The University of Akron Athletics
Softball Honors Team at Postseason Banquet
May 15 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio - - The University of Akron softball team wrapped up a successful 2006 season Sunday afternoon with its annual post season banquet, held in the ballroom of the Student Union on the Akron campus.
In a vote of her teammates, senior shortstop Sara Zilles (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Zilles was tied for second on the team with a .252 batting average and led the Mid-American Conference with 28 stolen bases in 31 attempts. Her .367 on-base percentage was also among the league leaders, earning her second-team All-MAC honors.
The team also gave the nod to senior Amy Pedro (Kettering, Ohio/Farimont) as the Most Improved Player. Moving from the outfield to third base just weeks before the start of the season, Pedro started 43 of 46 games played and notched her first career home run.
Junior Carrese Moody (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) a second-team All-MAC selection, was named the team's top offensive player by the coaching staff. Moody had a team-best .293 batting average with 45 hits in 51 starts in left field. She also boasted a .979 field percentage with just one error.
Freshman Lisa McLean (Canton, Ohio/Perry) was honored as the best defensive player for her superior play in center field. McLean has several acrobatic catches to her credit over the course of the season and maintained a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Senior Rachel Kraus (Akron, Ohio/Revere) was the Set Six award
winner, given to a player who best exemplifies a set of six
criteria outlined by head coach Julie Wright. Forced to miss the
2006 season due to injury, Kraus was a positive role model for her
teammates by helping out in any way possible when her time on the
field was cut short.
Akron finished the 2006 campaign with a 26-25 record and
qualified for the MAC Tournament for the first time since the 2002
season.
