BOSTON – For the first time in Suffolk softball's 34-year history, three Rams garnered all-region accolades from the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association as Delaney Sylvester, Payton Sylvester and Taylor Holmes were named to the northeast teams Wednesday afternoon.
Delaney Sylvester represented the Rams on the first team for the second straight season and second time in her career, while Payton Sylvester and Taylor Holmes picked up their first all-region nods on the second and third teams, respectively.
The trio is a core group of a GNAC contingent as nineof Suffolk's conference counterparts earned spots on the region squads.
With her spot on the first time this year, Delaney Sylvester has earned all-region recognition in each of her four seasons at Suffolk, the first Ram to do so. She is the fourth-ever player to garner a pair of first-team all-region nods adding these accomplishments to extensive list she racked up over her four years in blue-and-gold, including 2018 GNAC Player of the Year, four all-league accolades (three first-team nods) and a pair of all-conference tournament team selections.
Delaney Sylvester never rested on her laurels and saved her best for last with the catcher from Worcester, Massachusetts, producing a career senior season. She produced league-leading numbers in batting average (.467), homers (10) and RBI (45) with 25 extra-base hits to go along with 35 runs scored. She was tabbed one of the nation's toughest players to strikeout in 2018 as just two pitchers sat Sylvester down this season in her 122 times at the plate.
Along the way to leading Suffolk to its third GNAC regular season title in the past four seasons, Delaney Sylvester rewrote the Rams record books with her most notable mark coming on the all-time hits list as she displaced the former 10-year record holder, Suffolk Hall of Famer Jess Ferreira, with a two-RBI double at Simmons in the regular season finale for her 228th career hit. Delaney Sylvester capped off her career with 231 career knocks and appears on nearly every offensive chart in Suffolk's annals including the second spot in homers (32), RBI (167) and total bases (370).
While Delaney Sylvester wrapped up her Suffolk playing days this year, her younger sister, Payton Sylvester, just got started. The rookie who split her time in the circle and at short, garnered a spot on the second team after landing just behind her older sister in every offensive category. The 2018 GNAC Rookie of the Year registered 54 hits including a league-best 18 doubles and seven bombs for 40 RBI on a .419 connection rate at the plate with 39 runs scored and eight stolen bases. In the circle, she put together a 10-3 record over 59.1 innings with 59 strikeouts and a staff-best 1.42 ERA, which was good for second on the team.
Similar to her sister, Payton Sylvester had a handful of highlighted performances in her first season in a Suffolk jersey. She went 5-for-5 in a convincing 23-2, five-inning win over Anna Maria March 31 with three consecutive bombs for 15 total bases and nine RBI. Those numbers still remain the best amongst NCAA DIII individuals in a single-game this season. The same day Delaney set the hit record, she held the Sharks hitless with the first known no-hitter in Suffolk softball history.
Holmes completes the history setting trifecta after a stand-up senior season. The Ashford, Connecticut, product became the first pitcher to take home all-region honors in the Jaclyn Davis era. The first-team all-conference selection, earned the recognition, after commanding the circle with an unbeaten 10-0 regular-season record. Overall, she put together a career-high 1.91 ERA through 66.0 innings of work scattered over 13 appearances and 12 starts and sat down 58 hitters.