Davie, Conrad Share U-M Outstanding Player Award

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan seniors Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) and Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) were named co-winners of the softball program's Most Outstanding Player award after leading the Wolverines' offense and defense throughout the 1999 Big Ten Conference championship season.

Davie Conrad

Davie, who leads Michigan with a .418 batting average, eight home runs and 16 stolen bases, set the program's season runs record (64) and ranks second in both season doubles (22) and home runs (8) record lists. A unanimous All-Big Ten Conference First-Team selection at leftfield, Davie will graduate with both the Michigan and Big Ten career doubles records (61), and she ranks among the top 10 in NCAA Division I career doubles.

A two-time Big Ten Player of the Year (1998, '99), Conrad is the second-leading hitter for Michigan, carrying a .393 batting average with 20 doubles as the leadoff hitter. The first baseman holds both the Michigan and Big Ten career hits (344) and runs (223) records, and is the alltime leading hitter in Wolverine softball history, with a .391 career batting average. She ranks among the top 10 in NCAA Division I career hits and runs.

Four other team awards were also announced by the Michigan coaching staff.

Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) was named Michigan's Most Outstanding Pitcher. The sophomore, also tabbed as the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and a unanimous selection as All-Big Ten First-Team pitcher, has compiled a 22-3 record with eight shutouts and a 1.13 ERA over her 37 season appearances. Barda tossed a career-high nine strikeouts May 15 vs. Minnesota and has held opponents to a .187 batting average over her 179.1 innings of work.

Second baseman Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Mater Dei HS) and catcher Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) were named co-winners of the Michigan Freshman of the Year award.

Kollen is the Wolverines' third-best hitter with a .381 batting average and has a team-high 88 hits -- one shy of tying the U-M season hits record. Earlier named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Kollen was an All-Big Ten First-Team selection.

Currently the starting catcher for Michigan, Volpe also started at the designated player position in her first season, and she sports a .355 batting average with 43 RBIs. She led the Big Ten with 33 RBIs and hit .400 against the conference to earn All-Big Ten First-Team honors.

The Edna and Leo Drewett Academic Excellence Award was presented to freshman Kristen Hunter (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Cousino HS). Enrolled in the College of Engineering, Hunter received a 1998-99 Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement award. She has been used primarily as a pinch runner in the 1999 season, appearing in 15 games.

Catcher Karmen Lappo (Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon HS) was named recipient of the Michigan Maize and Blue Coaches Award. Lappo has seen action as both a starter and reserve behind the plate during the season. She earned Most Valuable Player honors at the Speedline Invitational after leading the Wolverines to the tournament title with her career-first home run -- a grand slam -- against South Carolina (March 7).

Michigan continues its season at the Thursday-Sunday (May 20-23) NCAA Regional 6 Championship in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines open their postseason run against Florida Atlantic in the 4 p.m. game Thursday.

Contacts: Amy Carlton, Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423

Last updated: Tuesday, 18-May-1999 23:48:26 EDT