Frey Named SLIAC Player Of the Year; Koenig, Gibson, Join Frey on First Team

BELLEVILLE, IL -- Sophomore Kenadee Frey was named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year after a standout season. Senior Shelby Koenig and junior Caroline Gibson joined her with All-SLIAC First Team honors. 

Frey led the league with 10 home runs and a .802 slugging percentage, was second in the conference with a .459 batting average and 52 hits, and finished fourth with 32 runs batted in. She also added nine stolen bases on the season. She also was named to the All-SLIAC First Team for the second time and becomes the fourth Blackburn softball player to earn league Player of the Year honors. 

Joining her with first team distinction was Koenig who set a school record with 133 strikeouts, so far this season, and leads the league by 50 strikeouts. Her 2.24 ERA places her third among all league pitchers who three over 75 innings, while her 125 innings top the league. Opponents are hitting just .230 against her this year. She is second with 12 wins while her four shutouts are tied for the top spot. 

Gibson was named First Team as well as a catcher. The junior has posted a .348 batting average with 32 hits, including seven doubles and two home runs. She also has 12 runs and 13 runs batted in. 

Sophomore Sierra Hiser was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team. This year, she has notched 21 hits, 20 rbi's, four doubles and a home run while scoring 17 runs. In Tuesday's extra inning win over Fontbonne in the SLIAC Quartfinals, Hiser hit a sacrifice fly to score the winning run. 

The team will continue their season Thursday when they travel to Spalding University to take on the Golden Eagles in the SLIAC Semifinals. The Beavers will then play again Friday, with gametime determined by Thursday's result.