NEW ORLEANS – Following the 2021 regular season,
Kenzie Longanecker and
Gabby Buruato have been named to the All-Sun Belt second team, the league announced Monday.
The two fifth-year seniors become just the fourth and fifth Mountaineers to be named to the All-Sun Belt second team since App State joined the conference in 2014.
Longanecker will go down in the App State record books as one of the most dominating pitchers in school history, ranking in the top 10 of the conference in multiple categories this regular season. She finished 9th in ERA with a 2.43, 10th in opposing batting average with a .236, 7th in strikeouts with 69 and 6th in wins with 14.
The right-hander finished with a 3.42 ERA in conference play and a team-high 28 strikeouts. Overall, she has tallied a 14-6 record with three shutouts. Longanecker finished the regular season leading the Mountaineers in almost every pitching category and has thrown 132.1 innings in 26 appearances. She has also recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage in the circle with five putouts and 37 assists.
Buruato made her mark this season as one of the most consistent Mountaineers at the plate. In conference play, Buruato has a team-high 20 hits including two doubles and two triples. She is currently ranked T2nd in the Sun Belt in triples with three during the regular season.
Overall, the 5th year senior has eight doubles on the year with 17 RBIs. On the base paths, Buruato has stolen five bases and scored 20 runs. Her 45 hits lead the Mountaineers and she is at the top in doubles as well with eight. In right field, Buruato has only made one error on the season and has one of the highest fielding percentages with a .986.
2021 Sun Belt Conference Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Ciara Bryan, Louisiana
Pitcher of the Year: Summer Ellyson, Louisiana
Freshman of the Year: Sara Vanderford, Texas State
Newcomer of the Year: Ciara Bryan, Louisiana
Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco, Louisiana
All-Conference First Team
Ciara Bryan, Louisiana
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana
Sara Vanderford, Texas State
Leanna Johnson, Troy
Jessica Mullins, Texas State
Olivia Lackie, South Alabama
Kj Murphy, UTA
Katie Webb, Troy
Jayden Mount, ULM
Kandra Lamb, Louisiana
Kendall Talley, Louisiana
Meredith Keel, South Alabama
Tara Oltmann, Texas State
Jade Sinness, Troy
Katie Lively, Troy
All-Conference Second Team
Kelly Horne, Troy
Meagan King, Texas State
Mackenzie Brasher, South Alabama
Bailee Wilson, Georgia Southern
Makiya Thomas, Coastal Carolina
Kaitlyn Alderink, Louisiana
Abby Krzywiecki, South Alabama
Kenzie Longanecker, App State
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana
Julie Rawls, Louisiana
Korie Kreps, ULM
Kayla Rosado, Coastal Carolina
Justice Milz, Louisiana
Gabby Buruato, Appalachian State
Arieann Bell, Texas State
