University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Softball Announces Postseason Awards
5/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Following a season in which she led NCAA Division I softball in strikeouts and set four school records for pitching, University of Minnesota senior Briana Hassett was honored as both the team’s Most Valuable Player and Most Valued Player at the Gophers’ annual postseason banquet. The Most Valuable Player award is based on a vote of the coaches, while Most Valued Player is decided by the team’s players. It was Hassett’s second-straight Most Valuable Player honor.
A native of Eagan, Minn., and a graduate of Eastview High School, Hassett was in the circle for 307 of the team’s 365 1/3 innings this season, finishing with a record of 22-25 with a 1.87 earned run average. She registered single-season school-record totals of 39 complete games, 14 shutouts, and 414 strikeouts, which is also the fifth-best total in Big Ten Conference history.
Hassett recorded Minnesota’s first win against nationally-ranked Northwestern since April 11, 2004, helping the Gophers defeat the Wildcats, 8-3, on April 8. In complete-game performances, she limited opponents to four hits or less 24 times, and held foes to two or fewer runs on 25 occasions. In addition, she struck out seven or more batters in 37 games, and held hitters to a paltry .182 batting average.
First baseman Malisa Barnes captured both Offensive Player of the Year and the Quality At Bat Award. A sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Deer Valley High School, Barnes led the Golden Gophers in most offensive categories this season. She started all 55 games, batting .333 (57-for-171) with team-leading totals for batting average, hits, runs batted in (26), runs scored (25, tie), doubles (7), home runs (5), slugging percentage (.462), and on base percentage (.415).
Barnes had 17 multiple-hit games, including a season-best four hits with a home run in the Gophers’ Big Ten-opener at Indiana. She also had four multi-RBI games, and a team-best 11-game hitting streak from March 17 until April 8. During her streak, Barnes batted .500 (18-for-36) with 11 RBI, eight runs scored, a double, and home runs in three consecutive games. Barnes batted .397 (23-for-58) in Big Ten play.
Senior Colleen Conway was selected by the coaches as the Defensive Player of the Year. A native of Woodbury, Minn., and a graduate of Hill-Murray High School, Conway started the first 39 games at third base, before moving over to shortstop for the final 16 games. Conway committed just seven errors all season, while ranking second in the Big Ten with 105 assists, to provide the Gophers with a proven defender along the left side of the infield.
After Conway’s move to shortstop, Tina Watts filled in at third base, and the junior from Minneapolis and Saint Anthony Village High School was named the team’s Most Improved Player. Watts, who transferred to Minnesota after starting her collegiate career at Missouri State, batted .179 (10-for-56) with eight runs batted in, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases after playing in just three games for the Gophers as a sophomore.
Freshman centerfielder Dannie Skrove was named Minnesota’s Rookie of the Year, as well as earning the Hard Hat Award. The latter of those honors was definitely earned, as Skrove was involved in a full-speed collision with right fielder Aubrey Davis during a game against Ohio State on April 4. A native of Zimmerman, Minn., Skrove missed two full weeks before returning April 18 against Penn State, but still ranked third on the team with 19 runs scored, while driving in nine runs, and hitting three doubles and two home runs.
In addition, a total of nine players received the Maroon and Gold Severson Award, which is named after former Minnesota player Lara Severson, and recognizes outstanding dedication to the program. Skrove and utility player Lindsey Pockl were the freshmen to earn the award, which requires a majority vote of the team’s players and coaches. Watts and outfielder Heidi Carls were the juniors who were selected, and five seniors were recognized Hassett, Conway, utility player Katie Dalen, catcher Shannon Stemper, and outfielder Bethany Wolvington.
Minnesota faced a challenging schedule this season, playing a total of 19 games against teams in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The Gophers finished with an overall record of 23-32, and were 6-14 in Big Ten play.
