Softball: Cards Gearman, Bruzek softball MVPs

• Gearman

Kate Gearman was the most valuable offensive player for the Cardinal softball team this year.
• Bruzek

Gracie Bruzek was selected by the Cardinal softball team as the most valuable defensive player

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The Alexandria softball team wrapped up another winning season this past spring when it handed out its season-ending awards recently.

Gracie Bruzek, Kate Gearman, Jacque Brown and Sam Berglin all earned all-conference honors in the Central Lakes Conference after leading the team to a 9-5 CLC mark. Katie Brown, Allie Thul and Lauren Trumm earned honorable-mention recognition.

Gearman was named the Cardinals’ best offensive player after hitting at a .440 clip. The second baseman led the team in hits (33), runs scored (23) and home runs (4). She also drove in 15 runs.

Bruzek anchored the defense from the shortstop position. She took home the Best Defense Award for her solid play up the middle. Bruzek was also a force on offense where she led the team with a .476 average, a .565 on-base percentage and an .825 slugging percentage.

Lauren Trumm took home the Most Improved Player Award. The sophomore was a big part of the Cardinal lineup, hitting .435 and driving in the second most runs on the team with 18. Amanda Schmidt and Brianna Ebert rounded out the list of team award winners by sharing the Coach’s Award.

The Cardinals also had players perform well off the field. Teya Burgau and Gearman were both honored with the Coach’s Association Senior Academic Award given to seniors who post a GPA of 3.75 or above.

Burgau and Gearman are just part of a strong senior class that the Cardinals will have to replace next season. All four of the all-conference representatives for Alexandria were lost to graduation earlier this spring. Brown, Thul and Chelsea Schroeder join them as players who the Cardinals will have to replace after coming off a 14-7 season.

TEAM AWARDS – Best Offense – Kate Gearman; Best Defense – Gracie Bruzek; Most Improved – Lauren Trumm; Coach’s Award – Amanda Schmidt, Brianna Ebert

ALL-CLC – Bruzek, Gearman, Jacque Brown, Sam Berglin; HONORABLE MENTION – Katie Brown, Allie Thul, Trumm

CLC PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Gearman

COACHES ASSOCIATION SENIOR ACADEMIC AWARD – Teya Burgau, Gearman

STATISTICAL LEADERS – Hits – Gearman, 33; RBI – Berglin, 19; Average – Bruzek, .476; OBP – Bruzek, .565; Slugging Percentage – Bruzek, .825; Runs – Gearman, 23; Home runs – Gearman, 4

SEASON STATISTICS – PITCHING – Jacque Brown – 12-7, 121 1/3IP, 147H, 88R, 66ER, 27BB, 35SO, 3.24 ERA; Taylor Ellingson – 2-0, 19 1/3IP, 18H, 11R, 8ER, 11BB, 15SO, 2.36 ERA; Emily Kuennen – 0-0, 1/3IP, 0H, 5R, 5ER, 8B, 0SO; 22.50 ERA

HITTING – Bruzek – 63AB, .476BA, 2 2B, 7 3B, 2HR, 19R, 16RBI, 6BB; Gearman – 75AB, .440BA, 2 2B, 3 3B, 4HR, 23R, 15 RBI, 4BB; Trumm – 62AB, .435BA, 1 2B, 4 3B, 10R, 18 RBI, 4BB; K. Brown – 77AB, .325BA, 4 2B, 7R, 11 RBI, 1BB; Berglin – 73AB, .315BA, 3 2B, 4 3B, 1HR, 17R, 19 RBI, 4 BB; Burgau – 51AB, .294BA, 2 2B, 1 3B, 10R, 14 RBI, 3BB; Thul – 67AB, .269BA, 3 2B, 14R, 9 RBI, 5BB; J. Brown – 8AB, .250BA, 2R; Chelsea Schroeder – 39AB, .205BA, 1 2B, 7R, 6 RBI, 1BB; Sam Brown – 35AB, .200BA, 6R, 1 RBI, 1BB; Brianna Ebert – 57AB, .193BA, 1 2B, 7R, 7 RBI, 6BB; Amanda Schmidt – 5AB, .000BA, 2R, 1BB

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinal, softball, awards