University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Softball Announces Year-End Team Awards
5/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The University of Minnesota Golden Gopher softball team has announced its team awards for the 2008 season. The Gophers enjoyed their most successful campaign in several years, finishing with a 29-16 overall record and qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2004. The Gophers also advanced to the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 1999.
Pitcher Briana Hassett was named the team’s Most Valuable Player following what was one of the most dominant seasons in recent Gopher history. The junior finished with a 21-8 overall record and 1.82 ERA, tossing 11 shutouts in 24 complete games the second-highest total ever for a Minnesota hurler. Hassett also struck out 276 batters (the third-highest total in the Big Ten) in 196 and 1/3 innings to average 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings pitched the 14th best rate in Division I softball. For her efforts, Hassett was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Senior right fielder Colleen Powers received the team’s Most Valued Player for her contributions both on and off the field. Powers started 39 games in the outfield and was one of the team’s captains during 2008, leading Minnesota with 10 sacrifice bunts while recording three outfield assists. One of four seniors on the 2008 squad, Powers was also a member of the Gophers’ Leadership Council.
Slugging first baseman Malisa Barnes was named the team’s Rookie of the Year following an outstanding first season at Minnesota. The Phoenix, Ariz. native hit .309 with a team-best four homers and 24 runs driven in hitting out of the third spot in the lineup for all 45 games. Barnes was also named the All-Big Ten Third Team, the first Gopher freshman to warrant the honor since Piper Marten in 2001.
The Defensive Player of the Year award went to junior third baseman Colleen Conway. Playing her third different infield position in as many years, Conway made a seamless transition to the hot corner, committing just five errors all season and finishing with a .961 fielding percentage. Conway, who was also the team’s honoree for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, captained a defense that finished eighth in the country with an outstanding .975 fielding percentage. She also hit a team-best .331 with 30 runs scored.
Other team honors went to outfielder Bethany Wolvington, who won the Blue Collar award for determination and enthusiasm both on and off the field, and catcher Kate Cowger, who won the Severson/Coaches Award, which honors players for outstanding dedication to the program.
Senior outfielder Sila Ferandez joined Barnes and Conway as both a Third Team All-Big Ten selection and a member of the team’s .300 Award Club with a .302 batting average on the season.
2008 Gopher Softball Team Awards:
Most Valued Player Colleen Powers
Most Valuable Player Briana Hassett
.300 Awards Sila Fernandez (.302), Malisa Barnes (.309), Colleen Conway (.331)
Rookie Malisa Barnes
Defensive Player Colleen Conway
Blue Collar Bethany Wolvington
Severson Award Kate Cowger
Pitcher Briana Hassett was named the team’s Most Valuable Player following what was one of the most dominant seasons in recent Gopher history. The junior finished with a 21-8 overall record and 1.82 ERA, tossing 11 shutouts in 24 complete games the second-highest total ever for a Minnesota hurler. Hassett also struck out 276 batters (the third-highest total in the Big Ten) in 196 and 1/3 innings to average 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings pitched the 14th best rate in Division I softball. For her efforts, Hassett was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Senior right fielder Colleen Powers received the team’s Most Valued Player for her contributions both on and off the field. Powers started 39 games in the outfield and was one of the team’s captains during 2008, leading Minnesota with 10 sacrifice bunts while recording three outfield assists. One of four seniors on the 2008 squad, Powers was also a member of the Gophers’ Leadership Council.
Slugging first baseman Malisa Barnes was named the team’s Rookie of the Year following an outstanding first season at Minnesota. The Phoenix, Ariz. native hit .309 with a team-best four homers and 24 runs driven in hitting out of the third spot in the lineup for all 45 games. Barnes was also named the All-Big Ten Third Team, the first Gopher freshman to warrant the honor since Piper Marten in 2001.
The Defensive Player of the Year award went to junior third baseman Colleen Conway. Playing her third different infield position in as many years, Conway made a seamless transition to the hot corner, committing just five errors all season and finishing with a .961 fielding percentage. Conway, who was also the team’s honoree for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, captained a defense that finished eighth in the country with an outstanding .975 fielding percentage. She also hit a team-best .331 with 30 runs scored.
Other team honors went to outfielder Bethany Wolvington, who won the Blue Collar award for determination and enthusiasm both on and off the field, and catcher Kate Cowger, who won the Severson/Coaches Award, which honors players for outstanding dedication to the program.
Senior outfielder Sila Ferandez joined Barnes and Conway as both a Third Team All-Big Ten selection and a member of the team’s .300 Award Club with a .302 batting average on the season.
2008 Gopher Softball Team Awards:
Most Valued Player Colleen Powers
Most Valuable Player Briana Hassett
.300 Awards Sila Fernandez (.302), Malisa Barnes (.309), Colleen Conway (.331)
Rookie Malisa Barnes
Defensive Player Colleen Conway
Blue Collar Bethany Wolvington
Severson Award Kate Cowger
Players Mentioned
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