Receiving special honors at the Trinity Lutheran softball awards program were, from left, Rowan Sharp, Bailey Tabeling and Grace Lance.
Arv Koontz | The Tribune
Bailey Tabeling and Grace Lance put their names in the Trinity Lutheran softball record book several times this season and for their careers.
Coach Bob Tabeling said both players had outstanding seasons and named them co-most valuable players at the awards program held at the school.
“Both of them brought a lot to the team,” he said. “We had so many players do some unique things. Several players received votes on the special awards.”
This spring, Bailey was 49-for-86 for a .572 batting average. She scored 45 runs and had seven doubles, six triples, four home runs, 30 stolen bases and 23 RBI from the leadoff position. She had an on-base percentage of .679.
She holds 10 school records. She also received a senior award for playing softball for four years.
“BT brings stability to our team offensively and defensively,” coach Tabeling said.
Lance’s school marks came on the mound and include 15 wins, 161 innings and 191 strikeouts. She held opponents to a .229 batting average.
At the plate, Lance hit .311 with 23 hits, 25 runs and 22 RBI.
Madison Keith and Rowan Sharp also received special awards.
Keith received the Cougar Award that is based on hard work and sportsmanship. She was the Cougars’ regular third baseman, and Tabeling said, “She was a competitor and a good teammate. She is a positive reflection for our school.”
Tabeling, Keith and Lance were named to the Rising Sun all-sectional team.
Sharp was named the most improved player.
Sharp played second base throughout the season, and Tabeling said, “She stayed in front of the ball and fielded the ball very well.”
Other seniors on the team were Amanda Finke and Jasmine McCormick.
“We had a lot of good things accomplished,” Tabeling said. “We didn’t have a lot of numbers (11). We won 15 games, which is a school record. We saw the other team’s No. 1 pitcher a lot. I thought this team was better than last year’s team as a whole. Overall, we were extremely competitive. We run-ruled eight teams. We had three players playing college this spring, so we’ve had some talented players in our program.”
He said big wins came over Henryville, Loogootee, Borden and Hauser. Tabeling said the Cougars lost to some good teams in Brownstown Central, West Washington, Milan, Rising Sun and Home School from Indianapolis.
“That is the best team we played,” he said. “We had a very successful season. We’ve got a good group of juniors coming back.”
Tabeling also thanked assistant coaches Orlando Munoz and Herb Gross for their help.
Since Bailey is going to play DI basketball at Ohio University next year, coach Tabeling decided to step down as head coach. Gross will now be taking over the softball program at Trinity Lutheran.
Gross has served as an assistant coach with the softball program for the past five seasons.