Lindley Tabbed Most Valuable Player at Annual Softball Banquet
May 06 | Softball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Sophomore pitcher Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) was named the Most Valuable Player at the Rutgers softball team's annual postseason banquet on Saturday, May 3. Lindley led the Scarlet Knight rotation in a number of categories, including a team-low ERA of 3.56 and a record of 9-7 on the season.
Lindley led the Scarlet Knight rotation in a number of categories, including a team-low ERA of 3.56 and a record of 9-7 on the season. She also registered a save and posted a team-best 81 strikeouts. In addition to her pitching duties, Lindley made appearances in the middle infield and as a designated player.
Freshman Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) was selected as the Rookie of the Year after batting a team-high .299 in her first season. It was Craig's second honor on the afternoon, as she shared the Most RBI Award with junior Kate Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.). The pair each recorded 28 runs batted in, while Valiante tied for the team lead in home runs with four. Valiante also set the all-time record at Rutgers with 30 career hit by pitches, with 15 occurring in 2008.
The Most Improved Player Award was presented to junior Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas). Since arriving "On the Banks" in 2006, Hodges has increased her batting average in each of her three seasons, hitting .265 this year with 20 RBI. As the Scarlet Knights' starting catcher, she was a force behind the plate, throwing out 15 would-be base stealers.
Senior Mallory Miller (Anaheim, Calif.) was the recipient of the Coaches Award, while junior Carissa Conroy (Richmond, Va.) earned the Regina E. Seggern Softball Loyalty Award. One of the squad's tri-captains, Miller was second on the team in hits (47), third in batting average (.288), on-base percentage (.372) and runs batted in (23). Conroy was unable to see action this season, after battling through a nagging injury but her contributions were felt heavily in the locker room and in the dugout.
The Sudfield Academic Achievement Award was given to freshman pitcher Katye Hamlin (College Station, Texas), while the 2007 Scholar Athlete Award was presented to junior Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.). Hamlin finished with a 7-7 record in her rookie season. Heller was the only player on the squad this season to start all 55 games in left field. Heller was second on the team with a .293 batting average and a .421 slugging percentage. She led the squad in doubles (nine) and on-base percentage (.458, sixth-best in BIG EAST). Heller also posted team high with 36 walks, which ranked second in the conference.
The Scarlet Knights completed the regular season with an overall record of 23-32 and a 7-15 mark in BIG EAST play, under second-year head coach Jay Nelson.
