North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Softball Announces 2005 Awards at Yearly Picnic
8/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 17, 2005
Raleigh, N.C. - On August 14th in Pullen Park near NC State's campus, the new and the old came together for Wolfpack softball in a celebration of the 2005 season and in anticipation for the 2006 season. Head coach Lisa Navas handed out six team awards and welcomed three new players and a coach to the team for the first time. Abbie Sims was named team MVP for the second straight year after leading the pitching staff in wins (20), ERA (1.27), strikeouts (265) and finishing second in doubles (nine) and RBIs (33) offensively.
"Our softball picnic was a way to close the door for the 2005 season and greet our new players and families," Navas said. "We are excited to welcome our new additions and build on last season as we embark on our third season."
Other awards handed out included the Rookie of the Year, which went to shortstop Shanna Smith, after she led the team in batting against ACC foes with a .341 average. Smith started 52 games this season and finished first in stolen bases (9-for-10), fourth in average and fifth in slugging percentage.
The team's Defensive Player of the Year went to second baseman Tess Corona, who committed just three errors on the season in racking up a .984 fielding percentage. Even more impressive was her play against ACC teams, as she played 14 conference games without committing an error. Corona notched four doubles and a triple while stealing four bags in six attempts.
Offensively, Heather Gelbard continued to swing a hot bat, finishing third in batting average (.310) while racking up a school record 66 hits, topping her own mark from a year ago. Her power numbers jumped this season as well, as she hit five home runs and finished fourth with 25 RBIs as NC State's lead off batter. Gelbard led the Wolfpack in doubles for the second straight season, hitting 11 in 2005 after 13 a year ago.
NC State's home run champ was again no contest, as Jen Chamberlin took the award for the second straight season. She hit 11 home runs on the season, second in the ACC, after nailing 12 as a freshman. The 23 career home runs ranks 11th in ACC history. She led the team in slugging (.542) and RBIs (41), while hitting .313. Her average was eight points higher than in 2004, while she collected 12 more RBIs in just five more at-bats.
This was also a time to honor Lee Hasper, the first senior in Wolfpack softball history. She finished her career at State with a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases, including the first steal in school history on Feb. 13, 2004 against Radford. She rebounded from a broken wrist to become the everyday centerfielder before a torn ACL ended her first season prematurely. Hasper was named team captain in 2005, the first captain in the history of the program, and promptly hit her first three doubles and three home runs of her career in 2005, while finishing with 13 RBIs, more than doubling her total from 2004. Her 37 career walks currently ranks her third in school history.
In addition to the players on hand, Navas welcomed Shelly Hoerner back as her assistant coach, after Hoerner played and coached for Navas at Barry University.
Awards for 2005
MVP- Abbie Sims
Rookie of the Year- Shanna Smith
Best Defensive Player- Tess Corona
Best Offensive Player- Heather Gelbard
Home Run Hitter- Jen Chamberlin
