May 3, 2008

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Megan Enyeart, who led the team with 10 doubles this spring, has been elected captain of the 2008-09 Yale softball team. The announcement was made on Friday night at the annual post-season banquet following a team vote.

"It's an honor to be elected captain. Each and every member of this team means so much to me, and I hope I can fill the role," Enyeart said. "My desire for a great run next year is strong, as well as my teammates' desire. Together we can make sure that we are always giving our best, whether it is summer workouts, fall ball, or game day. I hope to bring the same intensity and desire, the same excitement, every time we meet."

Enyeart, a Goleta, Calif., native, started 39 games at first base for the Bulldogs and batted .286. She tied for the team lead in home runs (2), was second in RBI (18) and tied for third in hits (36). A three-year starter, Enyeart is third all-time at Yale with 29 career doubles and ninth with 60 RBI.

Four other players were honored at the banquet. Senior Aracelis Torres (New York, NY) was named the team's Most Valuable Player. She led the Bulldogs with 30 RBI, which tied for the sixth most in a season in school history. She also was second in hits (47) and doubles (9) and third in batting average (.307). After hitting .400 in the final eight games of Yale's spring break trip to Florida, Torres was named the Ivy League Player of the Week. She finished her outstanding career second all-time at Yale in RBI (83), fifth in assists (356), tied for sixth in doubles (24), seventh in at bats (538) and ninth in hits (149).

Senior Courtney Blachford (Highland Park, NJ) was the recipient of the Most Improved Player Award. She set career highs in run scored (23), RBI (12), batting average (.308) and triples (3). Her .308 average was second on the team and more than 110 points higher than the 2007 season. Blachford finished her career with 97 hits, 54 runs and a .274 average.

The Barbara Chou Leadership Award was presented to McKynlee Westman (Smithville, MO). Westman, a freshman, started 24 games, mostly behind the plate, and had 15 hits, two doubles and four RBI. During one stretch at the Rebel Games in Florida, she had a hit in five of six games.

Freshman Megan Boon (Simi Valley, CA) was the recipient of the Andy Van Etten Coaches Award, which is bestowed upon the player who represents the ideals of Yale softball that go beyond statistics. The award was named this spring in honor of Van Etten, who passed away in April of 2007 and initiated it in 1999 during his tenure as head coach of the Bulldogs. His wife Monica was at the banquet to present the award to Boon, who appeared in 19 games, batted .290 and had seven RBI. She had a three-run double in Yale's victory over Siena and went 2-for-4 with an RBI against Florida A&M.

The Bulldogs finished the season with 20-25-1 overall record. Yale has won at least 20 games in seven of the last eight years.

The Bulldogs are tentatively scheduled to open the 2009 season at the Rebel Games in Florida in March.

"I think one of the key elements to a successful year will be to stay positive," Enyeart said. "We must be happy, yet never satisfied with our performance. Only then will we achieve excellence. We must always aim for improvement, no matter what our previous performance. With determination and spirit, this team will be able to have a strong season where we reach and maintain our full potential."

Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity