May 9, 2007
SOUTH BEND, Ind.- Four University of Notre Dame softball players earned all-BIG EAST honors at the conference’s annual awards banquet held at the downtown Marriott on Wednesday evening, May 9. The awards banquet serves as the kickoff to the 2007 BIG EAST Championship, which is being played at the Belleville Softball Complex in South Bend, Ind. beginning tomorrow, Thursday, May 10.
Of the four players honored by the conference (from the votes of coaches), senior Stephanie Brown (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) took home the highest accolades, as she was a first-team all-BIG EAST selection. Brown, during the regular season, led the conference in overall batting average (.445) and on-base percentage (.503), while placing second in runs scored (38) and third in hits (65). She was also tied for third in triples (6) and sixth in stolen bases (13). This is the fourth time in as many years that Brown has been an all-BIG EAST selection. She was a second-team selection in 2005 and a first-team honoree in both 2004 and 2006.
Junior Katie Laing (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) garnered all-BIG EAST honors for the third time in her career, as she was a second-team choice. Laing has been a second teamer in each of the last two seasons after a first team selection as a freshman. Laing hit an impressive .345 with 11 runs-batted-in during conference play on the year.
Sophomore Brittney Bargar (Corona, Calif./Corona) earned the first league honor of her career in being chosen for the second team. Bargar has been the rock of the rotation and leads the team and conference in wins (20), innings pitched (214), strikeouts (205) and games started (34). She is also third in the league in appearances (38) and seventh in ERA (2.16).
Fellow sophomore Beth Northway (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) represented the Irish on the third team. Northway during league play hit .365 with 19 hits, 12 runs scored and five stolen bases. This was the first league honor of Northway’s career.
Connecticut sophomore outfielder Micah Truax was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year. DePaul senior Tracie Adix earned Pitcher of the Year accolades, while the Blue Demons’ freshman pitcher Becca Heteniak was named Rookie of the Year. Additionally, the DePaul coaches earned coaching staff of the year recognition.
Notre Dame (29-21, 13-7 BIG EAST) is set to host the BIG EAST Conference Championships from May 10-12 at the Belleville Softball Complex. The Irish, who earned the fourth seed, will start their tournament play with a game against No. 5 seed Connecticut (22-20, 10-9 BIG EAST) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10.
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year
Tracie Adix, P, Sr., DePaul
BIG EAST Rookie of the Year
Becca Heteniak, P, Fr., DePaul
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
DePaul
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Micah Truax, CF, So., Connecticut
All-BIG EAST First Team
Tracie Adix*, P, Sr., DePaul
Rachel Bartholomew, C, Sr., Providence
Stephanie Brown, CF, Sr., Notre Dame
Britta Giddens, SS, So., USF
Becca Heteniak, P, Fr., DePaul
Sarah Kalka, SS, So., Rutgers
Audrey Rendon, 3B, Sr., Louisville
Chanel Roehner, Utl., Jr., Syracuse
Jillian Ortega, 3B, So., Connecticut
Kate Sheaks, LF, Sr., DePaul
Micah Truax, CF, So., Connecticut
Danielle Urbanik, DP, Sr., USF
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Brittney Bargar, P, So., Notre Dame
Kristi Cunningham, CF, So., Louisville
Sheri Donley, SS, Sr., Villanova
Kit Dunbar, RF, Jr., USF
Cristi Ecks, P, So., USF
Allie Gendron, DP, Jr., Connecticut
Katie Laing, SS, Jr., Notre Dame
Courtney Moore, SS, Sr., Louisville
Amber Patton, 3B, So., DePaul
Brandy Reyes, C, Fr., St. John’s
Linda Secka, CF, Sr., DePaul
Sandy Vojik, Utl., Jr., DePaul
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Loren Anguiano, 3B, Sr., St. John’s
Holly Calcagno, 3B, Sr., Connecticut
Jess Dignon, 3B, Jr., Pittsburgh
Beth Northway, LF, So., Notre Dame
Mary Rose Sheehy, RF, So., Providence
Kassie Stanfill, Utl., So., Louisville
Roxann Struble, 1B, So., St. John’s
Jackie Tarulli-Fisher, C, So., DePaul
Kristen Wadwell, P, Fr., Louisville
Brittany York, DP, Fr., Louisville
* – unanimous selection