Receiving awards at the Trinity Lutheran softball banquet are, from left, Front; Dianna Munoz, Morgan Brewer, Olivia Cain, and Addison Keaton. Back; Emmy Warren, Marci Leinart, Cami Keaton, and Brooklyn Whipker.
The Trinity Lutheran Lady Cougars softball team took a look back on their 2023-24 season Tuesday evening during the annual awards program and banquet in the school cafeteria.
The event followed Olivia Cain’s signing to play at Anderson University.
The Cougars compiled a record of 12-13 with an impressive start to the season, but dropped their sectional matchup with Rising Sun 11-0.
Coach Herb Gross spoke about the season for the Lady Cougars.
“We had a red-hot start to the season before the injury bug hit us hard, but we battled to the end finishing with a 12-13 record,” Gross said. “A few timely hits and we would have had a better record to finish the season before running into a very good Rising Sun team in the sectional opener.”
Trinity scored more than 10 runs on seven separate occasions this year; South Decatur, Jac-Cen-Del, Southwestern (Hanover), Batesville, Switzerland County, South Ripley and New Washington.
The team awards from the season were announced.
Cain took home the most valuable player honors after her monster season. Dianna Munoz and Morgan Brewer both received the Cougar Award and Emerson Warren won the most improved award.
Cami Keaton won the junior varsity most valuable player award, while Brooklyn Whipker won the most improved honors. Marci Leinart won the Cugar Award for the junior varsity team..
Cain, Munoz, Brewer and Addison Keaton all graduated from high school and received senior awards.
Cain had a productive year at the plate, hitting .390 with 30 hits, three doubles and 19 RBIs and scoring 18 runs for the Cougars.
Munoz hit .291 with 16 hits, scoring 11 runs and driving in nine RBIs. Brewer hit .250 with 13 hits, a double, three triples, a home run and seven RBIs. Keaton hit .318 with seven hits, two doubles and seven RBIs.
Coach Gross spoke about the group of four seniors.
”We are really going to miss our four senior starters, not only for their contributions on the field but their leadership in the dugout and at practice,” he said. “They were all leaders this season and I am so proud of all of their accomplishments.”
The team returns all of its pitching and six varsity starters for 2025. Gross is excited about the group of returning athletes coming back next season.
“I am super excited about our returning players with all of our pitching coming back along with six starters returning to the lineup,” Gross said. “We were fortunate enough to have 19 players this season with the majority coming back with a lot of varsity experience under their belts. I am truly looking forward to an exciting softball season in 2025.”
It was also announced that former Trinity star player Genesis Munoz will be taking over Trinity middle school softball program this upcoming season.
Munoz knows a thing or two about the game, considering she was a three-time Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference first-team selection at Franklin University. She also was the 2021 Tribune Softball Player of The Year and a 2021 Indiana All-Star, along with being named most valuable player the Indiana All-Star Classic in 2021.
The team will now gear up for their 2024-25 season.
Awards
Most valuable player: Olivia Cain
Co-Cougar award: Dianna Munoz, Morgan Brewer
Most improved: Emerson Warren
Junior varsity awards
Most valuable player: Cami Keaton
Most improved: Brooklyn Whipker
Cougar Award: Marci Leinart