DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Takes Home 10 BIG EAST Conference Awards
5/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It felt like Academy Awards night when one special movie dominates the festivities.
DePaul's softball program came away with 10 BIG EAST Conference awards at Wednesday night's awards banquet on the eve of the BIG EAST Championship tournament that begins on Thursday.
Freshman pitcher Bree Brown was named Rookie of the Year and Eugene Lenti, Liz Jagielski, Cat Osterman and Samantha Findlay were honored as Coaching Staff of the Year for the second-straight season. Lenti & Co. have won that award three times in the last four years.
Becca Heteniak (utility/pitcher), Brittney Yniguez (second base), Alex Morocco and Sean Plese (outfield) were chosen All-BIG EAST First Team.
Brown and Tara Voss (shortstop) made the Second Team while Lynsey Ciezki (third base) and Samantha Dodd (designated player/utility) were selected for the Third Team.
That's the most awards the Blue Demons have won since 2007 when they also brought home 10 awards.
"I've got to thank my teammates because I couldn't get any wins if they didn't score all those runs," said Brown, who was BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week twice in the final three weeks of the conference season.
"I want to thank our coaching staff for doing an amazing job. And I've got to thank my bullpen catcher, Sarah Shizas.
"Yes, I was very excited when I got the award. All of the awards we won tonight shows how much hard work and dedication we put into this season."
No. 1 seed DePaul (37-15, 18-3 in the BIG EAST) opens against No. 8 seed Rutgers (24-30, 9-12) at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at Ulmer Stadium.
2010 BIG EAST Softball Awards
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Chelsea Bemis, Louisville, Jr., 3B
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year
Jody Valdivia, Notre Dame, Jr., P
BIG EAST Rookie of the Year
Bree Brown, DePaul, Fr., P
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
DePaul - Eugene Lenti, head coach; Liz Jagielski and Cat Osterman, assistant coaches
All-BIG EAST First Team
Tori Collins, Louisville, So., P
Jody Valdivia, Notre Dame, Jr., P
Melissa Roth, Louisville, Sr., C
Christine Lux, Notre Dame, Sr., 1B
Brittney Yniguez, DePaul, Jr., 2B
Katie Fleury, Notre Dame, Jr., SS
*Chelsea Bemis, Louisville, Jr., 3B
Alexa Maldonado, Notre Dame, So., OF
Alex Morocco, DePaul, Jr., OF
Sean Plese, DePaul, Jr., OF
Becca Heteniak, DePaul, Sr., UT/P
JoJo Medina, USF, Sr., DP/UT
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Bree Brown, DePaul, Fr., P
Jenna Caira, Syracuse, So., P
Kacee Cox, St. John's, Jr., C
Alicja Wolny, Louisville, Fr., 1B
Dani Miller, Notre Dame, So., 2B
Tara Voss, DePaul, Jr., SS
Heather Johnson, Notre Dame, Sr., 3B
Lisaira Daniels, Syracuse, So., OF
Brianna Jorgensborg, Notre Dame, Jr., OF
Danielle, Maricle, Villanova, Sr., OF
MacKensey Carter, Georgetown, So., UT/P
Valerie Ortega, Villanova, Fr., DP/UT
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Cory Berliner, Pittsburgh, Jr., P
Lindsey Richardson, USF, Fr., P
Amanda Marquez, Villanova, Fr., C
Christy Becker, Providence, Sr., 1B
Justine Stratton, Providence, Jr., 2B
Colby Wherry, Louisville, Jr., SS
Lynsey Ciezki, DePaul, So., 3B
Kristin Austin, Louisville, So., OF
Michelle Huber, Providence, So., OF
Amy Vaughan, Connecticut, So., OF
Stacy Kuwik, Syracuse, Fr., UT/P
Samantha Dodd, DePaul, Fr., DP/UT
