Softball Hands Out Team Awards

May 13, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Though the Kansas softball team is still awaiting its postseason fate, the Jayhawks held their end of the year banquet Friday night to celebrate the year’s successes and honor seniors Allie Clark and Brittany Hile. Head coach Megan Smith and her staff also handed out several team awards.

Sophomore Maggie Hull took home top honors with the Big Jay award, given to the player who best exemplifies the meaning of a Kansas student-athlete. Hull led KU with a .346 batting average on the year and had a team-best 56 hits, 14 doubles and 49 RBIs, which were the second-most runs ever driven in by a Jayhawk in a single season. Not only was Hull a strong player in the outfield but she was also successful in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors this season.

Brittany Hile was awarded the team’s MVP distinction. The senior catcher had an outstanding year at the plate collecting the program’s third-most home runs in a season with 13, while her .637 slugging percentage ranks fourth. Hile also ranks in the top 10 on KU’s career record list for home runs and RBIs. Her strong arm from behind the plate caught 12 runners stealing over the course of the season and picked off an additional five unsuspecting base runners. Earlier this spring, Hile became the second Jayhawk ever selected in the National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft, going in the fourth round as the 15th overall pick to the NPF Diamonds.

Rookie of the Year honors went to freshman pitcher Kristin Martinez, who made 34 appearances from the circle in her first year with the Jayhawks, including 23 starts. She posted a 3.31 ERA and struck out 78 batters in 127.0 innings of work. Martinez notched wins in her first seven decisions of the season and also recorded a team-best 1.95 ERA in non-conference games.

The most improved player award was given to junior Marissa Ingle as she finished off the season with a .301 batting average, nearly doubling her mark from a year ago, and launched a personal-high seven home runs. She also increased her hit total and RBI production almost two-fold from her sophomore year. The third baseman wowed from the field with her defensive abilities nabbing a team-best 99 assists from the hot corner.

Sophomore Rosie Hull was recognized for her achievements in the classroom earning the team’s academic award. Earlier this week Hull was honored as one of five Big 12 softball student-athletes with a 4.0 grade-point average and was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team. Hull, a human biology major, made 49 starts for the Jayhawks at designated player and outfield.

Rosie Hull earned Academic All-Big 12 recognition along with five additional teammates- Allie Clark, Liz Kocon, Marissa Ingle, Maggie Hull and Alex Jones. Their success in the classroom was aided by the team’s academic advisor, Justin Mackey, who took home the support staffer of the year award. Mackey helps insure each softball student-athlete stays on pace to graduate, while helping with course selection and tutoring.

The NCAA Tournament selection show is set to air Sunday, May 15 at 9 p.m. CST on ESPNU.