Posted by Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit:

Sonoma State placed five players on Daktronics Division II All-West Region softball teams following the Seawolves’ best season in program history.

Senior Ashley Britton and freshmen Julianne Martinez and Ali Palermo were selected to the first team. Senior Simone Brandalise and freshman Samantha Lipperd received second team honors.

Britton, the Seawolves’ third baseman, batted .353 with eight home runs and 46 runs batted in, a single-season school record and second in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. In helping lead Sonoma State to its first conference tournament championship, Britton said tournament records for RBI (8) and total bases (16) and tied the home run record with three.

Going 21-9 for the Seawolves, first year pitcher Martinez posted a 1.83 earned run average, second lowest in the conference and also led the team with three saves. A highlight this season was being named Most Outstanding Player at the conference tournament.

Palermo blasted the single-season school record for home runs with 10, good for third in the league. Sonoma State’s designated hitter batted .341 with 37 runs batted in.

A four-year starter, Brandalise topped the Seawolves with a .373 batting average, fourth in the conference. Her 66 hits also led Sonoma State, third in the league.

Sonoma State’s other freshman pitching standout, Lipperd went 21-8 with a 2.25 earned run average. She was second in the conference with 142 strikeouts. Lipperd pitched two no-hitters this season.

The Seawolves finished 43-18 and hosted an NCAA Division II West Region tournament, where Sonoma State was eliminated from the playoffs.