Gophers dominate Big Ten softball awards: score MVP, pitcher, coach, freshman honors

Another big sweep by the 51-victory Gophers team.

May 10, 2017 at 8:04PM
Gophers softball catcher Kendyl Lindaman was photographed after practice Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Gophers softball catcher Kendyl Lindaman was photographed after practice Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.
Kendyl Lindaman won Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten honors Wednesday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Gophers softball team swept the Big Ten awards Wednesday, with catcher Kendyl Lindaman (Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year), senior Sara Groenewegen (Pitcher of the Year) and Jessica Allister (Coach of the Year) all honored.

Lindaman leads the Big Ten in batting average (.432), slugging percentage (.932), on-base percentage (.592), home runs (19) and walks (52).

Groenewegen leads the conference in wins (27) and ERA (0.60).

The Gophers (51-3, 22-1 Big Ten) won their first regular season conference title since 1991, which is also the last time the program had a Coach of the Year honoree, with Teresa Wilson.

The Gophers had five first-team All-Big Ten selections: Lindaman, Groenewegen, Maddie Houlihan (outfield), Allie Arneson (shortstop) and Danielle Parlich (third base).

Joe Christensen • 612-673-7844

about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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