ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The Oneonta softball team had three members selected to the All-SUNYAC teams, as announced by the conference. Seniors Emily Brown (Westbury, NY/Clarke), Jaime Cardello (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas), and freshman Ella Kean (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) were the three Red Dragons that earned All-Conference status. The trio all garnered second team recognition, as it was Brown's second time being named All-SUNYAC and Cardello's and Kean's first.

"Congratulations to Jaime and Emily, what a career these two have had," said Interim Head Coach Catherine Johnson. "I'm proud to see them get this recognition. Not only the statistics but the leadership they showed with this team on and off the field will be missed!" 

Brown started 32 of the 33 games for the Red Dragons primarily at first base. She was second on the team with a .363 batting average, the 17th best in the conference, connecting on 37 hits that included eight doubles and a triple. Brown recorded 11 RBI and scored 18 times. Defensively, the Westbury, N.Y. native totaled 228 putouts with seven assists for a .979 fielding percentage. Brown appeared in the circle during the early portion of the season and struck out six batters in 8.0 innings.

Cardello was one of two players, along with Kean, to start in all 41 games for Oneonta. As the team's third baseman, Cardello was 18th in the league and third on the team with a .360 batting average and .402 on base percentage. The Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. native led the Red Dragons and was fourth in the SUNYAC with 34 RBI, while she scored 18 runs and stole six bases. On the field, Cardello recorded 85 putouts and assists for a .904 fielding percentage.

Capping off her freshman season with an exclamation mark, Kean picked up the All-Conference accolade. While starting all 41 games at shortstop, the Red Dragon freshman led or co-led the team in batting average (.367), OPS (.951), triples (5), home runs (2), and total bases (64).

"What a great start to Ella's career," Coach Johnson continued. "Ella hit in many spots in our lineup this year and produced in them all. Not often a clean-up hitter can also slap to get on base, but she proved to be a multi-tool hitter and this award recognizes that!"

She was second in the SUNYAC in triples, ninth in hits, 12th in slugging percentage (.533), and 14th in batting average. Kean was second on the team, and tied for sixth in the league, with 30 RBI, scoring 19 runs in the process and stealing five bases. Kean defensively totaled 138 putouts and assists for a .902 fielding percentage.

While the three represented Oneonta in the All-Conference teams, freshman Eva Blaney (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman) was named to the All-Tournament team and sophomore Millie Reed (Fairport, NY/Fairport) won the conference's Elite 20 award.

Blaney was the only Oneonta player to be named to the All-Tournament team. In the three tournament games, the Oneonta freshman went 4-for-9 (.444 batting average) with two doubles and a run scored. In the outfield, Blaney totaled five putouts in the playoffs which included a couple diving catches. 

"Eva had a great SUNYAC Tournament," Coach Johnson commented. "She proved to be a clutch hitter in many situations and gave it her all in the outfield. Well deserved!" This season, Blaney started 24 of the 32 games she appeared in for Oneonta as the designated player and right fielder. She was fourth on the team with a .329 batting average, totaling 24 hits with six doubles and a home run. The Huntington Station, N.Y. native scored 17 times this year, recording 10 RBI and stealing five bases. Blaney fielded all six of her chances cleanly for a 1.000 fielding percentage. 

Reed co-won the SUNYAC Elite 20 award with Fredonia's Kendall Phillips. As a sophomore, Reed holds a 4.0 overall GPA while majoring in exercise science. The SUNYAC Elite 20, an award modeled after the NCAA ELITE 90 program, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the conference championship level in their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their peers. "Millie has maintained nearly a 4.0 GPA for the last two years as a member of the softball team," said Coach Johnson. "She maintains a heavy course load while managing the challenges of being a student athlete. We are so proud of her!"

On the field, Reed appeared in eight games, starting one this season for the Red Dragons. She recorded four hits, including two doubles for a .333 batting average, and totaled two RBI and a run.

Oneonta finished the season 14-27 overall and 11-7 in conference play to earn the fifth seed in the SUNYAC tournament, where they finished in fourth place.