Softball Names Team Award Winners
May 07, 2008 | Softball
At its annual banquet, the Wisconsin softball team announced its team awards for the 2008 season. Senior catcher Joey Daniels took home two pieces of hardware as she was named the Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.
Daniels led the team in eight offensive categories this season including batting average (.276), hits (40), runs (24), doubles (12), walks (31), on-base percentage (.473) and stolen bases (13). The Oakley, Calif. native ranks in the top ten among all-time UW leaders in 15 offensive categories. Daniels started every game of her four-year career (200) behind the plate and is the all-time leader in on-base percentage (.429), walks (90) and being hit by a pitch (49).
Senior Lynn Anderson received the Defensive Player of the Year honor. This Neenah, Wis. native made numerous spectacular plays this season as she was Wisconsin's starting shortstop in 2008. At the plate, Anderson had the best year of her career as she hit .266 including 23 runs, nine home runs and 20 RBIs and led the team in slugging percentage with .489.
Freshmen Jennifer Krueger and Dana Ramussen received the Coaches Award and Spirit of UW Award, respectively.
Krueger saw action in 45 games this season and started 17 of them in the outfield. The Portage, Wis. Native stole eight bases, ranking her third on UW's list of freshmen records in this category. The Coaches Award is awarded to the player who accepts the challenges presented by the coaching staff with a positive attitude and willingness to learn, a challenge that Krueger accepted. She came to Wisconsin as a second baseman and a right-handed hitter, but learned to become an outfielder and a left-handed slap hitter.
Rasmussen appeared in 27 games mainly as a pinch runner, but her contributions to the team extended beyond that role. The Madison, Wis. native was a great asset to the team as she was a bull pen catcher, batting practice pitcher and filled in wherever else she was needed. The Spirit of UW Award is given to the player who shows a genuine love for the University of Wisconsin and exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete.
