Rexford, NY--- The Sage Colleges athletic department gathered on April 26 at the Mohawk River Country Club and Chateau to bestow the program’s top awards for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Sage, which now boasts 10 varsity athletic teams that compete as an NCAA Division III member and a full-member of the Skyline Athletic Conference, handed out a Gator of the Year award as the team’s Most Valuable Player Award in each sport as well as other honors at the banquet as athletic department staff, the college’s dignitaries, families and friends gathered to salute the excellence that occurred in 2009-2010 at Sage. By next fall, Sage will field 12 varsity teams with the addition of men’s cross country and men’s soccer to the fold.

2009-2010 Sage Athletic Honor Society:

 (The Sage College’s Intercollegiate Athletic Honor Society recognizes junior, senior, or graduate level student-athletes, who have maintained a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.2 or better and have participated as a member of a varsity team for at least two seasons.)

Allison Bishop (Jr., Troy, NY/Lansingburgh), Softball                                                

Jaime Handford (Jr., Berlin, NY/Berlin), Softball

*Kellie Jones (Gr., Troy, NY/Troy), Women’s Volleyball and Softball

*Indicates Previous Inductee

2009-2010 Sage Athlete of the Year:                       Kellie Jones (Troy, NY/Troy) Women’s Volleyball and Softball

(This outstanding two-sport student-athlete at Sage College, not only played women’s volleyball and softball, but excelled during her career in both sports. She would leave her name in the record books in both sports and served as a team captain for both teams as well. She graduated with a 3.6 grade-point-average as a member of the accelerated physical therapy program at Sage and is currently working on her graduate degree. Her leadership skills and athletic ability are unmatched and was named the recipient of the Sage Athlete of the Year for her dynamic ability on and off the playing field.

2009-2010 Sage Sport-by-Sport Awards and honorees 
(Gator of the Year is the team’s Most Valuable Player Award)

Softball:
Gator of the Year:      Kellie Jones (Gr., SS, Troy, NY/Troy)

(The 2010 Sage leader at the plate for the softball team, Kellie was a dominant force in the league this season after she batted .426 to ranking seventh in the Skyline Conference this year. She closed her stellar career with numerous single-game and career marks. Among the many highlights the three-time team captain set were most doubles in a season (14) and career 36), and most home runs in a season (6). She finished her career with a .380 average (11th best), after playing in 125 games (3rd) with 376 at bats (2nd), with 143 hits (2nd), 36 doubles (1st), 8 triples (5th), 13 home runs (2nd), with 87 runs scored (2nd), 56 RBIs (7th)and 23 stolen bases (5th). For the 2010 season, Jones batted a team-high .426 with 12 doubles, 2 triples and a team-best 6 home runs, while driving in 17 runs and scoring 24 runs and ranked among the top five offensively in the conference in sixth different categories.)

Rookie of the Year:    Gabriella Skillen (Fr., P, Milford, NY/Milford Central)

(Gabriella finished her first season with a dramatic streak to help etch her name into Sage’s record books. She would appear in 23 games as a pitcher for Sage and stands fifth all-time for most appearances in a season at Sage, while her 115.2 innings pitched in 2010 ranks, eighth highest in single-season efforts. She added 14 complete games along the way to rank eighth highest, while her six wins in seventh best at Sage for a season. Along the way, she struck out 40 (8^th), and racked up a 4.42 ERA which is ninth best. She ranked fourth in the Skyline Conference in appearances and fifth in innings pitched and held the opposition to a .337 average at the plate.)

Coaches’ Award:        Meghan Welcome (So., 3B, Cohoes, NY/Cohoes)

(In her second season with the Gators, she emerged as a leader having served as a captain in 2010. She provided strength to the team both on and off the field and by season’s end had played and started every game at third base, while batting .232 with six doubles and two home runs, while ranking third on the team with her 18 RBIs.)