Softball Names End Of The Season Award Winners
5/13/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BUFFALO, NY - Following the conclusion of the 2013 season, the University at Buffalo softball team named it's end of the season award winners, voted on by the team.
Junior Tori Speckman was named the Ace in the Circle, finishing the year with a 2.15 ERA, the fourth best in school history. Speckman was a second-team All-MAC selection, just the second time in school history a UB hurler has been honored by the conference. Her ERA was lowered by over half from 2012 and her home runs allowed total was 16 fewer than a year ago.
Fellow classmate Sammi Gallardo was named the Offensive MVP as she led the team in doubles, home runs and runs batted in. Gallardo belted nine home runs this past year, the second most in a single season. She skyrocketed to third on Buffalo's career home run list while also finishing the year with eight doubles and 21 runs batted in. Her 51 career runs batted in are just six shy of the top 5 in school history.
Senior Alyssa Ward was named the team's Defensive MVP as she spent the season playing first base, third base and catcher through out the year. She finished with a fielding percentage of .965 and when she moved behind the plate, she threw out three of nine runners and had just one passed ball over the final 20 games of the season behind the plate.
The Most Improved Player award was split by a pair of freshmen as Kenzie Koch and Ryleigh Fitzgerald split the award. Koch, who came to UB as an infielder, improved in the outfield, while starting to bat from the left side. She also became UB's top choice on the base paths off the bench. Fitzgerald served as the team's starting shortstop and continued to improve through out the season in the field. Her offensive game also picked up as well during the year.
The True Blue award, which is voted on by the coaching staff, was given to sophomore Nora McGuire for a second straight year. McGuire continues to be a first-class teammate who has continued to improve each and every day. She doubled her appearance in games played this year as well as at bats.
