Sadie Leonard Named NESCAC Pitcher of the Year, Three Ephs Earn All-Conference Honors

Link: NESCAC Release

HADLEY, Mass. - Senior captain Sadie Leonard of the Williams College softball team earned NESCAC Pitcher of the Year accolades for the fourth consecutive year, while Leonard, senior Sidney Miller and junior Katie Blanch were named to the All-Conference Team Wednesday morning.

Leonard earned a spot on the All-NESCAC First Team for the fourth time, while also being named the conference's Co-Rookie of the Year in 2023. Blanch was named to the Second Team for the second straight year and during the 2024 season, she earned Rookie of the Year and All-Conference First Team recognition. Miller is making her second appearance on the Second Team, earning the same honor during her rookie season in 2023.

On April 7, Blanch was recognized as Division III Wilson/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Pitcher of the Week, while Leonard was named NESCAC Pitcher of the Week on March 9 and 30.

Leonard, a three-time NFCA All-American, ranks first in the NESCAC in ERA (1.50), wins (15), strikeouts (231), complete games (14), shutouts (5) and innings pitched (135.2) this season. The Tiburon, California, native ranks second in the nation among Division III student-athletes this season in strikeouts per seven innings (11.9) and total strikeouts.

Blanch led the team in doubles (9), while also tallying 34 hits and 20 RBIs. Miller led the team in batting average (.346) and hits (37), while being tied for first in RBIs (22) and home runs (2). Miller recorded at least one hit in 26 games and 11 multi-hit efforts. Blanch went 3-of-4 batting, with five RBIs, two homers, two runs and one double, during a 10-4 victory at Smith on April 14.

The fifth-seeded Ephs (24-17, 11-7 NESCAC) reached the NESCAC championship game, outlasting fourth-seeded Bowdoin, 2-1, during the quarterfinal round on May 9 and top-seeded and then-No. 16-ranked Tufts, 8-7, on May 10, before falling, 7-5, to second-seeded Middlebury in the title game on May 10.

The Ephs won the 2026 Little Three title, going 2-0 at Amherst on May 2 and 1-1 against Wesleyan on April 26 at Cole Field. From March 30-April 12, Williams embarked on a 11-game winning streak. Williams ranks second in the NESCAC with eight conference championships, including hoisting the trophy in 2023 and 2024.