NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State softball team has announced its team awards and six players have been honored. All awards have been voted on by members of the team. In addition, ISU also announced its four captains for the 2016 season.
Regan Romshek was named the 2015 ISU Most Valuable Player for her work at the plate and in the circle. Romshek had a .347 batting average to go along with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs. The junior also led the team with 11 doubles and two triples. In the circle, Romshek won a team-high 15 games and struck out 114 batters. She finished the season on a high note, winning three of the last five games she pitched and surrendering just four runs in the two she lost.
Jordan de los Reyes was named the Offensive Player of the Year, after leading the team in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. De los Reyes finished the year with 18 home runs, which led the Valley. In her two seasons, she already has 29 home runs, which ranks her fifth all-time in program history.
On the other side of the ball, Kelsey Turczyn was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Turczyn was the lone Redbird selected to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Defensive Team and led the ISU outfielders with five assists this season. Several times she made diving catches in left field and threw out multiple runners trying to score.
Another senior, Lindsey Greene, was named the Most Improved Player for her efforts this season. Greene was a vital part of the ISU lineup, hitting in the nine spot for much of the season. She finished the year with a .256 average, five home runs and 23 RBIs. In addition, Greene also started 50 games at shortstop.
Riley Strandgard earned All-MVC Second Team honors earlier this season, and she was named the Newcomer of the Year. Strandgard hit eight home runs and drove in 25 runs while batting .301 as a freshman. A natural shortstop, Strandgard played out of position all season at third base and still accumulated a fielding percentage of .949.
Stephanie Gallant was named the Redbird Award winner. Gallant was the ISU catcher all season long and handled all three pitchers on the Redbird staff. Gallant hit .263 and added six home runs and 31 RBIs. She was also named to the All-MVC First Team.
The Redbirds also announced the four captains for 2016. Romshek, De los Reyes, Annie Heineman and Abby Turczyn were named captains.
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