(Ann Arbor, MI) - The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference released its yearly awards for softball and multiple Cardinals were honored by the WHAC by being placed between the first and second teams.
Payton Lewis, a freshman from Vicksburg, Michigan, was named Newcomer of the Year for the conference while also being named to the First-Team. Lewis was second in the conference in hits with 64 while also having the third-highest batting average among freshmen. Lewis also recorded the most RBIs as a freshman in the conference.
Shannon McAlinden, a sophomore from Riverview, Michigan, was named to the WHAC First-Team this season following a Second-Team mention last season. McAlinden recorded the most hits in the conference this season with 74 and was third in batting average hitting a .449. McAlinden also was able to steal 24 bases which was fifth-best in the WHAC.
Maddy Grueter, a freshman from Kalamazoo, Michigan, was the third Cardinal to be named to the first team as she ended the season with a .340 with 55 hits on the year. Grueter was also the Cardinal's top power hitter of the year for the team with 10 home runs, which is second in the conference.
Abbie Begley, a senior from Monroe, Michigan, gets her second Second Team All-Conference after being named to the team last season. Begley was one of the top hitters for the Cardinals with a .326 batting average on the season. She was also able to 45 hits which ties her for 16th in the conference.
Two Cardinal players were also named to the All-Defensive team as Payton Lewis and Shannon McAlinden were both named as some of the top defenders in the league. Lewis ended the year with a .955 fielding percentage, while McAlinden earned a .986 fielding percentage.
Karley Kent was also recognized as the team's WHAC Champion of Character. The senior was honored for her commitment to the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
Also, on Wednesday WHAC All-Academic teams were named which involves being a junior in Academic standing and having a cumulative GPA of 3.25. Five Cardinals were named to the team including Abbie Begley, Kate Elias, Cassidy Kane, Karley Kent, and Koryn Playford
