Softball News
Austin-Robinson, six players receive SCAC postseason awards
Following a school-record 23-win season and a run to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Tournament Championship, the Centre College softball team had six players and its coach recognized by the SCAC as the 2007 All-SCAC Softball Team was announced Friday, May 18.
Wendie Austin-Robinson, the Colonels' head coach for the past seven years, was named SCAC Co-Coach of the Year, while senior Cate Guthrie (Castaliean Springs, Tenn.) and juniors Maggie Blackburn (Lexington, Ky.) and Lindsey Willett (Louisville, Ky.) were each named to the first team.
In addition, freshman Charlotte Jones (Lexington, Ky.) was named to the second team and junior Monica Vonderbrink (Danville, Ky.) and sophomore Rebecca Rhule (Lexington, Ky.) were each honorable mention selections.
Austin-Robinson led the Colonels to a school-record 23 wins this year and its second birth in the SCAC title game in three years. After taking over a  program that had won only 10 games in her previous two years, Austin-Robinson has guided Centre to 109 wins during her seven years at the helm. She was also named SCAC Co-Coach of the Year in 2005.
"This is a great honor for our coaching staff. We are very lucky to have Chris Mason and Brian Deem as part of our staff. They work extremely hard for our program and we would not have the success we have enjoyed without their contributions," Austin-Robinson said.
Guthrie, who was named to the All-SCAC 2nd Team in 2005, capped her career off with a strong senior season. The Colonels' starting shortstop led the team in hitting (.372), hits (45), doubles (11), triples (3), total bases (71), slugging percentage (.587) and tied for the team lead in runs batted in (29) in 38 games. She also ranked in the top 10 in the league in eight different categories to earn all-conference recognition for the second time in her career.
For Willett, this is also her second post-season award as the junior second baseman was and honorable mention selection in 2006. Willett, played in all 43 games, hitting .288 on the year with a team-leading 31 runs scored and a league-leading 22 stolen bases in 23 attempts. She also played a big role in the Colonels' run to the SCAC title game and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Blackburn has now been named to the all-conference team in each of her three years. The junior outfielder was named to the 2nd Team as a freshman in 2005 and made the 1st Team last year. Blackburn was second on the team in average (.320), hits (39) and stolen bases (11) while scoring 22 runs in 42 games. Following the SCAC Tournament, she was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Jones, a freshman pitcher was named to the 2nd Team after posting a 3.06 earned run average in 80.0 innings. The first-year hurler tied for the team-lead with seven wins and led the team in strikeouts with 45. Jones completed four games, two of which were shutouts, and recorded saves in two others, including a combined shutout. Jones was also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Vonderbrink, a 2nd Team selection in 2005, hit .305 this year for Centre and belted a team-high five home runs. The junior outfielder scored 22 runs, drove in 16 runs and stole eight bases in 39 games. Vonderbrink was named an SCAC Tri-Offensive Player of the Week for week eight after hitting three home runs and hitting .583 (7-12) in a four-game sweep of Sewanee.
Rhule is a first-time selection after batting .307 in 43 games with 10 runs scored and 13 runs batted in. The sophomore catcher was named the SCAC's Offensive Player of the Week for week three after hitting .563 (9-16) with seven rbi in helping the Colonels go 5-1 on the week.
"We are very honored to have six very deserving ladies named to the team. They have all worked extremely hard all year and it is nice to see their hard work pay off," Austin-Robinson continued.
Centre finished the year with a 23-20 overall record and a 6-6 mark in league play. The 23 wins break the previous school record of 19 wins set by the 2005 team. |
