U-M Softball Announces Team Awards at 2001 Banquet
5/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Senior rightfielder Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS), who was recently named Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, was named Michigan's Most Outstanding Player for the first time in her career to highlight the evening. Taylor, who entered the Big Ten Tournament last weekend leading the country in hitting (.475), is currently hitting .452 and on pace to break the Michigan single-season record for batting average (.432 by Sara Griffin, 1995).
For only the second time in the history of the program and first since 1983, two Wolverines shared the Most Outstanding Pitcher award. Senior Maria Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale HS), who won the award in 1999 and 2000, shared the 2001 honor with sophomore Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS). Barda became just the third Wolverine to earn at least a share of the Most Outstanding Pitcher award on three occasions, joining three-time winners Vicki Morrow (1985-87) and Kelly Kovach (1992, '94, '95).
Catcher and designated player Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS), who has hit safely in 11 of her last 13 games, took home the Freshman of the Year honor, while fellow freshman Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) earned the Edna and Leo Drewett Academic Award.
Courtney Murdock (Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS), the team's only four-time U-M Athletic Academic Award winner, was the third senior award recipient of evening as she was named the Maize and Blue Coaches Award winner.
The No. 2 seed in NCAA Region 4, Michigan faces off against No. 5 seed Chattanooga on Thursday (May 17, 2:30 p.m. CDT) in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
