Simmons College Softball finished the 2011 season with much to celebrate: With a 25-17 overall record and a 19-5 mark in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play, the Sharks posted two of the best records in program history. The team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the post-season ECAC tournament, and five Simmons athletes received major postseason honors, including Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. In addition, Head Coach Anne Hennigan was named GNAC Coach of the Year.

"We had an extremely successful season—the most successful season that I've been a part of," said Hennigan. "I knew coming in that we were going to have a competitive team, but we never took anything for granted. All of the awards and recognition that we received this year are a testament to hard work and perseverance."

The 2011 Simmons squad was defined in large part by the presence of upper classmen, with perhaps the largest presence of all belonging to senior shortstop Annie Thompson (Pacific Palisades, Calif.). Thompson led the conference in most offensive categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, hits, and runs scored—a feat that garnered her a GNAC Player of the Year award and nominations to both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Northeast All-Region Team and the GNAC All-Conference Team. Senior batterymates Courteney Collier (Bolton, Mass.) and Emily Nalband (Litchfield, Conn.) received similar all-star honors, while the trio of Steph Murray (Groveland, Mass.), Emily Colligan (Leominster, Mass.), and Sammi Letizio (Windham, N.H.) rounded out the senior contribution with solid all-around seasons.

Hennigan noted the particular importance of senior leadership to this year's team. "They were the first ones at practice and the last ones to leave," she said. "They knew what it took to win and they were willing to put in the effort and the extra hours. They were great leaders on and off the field."

The prospect of losing six starters to graduation would be daunting to most teams, but Hennigan and Assistant Coach Hannah Angel feel confident that the foundation for future success is very much in place. Underclassmen turned in key performances throughout the season, especially freshman first baseman Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) and freshman left-fielder Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.), who finished as two of the league's top hitters. Both athletes received All-Conference nods for their efforts, with Cunningham also earning Rookie of the Year honors.

"Our underclassmen were fearless and competitive," said Hennigan. "I know the returning players have learned a lot from this graduating class. They will undoubtedly carry on the winning tradition into the 2012 season."