WINTHROP, Mass. – Norwich softball earned its first weekly honors of the season as Madison DeCota (Strafford, N.H.) was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Week and Charlii Carbajal Sanchez (Broomfield, Colo.) collected Rookie of the Week recognition for the week ending March 8, following standout performances during Norwich's spring trip to Florida.

DeCota picked up right where she left off after earning First-Team All-GNAC honors last season, delivering an explosive opening week at the plate. The junior launched three home runs and drove in six runs on Opening Day against Clark and Chatham, setting the tone for a dominant stretch. By week's end, DeCota compiled a .524/.600/1.381 slash line with a 1.981 OPS, totaling 29 bases and eight extra-base hits, including four home runs, two doubles, and two triples. She also contributed in the circle, earning three of Norwich's four wins during the week. The award marks DeCota's first career GNAC Player of the Week honor and her first conference weekly recognition since earning GNAC Rookie of the Week on March 18, 2024. She is also Norwich's first GNAC Player of the Week since Annika Beebe earned the honor on April 12, 2021.  

Carbajal Sanchez burst onto the collegiate scene with an impressive debut week, scoring six runs, tying for the team lead. The first-year infielder posted a .409/.500/.500 slash line, highlighted by a 3-for-4 performance against St. Vincent on March 3 that included two runs scored and a double. She finished the week with 11 total bases and two doubles. Carbajal Sanchez becomes the first Norwich player to earn GNAC Rookie of the Week honors since DeCota in 2024.

The Cadets will look to carry their momentum forward when Norwich returns to action on March 21, opening GNAC play with a doubleheader at Mitchell.