Softball Banquet Awards/Softball Reaches Out To Tampa Youth

[Brad]

Courtesy USF

Softball Banquet Awards

TAMPA, Fla. – University of South Florida head softball coach Ken Eriksen honored selected players at the annual softball banquet held on Friday night in the USF Athletics Building.

Cristi Ecks was named the 2007 Most Valuable Pitcher. Ecks finished ranked third in the nation with a 0.73 ERA and tied for second in the country with seven saves. In 32 appearances last year, she pitched in 125 innings, allowed only 81 hits, struck out 143 batters and only allowed 13 earned runs. Ecks earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors for her efforts last season. 

Britta Giddens earned the Most Valuable Player award. She batted .337, scored 35 runs, tallied 62 hits, 13 doubles, three homes and 23 RBI. The Bartow, Fla., native had the third highest batting average on the team and led the way in hits and doubles. Giddens earned her first postseason honor in 2007, being named First Team All-BIG EAST.

The Rookie of the Year Award went to Tara Toscano and Kristen Gordon. Toscano, an outfielder, was fourth with a .326 batting average and finished second with 31 runs and 56 hits. Gordon excelled in the circle for the Bulls last season, leading the team with 16 wins, 145 innings and 195 strikeouts. The Cocoa, Fla., native’s average of 9.4 Ks per seven innings was ranked the 18th best in the country.

Danielle Urbanik was named the Most Improved Player after she finished her senior campaign with one of her best seasons to date. She led the team with a .386 batting average, six home runs and 36 RBI. In addition to earning First Team All-BIG EAST honors, Urbanik garnered NFCA Second Team All-Region accolades.

[Brad]

Courtesy USF

Softball Reaches Out To Tampa Youth

TAMPA, Fla. – While student-athletes have hectic schedules to balance between practice, school and their personal lives, the University of South Florida softball team decided it was a priority to take time out to give back to the community. The team has hosted several clinics so far this season for little league players in the North Tampa area. 

“We had a great idea about getting this thing going,” head coach Ken Eriksen said about the clinics. “It seems that little league is exploding and the women’s fastpitch at the youth level is really exploding so we felt it was an opportune time to give back to the community.” 

With the success of the clinics and the word spreading throughout the area, Eriksen plans to continue to invite little league teams out to the USF Softball Field to give young players a chance to work with his team. For an hour and a half, little leaguers participate in one activity after another, getting instruction and advice from the Bulls. 

Sophomore Hillary Wolf, a catcher for USF, said they are trying to teach, “All the basics to start with, throwing, catching, correct methods on how to field and just how to play, do well and be safe.” 

Coach Eriksen adds, “We don’t spend enough time on catch and throw and that’s probably one of the biggest areas for the young girls is learning the proper way to catch and throw.” 

Although the clinics are packed with non-stop drills and activities, it seems everyone enjoys their time out at the field. 

“We’re not just incorporating skill work, we’re incorporating a lot of fun and camaraderie and I think that’s probably the biggest thing,’ Eriksen said. 

For the USF players, their schedules on the days of the clinics are non-stop. They begin preparing for the clinic immediately after practice, which lasts until well-after nightfall. Despite the hectic schedule, it is obvious they enjoy teaching the young players all the fundamentals of the game. 

“It’s fun to give back. I don’t know why you wouldn’t do this” said senior Kit Dunbar of the clinics. 

Hillary Wolf said, “It’s definitely a lot of fun, hopefully we can teach them something so they can take it back to their game.” 

The USF players understand the importance of attending clinics like these as a young player, and strive to provide an environment where the little leaguers can begin to perfect their skills. 

Kati O’Brian, a freshman, says although she went to many clinics, she never had the chance to learn from actual college athletes. “To learn from a college coach is a whole different experience because he’s top of the level basically.”

For Ken Eriksen and the USF softball team, these clinics are a great way to give back to a community that has given them so much. The little league players are lucky to have the opportunity to learn about the game from a great group of role models.