Eight softball players earn NFCA Scholar-Athlete awards

Eight Olivet College softball players – Cassie Bowerman (Quincy), Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall), Corie Greene (Brown City), Danielle Kapral (Lapeer/East), Karlie McManaman (Williamston), Kelley Rybicki (Springport), Kaitlyn See (Howell) and Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland) have earned the 2007 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete awards. The award was presented to student-athletes who maintained a 3.5 or better grade point average for the entire 2006-07 academic year. Bowerman, Greene and Wear have earned the honor for the second straight year.

Bowerman began the 2007 season as a back-up infielder and pinch runner, but found her way into the starting lineup at second base for the final four games. In those games, she had seven hits, including a 5-for-5 performance in a doubleheader against Albion College. For the season, Bowerman scored nine runs and had a .533 batting average (8-of-15). Braner started every game for the Comets at third base. She hit .305 (29-of-95) to go along with five doubles, two triples, one home run, 13 RBIs and a team-high seven stolen bases.

Greene was the ace of the pitching staff, posting a 10-7 record and recording a team-low 2.57 ERA in 109 innings. She struck out 57 batters. Kapral finished her senior season with a 6-3 record and 3.18 ERA in 66 innings. She struck out 30 and opponents hit .217 against her. McManaman made seven appearances (one start) in the circle, posting a 2-2 record and 4.62 ERA in 16 and two-thirds innings.

Rybicki played in 17 games with 12 starts at either first or second base. A speedy player, See was used as pinch runner in eight games, scoring four runs. She made one start in right field against Rochester College. Wear played in every game and started 30 games in leftfield. She finished the season with a .352 batting average (31-of-97) and was second on the second on the team with 27 runs scored. In addition, Wear had six doubles, three triples and 18 RBIs.

Olivet will open the 2008 season March 8 when it participates in the annual Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.