Three Thunder Draftees Up for Award
April 11, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Rockford Thunder News Release
Three of the Thunder's 2008 NPF Senior Draft Picks have been named as finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
This marks the second year for the softball division of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The award was first established in basketball due to the trend of college players in men's basketball leaving school early to play professionally. After five years of honoring senior basketball players for remaining in school, the award expanded to several other NCAA sports including softball.
The NCAA softball competition around the country has been at a high level for years, and continues to escalate each season. The senior student athletes that compete in softball are valuable leaders to their team and are typically involved in their local communities, while working towards their college degree. This award was developed to salute the on and off-field achievements of these dedicated collegians.
The second-annual softball winner of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award will be announced during the 2008 Women's College World Series.
To vote for these three ladies, please visit http://softball.seniorclassaward.com/women/candidates.aspx daily.
Oklahoma pitcher and No. 12 draft pick Lauren Eckermann
Classroom: Lauren has a 3.55 cumulative GPA in journalism-public relations. After transferring from a junior college she posted a 3.50 GPA in her first spring semester of competition in Division I. She will be nominated for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and Big 12 All-Academic honors later this season.
Character: A quiet leader who lets her play on the field set the example for her teammates, she presents a stoic, calming influence on her teammates when she steps into the circle. Her calm and determined approach encourages teammates to rally around her and is a rally killer when she is called in to pitch which helps make everyone around her a better defender.
Community: Eckermann is active with OU's Athletic Student Life Office and its Life Skills program. She has volunteered with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Heupel Foundation Holiday canned food drive, and the Salvation Army's Adopt-An-Angel program. She joined Sooner teammates to make holiday visits to Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City and also participated in the campus-wide cleanup following a devastating ice storm last December.
Competition: Eckermann was named third team NCAA All-American, First team All-Midwest Region selection, Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year, Big 12 Tournament MVP and three-time Big 12 Player of the Week during the 2007 season. As of 2/15 has already thrown one no-hitter in the 2008 season. She went 3-0 at the 2007 Amherst Regional with a 0.67 ERA after allowing one walk and striking out 19 batters in 21 innings. Led the Big 12 in wins (37), innings pitched (274.1), appearances (48), games started (41), shutouts (12) and complete games (32) and also ranked among the conference leaders in strikeouts and opponent batting average while throwing three no-hitters on the season.
DePaul utility player and No. 19 draft pick Sandy Vojik
Classroom: Vojik is a Sport and Fitness Management major with a 3.353 GPA. She has been named to the Dean's List every quarter since being enrolled at DePaul/ She is a two-time (2007, 2006) BIG EAST Academic All-Star, C-USA Academic Medal of Honor (2005), NFCA All-American Scholar Team (2007) and Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2007, 2006, 2005).
Character: Is a member of DePaul's Captain's Council (2007). Was DePaul's nomination for the BIG EAST Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year. Is a Pen Pal with a third grade Chicago Public School, she writes letters and responds to letters three times a month. She has coached a 12 and under team, the Lemont Rockers. Is an undergraduate teaching assistant for Fitness and Conditioning. Has worked Riverside Brookfield high School Basketball camps and DePaul Softball Camps.
Community: Has completed 20 hours of community service a quarter each of her four years on campus. Was the Team Captain for Making Strides for Breast Cancer (American Cancer Society), the DePaul team collected over $8000. Helped with the John Lawler Benefit, raising money for a heart transplant for a DePaul Alumni and at lunches for the Lincoln Park Homeless Shelter. Volunteered at Dream Halloween an evening that benefits Children with AIDS, Vincentian Service Day and at a softball clinic for 60 Chicago Park District participants.
Competition: Was named Preseason ESPN.com All- American at Utility (2008), USA Softball Top 50 Watch List, Second Team All-BIG EAST at Utility (2007), 2005 NFCA Second Team All-Region, 2005 First Team Conference USA at Utility, 2005 Conference USA All Freshman Team. Has participated in two Women's College World Series and was part of the BIG EAST Conference Regional Season Champion in 2007.
Tennessee Tech shortstop and No. 20 draft pick Beth Boden
Classroom: Beth has earned Academic All-District and Academic All-America honors from CoSIDA and ESPN The Magazine. She also earned the OVC Scholar-Athlete Award for 2007.
Character: Beth Boden exemplifies all the qualities a coach looks for in a leader, according to head softball coach Tory Acheson. "She understands that hard work, commitment and dedication are the keys to getting the job done in the classroom and on the field. She leads by example and is more than willing to do whatever it takes assist her teammates in their efforts to fulfill their potential. It has been a pleasure to see her grow over the past four years into one of the finest student athletes I have ever seen. There is no doubt she is the finest person I've had the chance to work with to this point in my career." Five years ago I met a very mature and goal oriented high school senior who would go on to become an important part of our very successful softball program. To say that Beth has exceeded my expectations for her would be an understatement. She has excelled on the field of play, as OVC Player of the Year, and in the classroom as the OVC Scholar Athlete and with other academic honors too numerous to mention here as she completes her degree in Civil Engineering with Honors. Beth has demonstrated the kind of character we find so lacking in many of her contemporaries. She has always gone above and beyond the call of duty as she worked to fulfill her potential in every aspect of her membership with our program. She has shown to kind of leadership that many would shy away from.
Community: Boden is the President of Tennesse Tech's SAAC and is taking the organization to new heights on our campus. She has participated in Habitat for Humanity. Women Build Houses in Putnam County from 2004 to 2007, in the Bark in the Park program to raise funds and awareness for the local animal shelter. She has also played in a part in Operation Christmas Child which sends Shoebox Christmas Gifts to Third World countries and the Christmas Gift Drive to raise money and distribute gifts to local families. She also spends time as a volunteer with the Putnam County Child Advocacy Center. She has helped organize the Tech Athletics reading to elementary school children program and the Tech Athletic effort at the Cookeville Christmas Parade and she helped to build the Tech Athletic Department float for the parade. She has also been a volunteer for Halloween Trunk or Treat Safe Halloween program and the Christmas Gift Program for families with parents in Putnam County Jail.
Competition: Beth was voted the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2007, leading Tech to its third straight conference regular season and tournament championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament. She led the nation in home runs (25) while ranking among conference leaders in numerous additional statistical categories as the Golden Eagles posted back-to-back 50-win seasons.
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- Three Thunder Draftees Up for Award - Rockford Thunder
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