May 20, 2008

The North Carolina softball team announced their 2008 team award winners on Tuesday with sophomore Danielle Spaulding picking up Most Valuable Player honors. The Tar Heels won a school record 50 games in 2008 en route to hosting their first-ever NCAA Regional at Anderson Stadium.

2008 Carolina Softball Team Awards
Gene Anderson - Rookie of the Year Award
Awarded to the player that has had the most impact on the team as a first year player.
• Brittany McKinney - McKinney hit .278 on the year from her catcher position as a true freshman for the Tar Heels.

Johnny Carroll - Hustle Award
Awarded to the player that gives their maximum effort on a consistent basis. This player has an admirable work ethic and is willing to go the extra mile during practice and games.
• Christine Knauer - Knauer also was named the Iron Ram award winner for accomplishing the most in the weight room during the 2007-08 season.

Tom and Linda Hazen - Scholar Athlete Award
Awarded to the player that maintains the highest GPA for the academic year. This award recognizes self discipline and commitment to balance academics and athletics.
• Stephanie Murad - Murad is a journalism and international studies double major who finished the semester with a 3.769 GPA.

Virginia Augusta - Leadership Award
Awarded to the player that displays leadership qualities on and off the playing field. Some of those qualities include: good role model, respect of teammates, supportive of teammates, trustworthy, facilitator and communicator for team, glue of the team.
• Whitney Allen - Allen is a veteran leader in the Carolina Leadership Academy who also was named to the Dean's List following the fall semester.

Frances Brinkley - Most Outstanding Offense Award (In honor of Moyer Smith)
Awarded to the player that has been a consistent force at the plate throughout the season as well as having the highest batting average.
• Breanna Brown - Brown finished the season with a team-best .338 average at the plate. The rising senior has led the Tar Heels in hitting the past two seasons.

Terry Cox - Most Outstanding Defensive Award
Awarded to the player that has been the most solid on defense making the routine plays as well as the outstanding ones. The player with the best fielding percentage.
• Cassie Palmer - Palmer was the lone unanimous selection award winner this year. Palmer committed just four errors in 176 chances in 2008.

Dr. W. Paul Biggers - Most Valuable Pitcher Award
Awarded to the pitcher who has excelled on the mound and has made significant contributions at her position. In addition, the pitcher that has been the overall leader in ERA, wins, strikeouts etc. Her performances have been most valuable to the successes of the team.
• Danielle Spaulding - Spaulding turned in one of the best single seasons in school history in 2008 as she posted a 16-3 record with a 0.97 ERA while ranking second in the country with a strikeout per seven innings ratio of 11.3.

Tom and Linday Hazen - Most Valuable Player Award
Awarded to the player that has made the most significant impact on the success of the team on a consistent game to game basis both offensively and defensively. This is the player that may lead the team in many of the following categories - defense, batting average, RBIs, on base percentage, leadership, stolen bases etc.
• Danielle Spaulding - Spaulding, who was also the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, led the Tar Heels in home runs (11) while ranking second in batting average (.325), third in RBIs (38) and runs scored (27).

Donna J. Papa - Coach's Award
Awarded to the player that most exemplifies the term Carolina Softball. Excellence, pride, team player, respect, competitor, strong work ethic, dependable.
• Jennifer Jacobs - Jacobs wrapped up her four-year career in 2008 and helped lead a young group of Tar Heels to the first-ever 50 win season in school history. Jacobs was one of just three seniors on the team.

Maria Powers - Most Outstanding Play of the Year Award (In honor of Christine Kubin)
Awarded to the player who has provided a highlight for the year either offensively or defensively. A play that was a game-changing one or a highlight play.
• Bree Ensminger - Ensminger picked off Virginia Tech's Beth Walker from second base with one out in the top of the seventh inning with the Tar Heels leading by just one run. Ensminger's first pickoff of the season helped propel the Tar Heels to a 2-1 win and their first ACC regular season title since 1998.