PLYMOUTH, N.H. – A pair of key newcomers to the Plymouth State University softball team were honored by the Little East Conference (LEC) on Tuesday as the league released its major awards winners and all-conference teams.
 
Sophomore Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) was selected First Team All-LEC, while freshman Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) took home Second Team and All-Rookie Team honors.
 
Piloted by third-year head coach Mike Bernier, the Panthers went 16-22 and 5-11 in the LEC, remaining in the playoff chase into the final day of the regular season. The Panthers picked up a key sweep of Southern Maine in late April during a 5-1 stretch and earned splits in each of the last three double headers of the season.
 
Kenzie Bessette:

• A 5-9 outfielder, Bessette was an immediate spark in the heart of the batting order after transferring from UNE. She opened the season with a team-best nine-game hitting streak and reached base safely in 30 of the 34 games she appeared in. She ranked third in the LEC with a .435 batting average, was second in on base percentage (.504), fourth in OPS (1.106) and fifth in slugging (.602) and was an efficient 14-for-18 in stolen base attempts. Bessette also ranked among the league leaders in runs (25), hits (47), doubles (12) and triples (3). Bessette finished the year with 15 multi-hit games, including four three-hit games, while playing a gold-glove caliber center field. This is her first postseason honor.

Avery Couch:

• A 5-5 outfielder, Couch also ranked among the league leaders in most offensive categories. Her .339 average was second on the team, while she drove in a team-best 23 runs on the season. Couch posted a .420 on base percentage and an OPS of .813. Her 12 multi-hit games trailed only Bessette, while her three three-hit games were also second most on the team. Couch reached base safely in 14-straight games and 23-of-24 to close out the year. She drove in four runs during game two of a double header split with WestConn and had a team season-high five RBIs against Arcadia during the Panthers' spring trip to Florida. This is her first postseason honor.