Tech’s Hooper and Sakamoto named All-OVC second teamers, Liberatore on All-Newcomer Team
The Tennessee Tech softball team posted two members to the All-Ohio Valley Conference Second-Team with senior first baseman Kendall Hooper and junior outfielder Angi Sakamoto taking home the coveted spots.
By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team posted two members to the All-Ohio Valley Conference Second-Team with senior first baseman Kendall Hooper and junior outfielder Angi Sakamoto taking home the coveted spots. Freshman pitcher Danielle Liberatore also earned a nod on the All-Newcomer Team after an outstanding rookie campaign inside the circle.
Hooper secures second-team recognition after leading the Golden Eagles with a .304 batting average, while smacking six home runs and 28 RBI. The six long balls put the Hermitage, Tenn. native in a tie with Sakamoto and senior Chelsea Burgess for the team lead.
Hooper also set the Tech bar with a .351 average during OVC play and is coming off an impressive weekend in which the 5-foot-6 first baseman helped lead TTU to a sweep of Morehead State, socking a walk-off home run in extra innings in the series opener, a 5-3 Golden Eagle victory.
Angi Sakamoto ended the 2014 regular season with a .289 batting average, slugging six round trippers and a team-high 31 RBI from the leadoff spot. The Waipahu, Hawaii native hit .308 during OVC action, which included a tear that saw the lefty swinging outfielder pick up a hit in 17 consecutive games from Mar. 22 to Apr. 19.
Danielle Liberatore's spot on the All-Newcomer Team should come as little surprise after the 5-foot-10 southpaw posted an impressive 10-2 OVC mark with a miniscule 1.96 ERA, striking out 79 in 82 conference innings. Liberatore won eight consecutive OVC tilts as well, going 13-10 overall with a team low 3.09 earned run average.
Jacksonville State took home three of the four major conference awards with Sara Borders earning OVC Player of the Year recognition, while Tiffany Harbin was named the conference Pitcher of the Year, and Jana McGinnis took home OVC Coach of the Year. UT Martin's Carly Gonzales was recognized as the OVC Freshman of the Year.
Here is the complete list of conference award winners:
