The Seattle University softball team gathered to celebrate the 2012 season with a team banquet at Fox Sports Grill in downtown Seattle. The team reminisced with a highlight video and several players received awards for their contribution to the team this year.
Four Redhawks who hit their first career home runs during the 2012 season received a game ball to commemorate the accomplishment. Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.), Ashley DeVaere (Riverside, Calif.), Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.), and Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) were honored with this special memento. After hitting her first career home run versus University of Missouri-Kansas City on Feb. 11, Morrow went on to lead the team with six home runs on the year.
Senior Hannah Klein (Camarillo, Calif.), one of the team's two captains this season, received the Most Inspirational Award for the third consecutive year. As the team's lone senior, she recognized the coaches and support staff for their support of the team throughout the past season.
Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.), the other team co-captain, received the Defensive Player of the Year Award for her contribution to the team at starting shortstop. She had a .963 fielding pct. in 2012 and led the team with 111 assists.
Head coach Dan Powers noted that the Most Improved Player was a tough decision to make, so he recognized both a position player and a pitcher. Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) ranked third on the team this season with a .313 average, an improvement from .252 in 2011. She also ranked fourth on the team in hits (30), runs (17), and doubles (5) in 2012. Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) led the pitchers with a 4.21 ERA (down from 6.15 in 2011), starting 18 games in the circle, and striking out a team-high 63 batters.
Powers also noted how much the team has improved as a whole, recording four more wins than the previous season, and giving up 116 runs less in 2012 than in the previous season in only one less game played.
Morrow received the Newcomer of the Year Award for starting all 45 games at catcher in 2012. She also ranked fourth on the team in batting average (.293), third in runs (18) and doubles (6), second in hits (39), and led the team in home runs (6), and RBIs (31).
The final award of the evening went to Sarah Petosa (Auburn, Wash.) as the team's Most Valuable Player. Petosa led the Redhawks in batting average (.365) and hits (54), ranked second in runs (20), and third in RBIs (16).
Seattle U looks forward to the 2013 season as they enter the Western Athletic Conference and will christen a newly reconstructed on-campus home, Logan Field.