FARMINGTON – University of Maine at Farmington sophomore catcher/first baseman Mckell Barnes (Durham, ME) was selected as the North Atlantic Conference Softball Player of the Year in a vote by the conference coaches.
Barnes led the league hitting .595 at the plate (25-42) with a .654 on base percentage during conference play. The sophomore was among the leaders in slugging percentage (1.071), runs batted in (19) and home runs (4) helping Farmington to a 10-4 conference mark.
The holder of the program’s single season and career home run records, Barnes was the lone Farmington representative on the All-NAC First Team.
Farmington senior pitcher Liz Bergeron (Milford, ME) and freshman first baseman/designated player Shannon Mitchell (Portsmouth, NH) were named to the All-NAC Second Team.
Bergeron went 6-2 in conference action with a 1.77 earned-run average over 55.1 innings. The senior struck out 60 batters and held opponents to a .234 batting average.
Mitchell batted .512 (21-41), stroked four doubles and two triples with nine RBI.
Farmington (16-12) is scheduled to face Thomas in the NAC championship round at Husson on Saturday. First pitch is slated for noon. The winner will face Husson for the conference title at 2 p.m.
