COMET AWARDS
The annual Comet Award winners have been revealed in each sport for the 2019-2020 season. The softball program awarded the Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Champions of Character Award, and the Scholar Athlete First and Second Teams.
The Champions of Character Award was announced last week by the A.I.I. Conference and the award went to Cottey junior Lindsey Boord of Kansas City, Missouri. She was awarded for demonstrating the five core values (Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, Servant Leadership) of the Champions of Character during the 2020 season. Boord has been the starting first baseman and team captain for each of the last two seasons and has demonstrated tremendous commitment to the program and the mission of Cottey.
The Offensive Player of the Year award went to freshman Aryana Palencia of Phoenix, Arizona. She played both second and third base for the Comets and was on pace to possibly become the first NAIA All-American in college history. Palencia hit .431, slugged a conference leading .804 on the way to seven doubles, four home runs and a team leading 22 RBI. She led the A.I.I. in RBI per game, home runs, and total bases per game while finish in in the top ten in doubles, hits per game, batting average, and runs scored per game. She finished the season ranked 17thin the country in RBI per game and 25thin the nation in home runs per game.
The Defensive Player of the Year award went to freshman Lauren Johnson of Lockport, Illinois. Johnson was the primary starter behind the plate for the Comets cutting down 50% of would be base stealers and picking off two runners in the COVID-19 shortened season. She also played first base, second base, third base, and some outfield to show her true versatility.
The First and Second Team Scholar Athlete Awards are given out to outstanding student athletes who reach grade point average benchmarks. First Team recipients will earn a grade point average of 3.75 or greater while Second Team recipients will earn at least a grade point average of 3.50.
Softball Scholar Athlete First Team
Lindsey Boord (JR/Kansas City, Missouri)
Morgan Gamboa (SO/Bakersfield, California)
Kristen Hurst (FR/Rison, Arkansas)
Emily Killion (JR/Wheaton, Missouri)
Rayne Wright (SR/Wellsville, Kansas)
Softball Scholar Athlete Second Team
Melina Bueno (FR/Avondale, Arizona)
Skylar Chappell (FR/Cartersville, Georgia)
Lacey Cruz (FR/Osh Kosh, Wisconsin)
Karina Ramirez (FR/Buckeye, Arizona)
Kasey Reynolds (SO/Reno, Nevada)
