PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Three members of the Plymouth State University softball team were honored when the Little East Conference (LEC) announced its major award winners and all-conference selections on Thursday.
 
Senior Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) and freshman Allie Cecere (Plainville, Mass.) earned All-LEC First Team recognition, while Cecere and classmate Addison Willett (Kingston, Mass.) were selected to the All-Rookie Team.
 
Under fifth-year head coach Mike Bernier, the Panthers finished 18-19-1 overall and 10-6 in the LEC to capture the No. 3 seed in the LEC Tournament. Plymouth State was eliminated on day one of the tournament, dropping a tight decision to UMass Boston before suffering a one-run setback to Eastern Connecticut.
 
 
Kenzie Bessette:

• A 5-9 center fielder, Bessette capped a stellar career with another outstanding season, ranking among the league leaders in several offensive categories while providing exceptional range in center field.
• Bessette posted a .400/.442/.567 slash line, finishing 10th in the league in batting average and seventh in slugging percentage. She was one of just ten players in the conference with an OPS above 1.000, finishing eighth in the league (1.009).
• Her 48 hits were seventh in the conference, while she was eighth in triples (3), 14th in doubles (8) and home runs (2).
• She ranked ninth in the league with 32 runs scored while stealing a conference-best 30 bases with a 91% success rate.
• Bessette smashed the program record for career steals, finishing with 82 in just three seasons, and opened the year with a 17-game hitting streak, just two shy of the school mark.
• This is her third consecutive First Team selection.

 
Allie Cecere:

• A 5-7 pitcher, Cecere quickly became the staff ace, posting the most wins by a first-year pitcher in nearly a decade.
• She finished the year with an 11-6 record while ranking among the top 15 of nearly every statistical category in the LEC.
• She ranked fourth in ERA (2.17) and innings pitched (119.1), fifth in wins (11), sixth in opposing batting average (.248), and 11th in strikeouts (60).
• Her strikeout-to-walk ratio was better than 3.30, while she allowed one earned run or fewer in eight of 17 starts.
• She was especially dominant from late March through the end of April, posting six consecutive seven-inning starts while allowing one earned run or fewer in each outing.
• This is her first postseason honor.

 
Addison Willett:

• A 5-3 second baseman and outfielder, Willett led all first-year Panthers with 30 games played.
• Her four multi-hit games were tied for the most among freshmen.
• She had two hits and drove in two runs in a win at Keene State in late April to help PSU secure the sweep.
• Willett tied for the second-most walks on the team and was fourth in runs scored.
• Her two-run double gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning against Eastern Connecticut in the LEC Tournament.
• This is her first postseason honor.