SB: Buckeyes Celebrate 2009 Season with Awards Reception – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team held its annual team reception Friday at the Huntington Club in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes celebrated their historical and record-breaking 2009 season that saw them reach the NCAA Super Regional for the first time in program history by handing out 11 team awards and honoring the two seniors Cortney Cannon and Kim Reeder.
Reeder led the list of team award winners, taking home the Most Valuable Player award, as well as the Pitcher of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year trophies. Reeder, who was named a third-team All-American, broke the records for season and career wins in her senior season. The Salinas, Calif., native received the Scholar-Athlete award in all four years with the Buckeyes, becoming the first player to do so.
Sam Marder, a second-team All-American, was named the Offensive Player of the Year for the third-consecutive season after breaking the season and career homerun records, while rookie shortstop Alicia Herron earned Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.
Whitney Cooper was named the team’s Most Improved Player after she increased both her batting average and fielding percentage nearly 100 points from a year ago to .322 and .953, respectively. The junior captain earned also the Buckeye Power Club award, given by strength and conditioning coach Tom Palumbo. She shares the honor with seniors Reeder and Cannon.
Another two-award winner, Courtney Pruner was named the Most Improved Scholar-Athlete, as well as the recipient of the Coaches Award. Rounding out the list is Brittany Goodchild with the Buckeye Spirit Award. Goodchild spent the majority of the 2009 season with an injured ankle, but remained a spirited member of the team from the dugout.
TEAM AWARDS
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Kim Reeder
Most Improved Scholar-Athlete: Courtney Pruner
Buckeye Power Club: Whitney Cooper (Cortney Cannon, Kim Reeder)
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Marder
Defensive Player of the Year: Alicia Herron
Most Improved Player of the Year: Whitney Cooper
Pitcher of the Year: Kim Reeder
Buckeye Spirit Award: Brittany Goodchild
Coaches Award: Courtney Pruner
Rookie of the Year: Alicia Herron
Most Valuable Player: Kim Reeder
