Softball Announces 2021 Team Awards

CHAPEL HILL - The North Carolina softball coaching staff announced its 2021 season team awards, honoring nine student-athletes for their accomplishments throughout the season, both on and off the field.

Gene Anderson – Rookie of the Year Award: Kiannah Pierce
In her first season with the Heels, Kiannah Pierce emerged as one of the team's offensive leaders. The freshman from Sacramento, Calif., who played in both the infield and outfield, made 21 starts in 30 appearances. She finished the season batting .328 overall and .344 in ACC play, the second highest in both categories on the Carolina squad, and led the team with six doubles. She also showed veteran patience at the plate, striking out just three times in 61 at-bats.

Johnny Carroll – Hustle Award: Gaby Katz
Awarded to the player that gives their maximum effort on a consistent basis, the Hustle Award goes to someone with an admirable work ethic who is willing to go the extra mile during practices and games, a role that Gaby Katz exemplified in 2021. Katz made 10 appearances for the Tar Heels in the circle, throwing her first collegiate complete game against Virginia on March 9. She also earned her first collegiate win in that same series against the Cavilers, throwing six innings and allowing just two earned runs on March 11.

Tom and Lisa Hazen Scholar Athlete Award: Katie Grace Olinger
Given to the player that maintains the highest GPA for the academic year, this award recognizes self-discipline and a commitment to balance academics and athletics. In addition to her academic accomplishments that included carrying a 3.981 GPA, Katie Grace Olinger came out of medical retirement the second half of the season to help lead the Heels in the circle.

Virginia Augusta Leadership Award: Abby Settlemyre
Awarded to the player(s) that display leadership qualities on and off the playing field, including being a good role model, being respectful and supportive of teammates, being trustworthy, serving as a facilitator and communicator for the team and being a glue for the team. Despite sitting out in 2021 due to injury, Abby Settlemyre exemplified what it meant to be a great teammate, supporting and helping to lead the Heels from the sidelines.

Frances Brinkley Most Outstanding Offensive Award (In honor of Moyer Smith): Kristina Burkhardt
Dedicated in honor of Moyer Smith, the Outstanding Offensive Award goes to the player(s) that were a consistent force at the plate throughout the season. With a team-high .333 batting average, redshirt senior Kristina Burkhardt was that player last season for North Carolina. She was just one of two Tar Heels to start all 40 games and led the team in almost every offensive category, including hits (40), runs (26), triples (3), total bases (66), slugging (.550) and OPS (.957).

Terry Cox Most Outstanding Defensive Award: Taylor Greene
Given to the player that has been the most solid on defense, making the routine plays as well as the outstanding ones. Taylor Green, in her first season at Carolina after transferring from Arkansas, earned this award from behind the plate 2021. Greene, who plays catcher, started 34 games, catching 11 runners stealing, recording a team-high 172 putouts, and had a perfect fielding percentage, not committing a single error in 190 chances.

Dr. W. Paul Biggers Most Valuable Pitcher Award: Brittany Pickett & Katie Grace Olinger
Brittany Pickett and Katie Grace Olinger both helped lead the Heels in the circle this season. Pickett pitched a team-high 120.1 innings, recording 14 complete games, the fourth-most of any pitcher in the conference, and tallied 128 strikeouts. Olinger, who came out of medical retirement halfway through the season, pitched 53.2 innings, the second-most on the team, to go with 23 strikeouts.

Tom and Linda Hazen Most Valuable Player Award: Kristina Burkhardt
Awarded to the player(s) that has made the most significant impact on the success of the team on a consistent game-to-game basis both offensively and defensively. Kristina Burkhardt, Carolina's offensive powerhouse, was consistently hot at the plate and had a perfect fielding percentage in the outfield on 64 chances.

Donna J. Papa Award: Katie Perkins
Bestowed upon the player that most exemplifies the term 'Carolina Softball,' demonstrating excellence, pride, respect, a strong work ethic and dependability, while being both a team player and a competitor, the Coach's Award goes to sophomore Katie Perkins.

Maria Powers Most Outstanding Play of the Year Award: Destiny Middleton
Dedicated in honor of Christine Kubin, this year's Most Outstanding Play of the Year award goes to Destiny Middleton, who hit her first collegiate home run, a shot to right field, to open the second game of Carolina's double header against Syracuse on Feb. 20.

Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.

Players Mentioned

Kristina Burkhardt

Taylor Greene

Gaby Katz

Destiny Middleton

Katie Grace Olinger

Katie Perkins

Brittany Pickett

Kiannah Pierce

Abby Settlemyre

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