PEORIA, Ill. -- Freshman outfielder Erika Hansen (Fillmore, Calif./Moorpark) and senior pitcher Alyson Spinas-Valainis (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) were named Bradley softball's 2015 co-Most Valuable Players with Wednesday's announcement of the team's annual awards.
In addition to the co-MVP honors, senior Lexi Cremeens (Dix, Ill./Mount Vernon) was selected as both the team's Most Improved Player along with the squad's Most Valuable Defensive Player. Sophomore Kelly Kapp (Freeburg, Ill./Gibault Catholic) was named Bradley's Most Valuable Offensive Player, while junior Kendall Duffy (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) earned the 4D award, in recognition of her desire, dedication, determination and discipline.
A First-Team All-MVC selection and Third-Team National Fastpich Coaches Association All-Mideast Region pick, Hansen led the MVC with 20 doubles and was the first player in league history with 30 runs, 55 hits, 20 doubles, 40 RBI and 30 or more walks in a season. Her 59 hits were the second most by a Bradley freshman and she her 32 base on balls rank second among Bradley season marks. A .369 hitter this spring, Hansen's 41 RBI rank as the fourth-best season total in school history, while her .482 on base percentage is also second at Bradley.
A four-time letterwinner in basketball, Spinas-Valainis took over the top spot in Bradley's rotation in her only full season of softball on The Hilltop after joining the team in March of 2014. Her team-high 41 appearances in the circle were the third most at Bradley and she led the Braves in ERA (4.14), wins (11), complete games (17), innings (196.0) and strikeouts (111). The MVC Pitcher of the Week for Feb. 23, Spinas-Valainis owned an 8-9 record with a 3.31 ERA in 21 outings against Valley opponents. She limited league foes to a .259 average over 116.1 innings of work, tossing 64 percent of Bradley's innings in MVC play.
Cremeens was used primarily as a pinch hitter and relief pitcher her first three years, before taking over the starting spot at first base this spring. She owned a team-high .991 fielding percentage at first base and blew away her career highs in runs, hits, doubles, RBI and walks this spring. Cremeens collected 12 of her 16 RBI in conference action and her 23 walks in 2015 tied for the eighth-best season total at Bradley.
Kapp joined 1996 MVC Player of the Year Kate Madden as the only players in league history with 70 hits and at least 30 stolen bases in a season. She finished the year with the highest batting average (.386) at Bradley since 1995 (6th) and her 76 hits tied for the sixth most in Valley history. Kapp, who was named the team's Most Improved Player in 2014, stole 31 bases for the third-best total on The Hilltop and her 18 steals in MVC action tied the league record. In addition, her 37 runs tied for the eighth most by a Brave.
Duffy hit .289 in conference play and drove in 16 of her 26 RBI against league foes. A three-year starter at third base, four of her eight extra-base hits came in Valley games and she was one five players to start all 54 contests in 2015. Duffy, who was fourth on the team with 26 RBI, finished the year with 68 career RBI to rank eighth in school history. A Second-Team All-MVC performer as a sophomore in 2014, she was given the MVC Leadership & Service Award and earned the team's 4D award for the second straight year.
