ALFRED, NY – Alfred University's
Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) and
Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) were named to the 2026 All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Team on Friday.
In just her junior season, Vidal already is No. 2 all-time in stolen bases with 126, posting 50 for the year, just two shy of tying the school record of 52 held by
Ashley Lugo '23 (Lugo has 164 career stolen bases for the school record). Vidal is batting .396 with 61 hits, five doubles and four triples while also recording two inside-the-park home runs. She has reached home plate 50 times this season and has driven in an additional 17 runs. Defensively, Vidal has 91 putouts and three assists. In addition to making the All-ECAC Team, Vidal was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-Region III Second Team, Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Empire 8 First Team. She also earned Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week once and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Whitmyer batted a .388 with 52 hits, 13 doubles and nine home runs while driving in 53 runs and scoring 28 runs herself. She tacked on three stolen bases. In the field, she totaled 221 putouts with nine assists. Whitmyer was named to the All-Empire 8 Second Team and earned Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week once.
Vidal and Whitmyer were the only two players named to the All-ECAC Team as representatives of the Empire 8.
-- Swords Forward Saxons --