Romero named B1G POY, Betsa pitcher of the year, Hutch coach of the year
The all-conference teams and award winners were announced today for Michigan Softball.
Sierra Romero was named the B1G Player of the Year for the 3rd time in her career, which ties the most one player has ever won the award. She is the 18th B1G Player of the Year in Michigan history.
Megan Betsa was named B1G Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season, Michigan's 14th winner of the award. She is only the second pitcher in program history to win it twice in her career with the first being Kelly Kovach (1992 & 1995).
Hutch obviously was once again named B1G Coach of the Year. She became the winningest coach in the history of the sport in early April and coached the team to a 9th straight B1G Championship.
This is the 16th time Hutch has been named B1G Coach of the Year.
Romero being named B1G Player of the Year obviously gives this away, but she was named First Team All-B1G for the 4th year in a row.
She is only the 3rd in Michigan history to be named First Team All-B1G in each season of her career. The other two she knows pretty well: assistant coach Bonnie Tholl (1988-1991) and director of operations Nikki Nemitz (2007-2010).
Amazing doesn't even begin to describe Romero's career.
Here is the full list of Michigan's All-B1G selections:
First Team All-B1G
- Megan Betsa (P)
- Sierra Lawrence (OF)
- Sierra Romero (2B)
- Kelsey Susala (OF)
Second Team All-B1G
- Tera Blanco (1B)
- Sara Driesenga (P)
- Aidan Falk (C)
- Lindsay Montemarano (3B)
B1G All-Defensive Team
- Lindsay Montemarano (3B)
B1G Sportsmanship Honoree: Lauren Connell (C)
heading for the promised land....
No surprise on Romo, of course. I'm really hoping this is the year she snags the National POY award as well, but I'm afraid of the Southern bias. We'll see how that plays out.
I will admit to being a little surprised at seeing Betsa get the pitching award. I thought Minnesota's ace was going to get it, given how Betsa has struggled at times this year. She did really turn it on in conference play, though, esp. down the stretch. Good to see her get the recognition. It'll be a pitched battle between her & Groenewegen next year, with both of them being seniors.
Hutch getting coach of the year ... well, of course. :)
I doubt we see Minnesota in the regular season next year as the scheduling is based on football divisions.
So we played "west" teams Nebraska and Northwestern this year and Minnesota and Iowa the previous year. We'll likely play Purdue and Illinois next season as our "west" opponents.
As for the national player of the year, it has to be her. It should be a felony if anyone votes against her. For all she has done for the game and this program. She should've won it the last two years but it was awarded to older players instead.
.
Yeah, it is incredibly frustrating that Minny has provided us with a legit B10 challenger, and the scheduling doesn't let us face them. Still a battle, but just not the same thing.
And I agree, I will be quite disappointed in Romo is denied. After Kyle Connor, though, I won't believe it 'til I see it.
But the freshman thing was working against him. The Hobey Baker is dead to me as it has become good ol boy network. I also wouldn't be surprised if some voted against Connor because of the B1G ruining the landscape of college hockey.
Romero is a senior, she's been the best since she first walked on campus in August 2012.
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No and it's to the point where it seems to be a Caris situation where if she is gonna return, they're gonna have to ease her in and limit her time.
I even read an article that said they may give her a new position which sounds like a shitshow in the making.
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There's a Daily article that came out recently that said Romero has been working through injuries for most of the season.
Which is amazing because she's still been batting near .500 all year. That's her HURT.
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Maybe, but far from a sure thing. Elkins had 17 HRs in 30 games and the record for a seaon is 37' Still a lot of work to do.
Thanks WD,
Great job! Appreciate the effort. Love our Womans Softball Team and Coaches!
GO BLUE!!
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GO BLUE! Congratulations, ladies! Let's kick ass in the NCAA tournament.
21 to break it.
We still have shitty Verlander woot woot.
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You don't like droopy eye black?