Vikingland Sports: Bruzek Receives All-Conference Honorable Mention

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2010 MIAC Softball Awards on Tuesday, May 18. Leading the All-Conference team is MIAC Player of the Year Alison Wright of St. Thomas and MIAC Pitcher of the Year Marta Radcliffe of St. Thomas.

Wright, a University of St. Thomas senior infielder from Pewaukee, Wisconsin led the MIAC with a .557 batting average in her 22 conference games. Wright was 39-for-70 with 20 RBI, 13 runs, and eight doubles. Wright ends her career as the MIAC's all-time career hits leader.

Radcliffe, a University of St. Thomas senior pitcher from Lakeville, earns the MIAC Pitcher of the Year honor for the second straight season. Radcliffe was 14-0 in MIAC play, pitching 93 2/3 innings and allowing only six earned runs. She finished the MIAC season with a 0.45 ERA, 116 strikeouts and only 25 walks.

In her second season at Augsburg after playing her initial season at St. Thomas, Bruzek had the best year of her career, starting all 40 games and hitting .350 (40-for-117), with 20 runs scored, 11 doubles, while leading the team with six home runs and 40 RBI. Her .598 slugging percentage was also a team-high, while her .421 on-base percentage was third-best on the team.

Her 40 RBI were a single-season school record, while her six home runs were the second-most in a single season in school history. Among MIAC players in overall statistics, Bruzek's 40 RBI were a league-best, while her six home runs were fourth-best.

In her two seasons at Augsburg (70 games, 62 starts), Bruzek is hitting .277 (49-of-177) with 21 runs scored, 14 doubles, six home runs, 49 RBI, a .458 slugging percentage and .355 on-base percentage.

St. Olaf College head coach Ruthie Neuger was named MIAC Coach of the Year in her sixth season at the helm of the Oles. St. Olaf tied for third in the MIAC in 2010 with a 14-8 record. The 14 wins is a most for a St. Olaf team since 1997. The Oles qualified for their first MIAC Playoffs in the history of the program this season.

As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the fourth annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for softball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.

Player of the Year - Alison Wright, St. Thomas (Sr., Pewaukee, Wis.)

Pitcher of the Year - Marta Radcliffe, St. Thomas (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.)

Rookie of the Year - Jessica Wilson, St. Olaf (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.)

Coach of the Year - Ruthie Neuger, St. Olaf (6th season)

2010 MIAC All-Conference

2010 All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team
Augsburg - Jennifer Castillo (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn)
Bethel - Tonia Erickson (Sr., Welcome, Minn./Martin County West)
Carleton - Jessie Briol (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn./Hopkins)
Concordia - Becki Zimmerman (Sr., Chokio, Minn./Chokio-Alberta)
Gustavus - Sheila Arnold (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.)
Hamline - Courtney Bailey (Jr., Blooming Prairie, Minn.)
Macalester - Amanda Cagan (Sr., Saratoga, Calif./Monta Vista)
Saint Benedict - Kirsten Fasching (Jr., Montrose, Minn./Watertown-Mayer)
St. Catherine - Heidi Sande (So., Grand Marais, Minn./Cook County)
Saint Mary's - Joanna Mangan (Jr., Chicago, Ill./De La Salle)
St. Olaf - Kayla Gronli (So., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park)
St. Thomas - Sam Rudesill (Sr., Baldwin, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville)