DeCota named GNAC Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference; Richardson selected to All-Sportsmanship Team

Madison DeCota '28 added another chapter to one of the top careers in Norwich University softball history on Monday afternoon, as the junior pitcher/shortstop was named the 2026 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year, as announced by the league office.

DeCota becomes just the third GNAC Player of the Year selection in program history, joining Heather LaBranche, who earned the honor in 2004, and Nikki Delandy, who received the award in 2006. She also landed on the GNAC All-Conference First Team at shortstop for the second straight season.

Senior outfielder Grace Richardson '26 was selected as Norwich's representative on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

The Player of the Year honor continues a standout career for DeCota, who was named the GNAC Rookie of the Year in 2024 before securing back-to-back First Team All-Conference selections in 2025 and 2026. Her junior campaign marked her most complete offensive season yet, as she established herself as one of the most dangerous hitters in the conference and one of the top statistical performers in NCAA Division III.

DeCota led the GNAC in batting average (.515), on-base percentage (.555), slugging percentage (.960), triples (eight), and total bases (97). Nationally, she ranked seventh in NCAA Division III in both triples and slugging percentage, 12th in batting average, and 30th in on-base percentage.

The junior also ranked among the league leaders in nearly every major offensive category, finishing third in the GNAC in total hits (52), second in doubles (14), second in home runs (five), ninth in runs scored (34), and 13th in runs batted in (30). Of her 52 hits, 27 went for extra bases, helping her anchor a Norwich lineup that produced several of its most explosive offensive performances of the season during the spring.

DeCota delivered several of her top performances in Norwich victories. She recorded a season-high four hits on a perfect 4-for-4 showing against Gordon College, adding a season-best two triples. She also launched a season-high two home runs against Clark University, driving in three runs, and posted season highs of six runs scored and four RBI in Norwich's victory over Vermont State University Lyndon.

In addition to her production at the plate, DeCota carried a significant workload in the circle for the Cadets. She finished the season with a 4.70 earned run average, nine victories, 134 innings pitched, and 70 strikeouts. Defensively, she recorded 31 putouts and 63 assists across 97 total chances while splitting time between the pitching circle and shortstop.

DeCota earned GNAC Player of the Week honors once during the season, receiving the award in Week 2. She also landed on the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll twice, earning recognition in Weeks 6 and 9.

"It's rare to see a player who plays with both fire and poise, but Madison brings both to the field every practice and every game for her Norwich teammates," said Head Coach Jacqueline Patts '00. "She is results driven and passionately invested in improving her craft in the gym, at the plate, in the field, and on the mound. Not only does Madison continue to improve in almost all statistical categories year to year, but her lead-by-example approach has also helped her teammates grow and compete at a higher level as well.

"As a coach, I'm honored to have watched her take the reins this season and prove, without a doubt, that she is our Conference Player of the Year."

Richardson represented Norwich on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team, an honor awarded to one representative from each conference institution who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship and character on and off the field.

The senior outfielder appeared throughout the season for the Cadets and recorded a hit and a run in separate victories at Vermont State University Lyndon. Defensively, Richardson tallied 10 catches and nine putouts in the outfield, including a season-high three putouts at Mitchell College.

Norwich concluded the 2026 campaign with 12 victories, highlighted by several standout individual performances and one of the most productive offensive stretches in recent program history. The Cadets' late-season surge included a record-setting 45-11 victory over Vermont State University Lyndon, while DeCota's major award recognition capped a season in which Norwich again placed one of the conference's premier talents among the GNAC's top honorees.