Softball Hands Out Team Awards

May 14, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

With the conclusion of the 2009 Kansas softball season, several team awards were handed out to players by the team coaches.

Senior third baseman Val Chapple received the team’s most valuable player award. Chapple started all 52 contests this season and was second on the squad with a .307 batting average and batted in 25 runs for the Jayhawks.

Dougie McCaulley, a senior center fielder, was awarded the Jayhawks’ offensive player of the year after leading KU for the second straight season with a .311 batting average and 50 hits. She also stole a team-high 14 bases and started all 52 games.

Defensive player of the year was awarded to senior Elle Pottorf. Pottorf came back after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year as a junior to start in 51 contests this season as catcher and designated player. She committed just three errors all season for a .988 fielding percentage behind the plate.

Pottorf also earned the Jayhawk Spirit Award along with junior Ally Stanton. The award is given to those who represent the consummate teammate.

Sophomore Allie Clark was named most improved player on the team for hitting a team-high 10 home runs, which also ties for the sixth-most homers in a KU single season, along with the seventh-best single season slugging percentage at .573. Clark appeared in 46 contests with a .258 batting average after playing in just 14 contests a year ago with a .138 average.