UT Martin softball garners top player, coach honors

Posted: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 12:00 pm

Senior outfielder Leah Taylor and head coach Donley Canary from UT Martin softball team were named College Sports Madness’ 2013 Ohio Valley Preseason All-Conference Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Taylor led the OVC in hits (77), runs scored (61), triples (10) and stolen bases (37) while also ranking among conference leaders with a .385 batting average and a .461 on-base percentage.
Canary, who enters his 12th season as the head coach of the UTM softball program, led the Skyhawks to a 23-6 worksheet this past season in the OVC. Overall, the Skyhawks were 39-22 en route to their second regular-season title in the past three years. The Skyhawks also won their second OVC Tournament title.
Taylor and sophomore utility player Lauren Smith were named to the Madness’ first team, while sophomore left-handed pitcher Casey Vincent and junior outfielder Kayla Wade earned second team recognition.
Smith, who was also named to the All-OVC second team as well as the All-Newcomer squad, is UT Martin’s top returning run producer as she drove in 35 runs this past season. She hit .274 with 37 hits, four doubles and a team-best nine home runs.
Vincent, who was named to the OVC All-Newcomer team, was 9-5 in the circle with a 3.08 earned run average. She pitched 86.1 innings and she struck out 49 hitters.
Wade, who was named to the OVC All-Tournament team, sported a .322 batting average with 19 Runs Batted In. She scored 48 runs and had 81 total bases. Wade started and played in 61 games this past season. Published in The WCP 1.29.13

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