CLEARWATER, Fla.- Three members of the Ave Maria University softball team were honored by The Sun Conference on Wednesday, as the All-Sun Conference teams were announced by the league office. Junior shortstop Ryanne Saluter led the Gyrene contingent, earning selection to the first team. Two more juniors were honored on the second team, as third baseman Marisa Michi and second baseman Annie Nudera were recognized.

Ryanne Saluter is just the third Gyrene middle infielder in program history to be named a First Team All-Conference selection, joining All-American Marinna Shadley and Saluter's predecessor at shortstop, Angela Cataldo. The Maryland native ended the season as AMU's top hitter, posting a batting average of .359 with 25 runs scored and 24 runs batted in. Saluter started the season on a 14-game hitting streak, just the fifth streak of that length in school history. 

Marisa Michi was selected to the second team for the second time in her career, as the Chicago native was an All-Conference player previously during her freshman season of 2021. For the third season in a row, Michi was the Gyrene leader in runs batted in, bringing 26 runs across the plate in 2023. Michi enters the 2024 season second in AMU history in RBIs, needing just three to pass all-time leader Deanna Stirtzinger. 

Annie Nudera earned All-Conference honors for the first time in her career, an honor that came in her second full season as AMU's starting second baseman. The Illinois native scored more runs (33) and had more hits (47) than any other Gyrene, and her .463 on base percentage was one of the best in The Sun Conference. At one point in the season, Nudera reached base in 23 consecutive games, a streak exceeded only once in program history. 

The league handed out its awards as part of the opening ceremonies of the conference tournament, which is scheduled to begin Thursday at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater. Coastal Georgia cleaned up in the major awards, as the regular season champions earned the Player (Bryce Peacock), Pitcher (Hayley Dickerson), and Coach (Mike Minick) of the Year Awards. Webber's Taylor Thomas was named Freshman of the Year, while Erica Stahl of Southeastern was honored as the Champion of Character.

As evidenced by the conference awards handed out on Wednesday, the Gyrenes have reason for optimism heading into 2024. Ave Maria will return their top seven players in hits - led by Saluter, Nudera, and Michi - and their top three players in innings pitched for the second season under head coach Juliaclare Plezbert.