Bolton named team MVP for second straight year

Contact: Paul Warner

6/11/2002

Tiffany Bolton (left), Kelli Bankert (center) and Kiersten Scrima were three of five softball players to receive team awards for their accomplishments this spring.

ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio head coach Roanna Brazier announced the recipients of this year's team awards Monday.

Second baseman Tiffany Bolton, a first-team All-MAC selection, was named MVP for the second straight season following a standout year featuring career-highs in six offensive categories. She led the team in batting average (.369), runs (24), doubles (13), triples (4), RBI (24), slugging percentage (.556) and on-base percentage (.427). In 160 at-bats this season, she struck out just eight times and reached base in all but six of Ohio's 53 games.

Bolton (Fairfax, Va.) was also honored by becoming the first recipient of the Wendy Fox Award - a distinction given to the team member who has the most strength and drive to succeed.

First baseman Kelli Bankert was named Best Offensive Player, while reserve outfielder Kelly Barnhart received Most Improved Player honors.

Bankert (Clifton, Va.), a second team All-MAC selection, finished second on the team with a .364 batting average to push her career mark to .356 over the last three seasons. It is the second highest career average in school history.

Bankert rode a seven-game hitting streak to close out the year. During that stretch, she hit .542 (13-24) with a run scored and three RBI. Bankert was also named the team's Best Offensive Player following the 2000 season.

Barnhart (Lakewood), a walk-on, became a valuable commodity off the bench late in the season. The speedy outfielder appeared in 15 games, mostly in pinch-running situations.

Third baseman Kiersten Scrima was named Best Defensive Player and outfielder Randi Rico won the Amy DeShay Award for the second straight season.

Scrima (Olympia, Wash.), who recently won the Skip Vosler Award from the athletic training department, made the transition from first base to the hot corner without skipping a beat. She committed just nine errors - the fewest of any regular member of the Bobcats' infield - in 184 opportunities. She started all 53 games and finished second on the team with seven stolen bases.

Rico (Mentor), who appeared in 32 games for Ohio this spring, won her second Amy DeShay Award. The award is given to the athlete who is the epitome of a team player. Rico scored 12 runs and picked up her fifth career RBI as a reserve outfielder and pinch runner.

The 2002 Bobcats enjoyed their second straight winning season with an overall mark of 29-24 and a second place finish in the MAC East Division with a conference record of 15-9. It was the first time Ohio had qualified for the MAC Tournament in back-to-back years since 1982-83.