BOSTON – Delaney and Payton Sylvester have made the most of their first and only seasons together in Suffolk softball uniforms and added more for their memory books as the siblings have become the first-ever sisters to sweep FastPitchNews Division III Player of the Week honors, the organization announced Tuesday.
The Worcester, Massachusetts, sisters, who have helped Suffolk to its third GNAC Regular Season title in the last four years, had a milestone week as Delaney Sylvester became the all-time hits leader in Suffolk softball history thanks to a two RBI doubleheader in the regular season finale at Simmons. In that same contest, Payton Sylvester commanded the circle, tossing the first known no-hitter in Suffolk softball's history with just one walk as her lone hiccup in the complete-game effort.
Delaney Sylvester, who is on an 18-game hit streak, continued to have a standout week at the plate; batting .571, slugging 1.095 and reaching base on a .571 clip. She had multiple hit outings in five of the Rams' six contests with three homers and two doubles. She opened action with a 3-for-4 effort versus Saint Joseph's (Maine). In the 17-2 victory, she hit back-to-back bombs to bring in a season-high five runs and score two herself. The senior catcher kept momentum going as she chased Suffolk Hall of Famer's Jess Ferreira all-time hit mark of 227 which she tied in the series opener at Simmons Sunday. Needing just one more hit to seal her place atop the Rams' all-time hits list, she kept fans on the edge of their seats and recorded the milestone in her fourth at bat in the nightcap against the Sharks; knocking a double good for two runs in the top of the fifth.
Following in her sisters footsteps, Payton Sylvester has made her name known for Suffolk softball in just her first season in the Rams' blue-and-gold. The six-time GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week earned her second FPN Player of the Week nod after a 2-0 week in the circle, which featured the first known no-hitter, to go along with an offensive output of .473/.435/.762 with 10 hits, 11 RBI and eight runs scored. The rookie RHP needed just 62 pitches to record the no-no, as she retired the first 13 batters faced with one walk being her only hiccup in the complete 5.0 frames.
The honors are added to a hefty list of weekly awards for the Rams this season, which have been highlighted by the Sylvesters. Payton now has 10 weekly accolades on her shelf – six GNAC Corvais Rookie of the Week, one GNAC Corvias Co-Player of the Week, one GNAC Corvias Pitcher of the Week and two FPN NCAA DIII Player of the Week. Delaney, meanwhile, has been named the league's best player over a seven day stretch twice, earned FPN NCAA DIII Player of the Week status for the first time in her career and won the title of HeroSports.com DIII Offensive HERO of the Week. Taylor Holmes has joined the sisters with weekly recognition with a pair of conference pitchers honors to go along with HERO of the Week Pitching status.
The 2018 GNAC Regular Season Champion, Suffolk, has turned its attention to the upcoming 2018 GNAC Tournament. As the hosts, the Rams open double elimination action at home Thursday, May 3 before welcoming the remaining teams to East Boston this weekend to crown a conference champion.