Yozzo garners Steckbeck Award as top first year female athlete
6/25/2015 1:01:00 PM | Softball, Student Athlete
Convocation recap
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh softball freshman Nicole Yozzo has been named the winner of the John S. Steckbeck Award given to Lehigh Athletics' top first year female student-athlete. A key component of Lehigh's Patriot League championship team in softball, Yozzo emerged from the three finalists announced at Lehigh Athletics' annual Convocation Program on May 4.
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The committee that decides the department award winners initially elected to postpone the announcement pending the results of postseason awards and postseason competition for spring sports.Â
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Yozzo was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year for softball and was a second team All-Patriot League performer in 2015. Lehigh's leadoff hitter and starting left fielder, Yozzo was also recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association with second team Mid-Atlantic All-Region honors following the regular season.
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The Pleasanton, California native appeared in all 49 games for the Mountain Hawks, finishing second on the team with a .373 batting average, while tying for the team lead with 63 hits. Yozzo led the Mountain Hawks with 45 runs scored and topped the Patriot League with 30 stolen bases in 33 attempts.
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A two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, Yozzo started fast, going 12-for-14 at the plate over Lehigh's first four games of the season. She also came up big late in the year, going 3-for-3 with two RBI in the championship-clinching victory over Bucknell in the Patriot Leaegue Tournament. Yozzo also went 2-for-9 with a stolen base and a run scored over three games at the NCAA Norman Regional.
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Yozzo is the ninth softball student-athlete to win the Steckbeck Award since its inception in 1976. Recent winners from the softball program include Emily Bausher in 2012 and Morgan Decker in 2013.
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The other two finalists for the Steckbeck Award were Christina Auyeung from the women's tennis team and Quinci Mann from women's basketball.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh softball freshman Nicole Yozzo has been named the winner of the John S. Steckbeck Award given to Lehigh Athletics' top first year female student-athlete. A key component of Lehigh's Patriot League championship team in softball, Yozzo emerged from the three finalists announced at Lehigh Athletics' annual Convocation Program on May 4.
Â
The committee that decides the department award winners initially elected to postpone the announcement pending the results of postseason awards and postseason competition for spring sports.Â
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Yozzo was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year for softball and was a second team All-Patriot League performer in 2015. Lehigh's leadoff hitter and starting left fielder, Yozzo was also recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association with second team Mid-Atlantic All-Region honors following the regular season.
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The Pleasanton, California native appeared in all 49 games for the Mountain Hawks, finishing second on the team with a .373 batting average, while tying for the team lead with 63 hits. Yozzo led the Mountain Hawks with 45 runs scored and topped the Patriot League with 30 stolen bases in 33 attempts.
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A two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, Yozzo started fast, going 12-for-14 at the plate over Lehigh's first four games of the season. She also came up big late in the year, going 3-for-3 with two RBI in the championship-clinching victory over Bucknell in the Patriot Leaegue Tournament. Yozzo also went 2-for-9 with a stolen base and a run scored over three games at the NCAA Norman Regional.
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Yozzo is the ninth softball student-athlete to win the Steckbeck Award since its inception in 1976. Recent winners from the softball program include Emily Bausher in 2012 and Morgan Decker in 2013.
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The other two finalists for the Steckbeck Award were Christina Auyeung from the women's tennis team and Quinci Mann from women's basketball.
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