NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head softball coach Melinda Fischer announced the team's award winners from the 2014 season, as voted on by the players, Wednesday morning. Fischer and the team also selected four Redbirds as captains for next season.
Regan Romshek was recognized for her performances in the pitcher's circle and the batter's box, as she was named the Most Valuable Player. The Gibson City, Ill., native was named an All-Valley First Team selection and was the MVC Pitcher of the Week twice. She pitched in 42 of ISU's 53 games, finishing the season with a record of 17-16 with an earned-run average of 2.77. Romshek also helped her cause in the batter's box, as she had a batting average of .263, recording 41 hits and scoring 24 runs.
Senior Sara Bradley earned the Best Defensive Player Award after a stellar senior campaign protecting third base. The Mattoon, Ill., native committed just seven errors all season, while leading the team with 104 assists for a field percentage of .958. Another senior, Laura Canopy, was named the Best Offensive Player. The Hopedale, Ill., native recorded a team-high 48 runs in the leadoff position. Canopy was an All-Valley First Team selection, as she led the MVC with a .534 on-base percentage, 44 walks (a single-season ISU record), and 20 hit by pitches. Canopy was one of two Redbirds to start all 53 games, as she hit .406 with six of her seven home runs coming in Valley contests.
Junior Kara Repp was named the Most Improved Player of the season, as the Casey, Ill., native tallied 39 hits and 19 runs with a batting average of .307, the third best on the team. In the field, she had 43 putouts, three assists and only one error for a fielding percentage of .979. Freshman Jordan de los Reyes was voted the squad's Newcomer of the Year. A Moline, Ill., native, de los Reyes made an immediate impact at the plate, finishing second on the team with a .309 batting average. She recorded 24 runs and 45 hits and had 18 extra-base hits, including a team-high 11 home runs. de los Reyes also lead the team in runs batted in with 85 and a .582 slugging percentage.
Nichelle Harrison was chosen by the coaching staff as the recipient of the Redbird Award, which recognizes dedication, loyalty, perseverance and commitment to the program and university in all facets, including community service and academics. After the 2014 season, Harrison was honored as a Valley Scholar-Athlete First-Team selection and a MVC Second-Team honoree.
Additionally, the group voted on captains for the upcoming season. Seniors Stephanie Gallant and Repp, as well as redshirt junior Sophia Perez and Romshek will be in the leadership roles for ISU.
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