May 18, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- As her squad prepares to open play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, North Carolina softball coach Donna J. Papa has announced the recipients of this year's team awards. Winners were selected by the coaching staff and their names will be added to a plaque that will hang in UNC's new team building, currently under construction. Sophomore infielder Anna Evans was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player and junior Crystal Cox was named Most Valuable Pitcher.

In addition to the Tom and Linda Hazen Most Valuable Player Award, Evans received the Frances Brinkley Most Outstanding Offense Award, given in honor of Moyer Smith. Evans, who is from Fairmont, N.C., leads the team with a .318 batting average and earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.

Cox received the Virginia Augusta Most Valuable Pitcher Award, named for one of the top pitchers in school history, and the Donna J. Papa Coach's Award. A righthander from Harrisburg, N.C., Cox is 20-18 this season with a 1.62 ERA. This season, she has established several school records, including the single-season mark for strikeouts (304), and was named second-team All-ACC.

Junior infielder Julia Bove was the recipient of the Tom and Linda Hazen Scholar-Athlete Award, which goes to the team member with the highest grade point average for the fall and spring semesters. Bove, an elementary education major from Charlotte who has started 29 games at second base this season, earned a perfect 4.0 for the school year.

The Terry Cox Most Outstanding Defense Award went to freshman Jennifer Jacobs, who has not committed an error this season in 145 chances. Jacobs, who is from Tampa, Fla. has started 34 games and played in 42, seeing most of her action at first base.

The Ronnie Smith Most Outstanding Play of the Year Award, given in honor of Christine Kubin, went to Jessica Young for her performance in the NC State doubleheader. Young, a senior outfielder from Santa Ana, Calif., hit a two-run home run in the first game (a 4-3 loss) and batted in all three runs in the second game (a 3-0 win). With a solo homerun and a two-out, two-RBI single in the win, she had five RBIs on UNC's six runs for the day.

Catcher/outfielder Whitney Gelin, a sophomore from Inverness, Fla., was the recipient of the Johnny Carroll Hustle Award, which goes to the player who gives maximum effort on a consistent basis and goes the extra mile during practices and games.

The Dr. Paul Biggers Leadership Award, given to a player that exemplifies the qualities of a good role model, went to senior pitcher Ashley Allen. Allen, who is from Houston, is a team captain.

The Gene Anderson Rookie of the Year Award went to Cassie Palmer, who has played five different positions for UNC this season. A freshman from Weddington, N.C., she has made 27 of her 50 starts at second and has batted in the leadoff spot in 35 games.

The Tar Heels (36-27) begin NCAA Tournament play on Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich., when they meet Big East champion Seton Hall. Game time at Michigan's Alumni Field is 4:30 p.m.