Northwestern University Athletics
2002 Postseason Softball Awards Announced
5/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 9, 2002
EVANSTON, ILL. -
The Big Ten and Verizon announced its postseason softball awards Thursday afternoon and three Northwestern players received mention.
Senior designated player Gretchen Barnes (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and sophomore shortstop Carri Leto (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) were named to the All-Big Ten second team. This is the first conference honor for both athletes.
Barnes broke the NU career home run record (20) and tied the single-season mark (7) this season. She hit .286 in league play with two home runs, two doubles and 12 RBI. Barnes was named the season's first Big Ten Player of the Week in February and finished the season tied for the conference lead in walks. She also leaves NU second all-time in RBI with 96, fifth all-time in walks with 63 and sixth all-time in slugging percentage with a .432 average.
Playing her first season at shortstop, Leto led the Wildcats in conference hitting with a .358 average (24-for-67) and three home runs for the 19 games. Among Big Ten players, she was second in RBI with 17 and fifth in doubles with 6. She also tied NU's single-season doubles record with 13 during the year. Leto hit safely in all but two Big Ten games and finished the season on a 13-game hitting streak. Only in her second year, Leto already ranks in the top five in career hitting with a .325 average (fifth) and slugging percentage with a .469 average (third). If Leto continues her success on the field for her remaining two seasons, she will finish in the top five of seven NU career offensive categories.
Pitcher Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) also was recognized this afternoon as she was named to the Verizon Academic All-District Second Team. The right-hander was 16-6 in the circle this season, while posting a 2.54 ERA. She struck out 141 batters in 171 innings of work while issuing only 46 walks-better than a 3-to-1 average. Her season was highlighted by a complete-game shutout victory over No. 5 California in which she also hit the game-winning RBI and a come-from-behind win against No. 11 Michigan. Schwendimann also made noise in the batter's box, hitting .253 (22-for-87) with four home runs, including a grand slam and 15 RBI. The junior is majoring in communications and boasts a 3.57 GPA.
2002 All-Big Ten Softball Teams
First Team
Marissa Young, JR, Michigan* P
Andrea Kirchberg, JR, Wisconsin P
Alicia Gerlach, SR, Iowa 1B
Kelsey Kollen, SR, Michigan 2B
Lindsey Hamma, SO, Illinois SS
Stefanie Volpe, SR, Michigan 3B
Monica Shock, SO, Michigan C
LeeAnn Butcher, FR, Illinois OF
Anna Smith, SR, Ohio State* OF
Gina Bianchini, JR, Penn State OF
Wendy Allen, SO, Ohio State UT
Stacy Roth, SR, Ohio State DP
Second Team
Kristi Hanks, SR, Iowa P
Nicole Motycka, FR, Michigan P
Natalie Furrow, SO, Michigan State 1B
Christina Schmaltz, SO, Iowa 2B
Carri Leto, SO, Northwestern SS
Brittney Green, SO, Michigan State 3B
Jessica Bashor, JR, Iowa C
Meghan Doe, JR, Michigan OF
Tiffany Wallace, JR, Michigan State OF
Angi Roembke, JR Purdue OF
Melinda Moulden, JR, Michigan UT
Gretchen Barnes, SR, Northwestern DP
Third Team
Piper Marten, SO, Minnesota P
Katie Chain, JR, Ohio State P
Erin Norton, JR, Penn State 1B
Jennifer Link, JR, Ohio State 2B
Kristin Johnson, JR, Iowa SS
Kristine Himes, JR, Ohio State 3B
Janna Sartini, SO, Illinois C
Liz Dennis, SR, Iowa OF
Sandy Lewis, JR, Michigan State OF
Kelley Galigher, JR, Penn State OF
Brooke Monroe, SR, Indiana UT
Lori Leon, SR, Iowa DP
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Wendy Allen, Ohio State
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Marissa Young, Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Nicole Motycka, Michigan
COACH OF THE YEAR: Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State
*unanimous selections
