Kaboom! Awards: Softball

Softball 5/8/2020 12:00:00 PM

The 2020 Kaboom! Awards, presented by RE/MAX Traders Unlimited and supported by PNC, continues with highlights from the abbreviated 2020 Bradley Softball season.

The 2020 Bradley Softball season started off in impressive fashion with the Braves posting a 3-2 victory against #20/24 Arkansas at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.

Closing the shortened season with a 14-9 record heading into Missouri Valley Conference play, Bradley has now posted winning records in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2006 & 2007. As a team, the Braves had a .304 batting average for the best team average dating back to 1994 and opponents had hit just .269 against BU pitching (best since 2012) to go with four shutouts.

Senior Allison Apke became just the third Brave in program history to earn First-Team MVC Scholar-Athlete honors three times during their career. She was hitting .317 with a team-best five homers and the all-time home run leader in Bradley history (T17th in MVC history - 32) also capped her career with the school's career slugging percentage mark (.631).

Fellow senior Kealia Wysocki paced Bradley offensively this spring, hitting .433 and was tied for the team lead with 18 RBI. After a 1-for-9 start to the year, Wysocki owned a .483 average with a .516 on base percentage and impressive .707 slugging percentage over her final 18 games, reaching base safely in each of those 18 contests.

In the circle, sophomore Grace French was 5-0 with a 2.75 ERA while the honorable mention MVC Scholar-Athlete held foes to a .251 average. French tossed a pair of complete game shutouts and owned a 1.98 ERA over her last seven appearances. Senior Emma Jackson matched French's five victories (5-5) for the team lead and had a team-best six complete games. Jackson, who earned the MVC Good Neighbor Award this spring, paced the Braves in strikeouts (36) and innings pitched (51.1) in addition to holding opponents to a .226 average.

For a complete list of the 2020 Bradley Softball award winners click HERE.

The 2020 Kaboom! Awards is set to celebrate Bradley Athletics during the month of May, transitioning to a virtual presentation throughout the month. Each year on the final night of spring semester classes, the Bradley Department of Athletics gathers at Renaissance Coliseum for the annual Kaboom! Awards, an event modeled after the popular awards shows in the entertainment industry (Oscars, Grammys, ESPYs) and recognizes all of the graduating seniors, spotlights the team and individual achievements from throughout the year. Traditionally preceded by a red-carpet reception, the awards show is filled with video and graphic tributes, which will be presented this year through the Bradley Athletics website, BradleyBraves.com, and the department's social media accounts -- culminating with the announcement of the 67th Charles Orsborn Award May 29 and viewing of the Moments of the Year May 30.

The 2020 Kaboom! Awards continue Saturday with the announcement of the male and female individual performances of the year.

2020 Kaboom! Awards Presentation Schedule

Day, Date	Feature	Format
Monday, May 4	Men's Golf highlights	Video
Tuesday, May 5	Charles Orsborn Award candidates	Article
Wednesday, May 6	Women's Cross Country and Track	Video
Thursday, May 7	Charles Orsborn Award finalist #1 - Nate Kennell	Video
Friday, May 8	Softball highlights	Video
Saturday, May 9	Female Individual Performance of the Year	Video
	Male Individual Performance of the Year	Video
Monday, May 11	Soccer highlights	Video
Tuesday, May 12	Orsborn Award finalist #2	Video
Wednesday, May 13	Tennis highlights	Video
Thursday, May 14	Megan C. Fong Inspiration Award	Video
Friday, May 15	Baseball highlights	Video
Saturday, May 16	Graduating Class of 2020	Photo
Monday, May 18	Volleyball highlights	Video
Tuesday, May 19	Orsborn Award finalist #3	Video
Wednesday, May 20	Men's Cross Country and Track highlights	Video
Thursday, May 21	Female Coach Joe Stowell Award	Video
	Male Coach Joe Stowell Award	Video
Friday, May 22	Women's Golf highlights	Video
Saturday, May 23	Men's Team Performance of the Year	Video
	Women's Team Performance of the Year	Video
Sunday, May 24	Women's Basketball highlights	Video
Tuesday, May 26	Orsborn Award finalist #4	Video
Wednesday, May 27	Men's Basketball highlights	Video
Thursday, May 28	Bradley Athletics community service	Video
	Carl Grose Service Award	Video
Friday, May 29	Charles Orsborn Award	Video
Saturday, May 30	Moments of the Year	Video