugging percentage and a .469 on base percentage.
The BSU softball team wrapped up the 2018 campaign with an overall record of 18-19. Seeded fourth in the MASCAC Tournament with a 9-5 conference mark, the Bears earned a 9-1 opening round victory over fifth-seeded Salem State University before dropping a pair of decisions to top-seeded Worcester State University and #3 Westfield State University.
Grindle is one of five players from the MASCAC to earn NFCA All-New England honors. She is joined on the All-New England Team by senior outfielder Dayna Marchant and junior pitcher Kelsi Gunarathne of Framingham State University, as well as senior catcher Sydney Despres and senior pitcher Dakota Smith-Porter of Worcester State University.