Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i Pacific swept the major awards and had eight players named to the 2009 PacWest All-Conference Team today.
Senior shortstop Krystal Plunkett earned her second Player of the Year honor, designated player Maile Kim is both Newcomer and Freshman of the Year, and Bryan Nakasone Coach of the Year in his first season as head coach.
Plunkett led the PacWest in batting average (.477) and slugging percentage (.761). She was also third in the conference with nine home runs. Kim started every game for the Sea Warriors, and was fourth in the conference with a .412 average.
Pitchers Sherise Musquiz and Courtney Kessell were both first-team selections, with Kessell earning Pitcher of the Year honors. Musquiz and Kessell were the PacWest's top two pitchers, leading the conference in earned run average and wins. Musquiz was 21-4 with a 1.19 ERA, followed by Kessell at 20-8 with a 1.58 ERA. Kessell was also second in the PacWest with 116 strikeouts.
Sophomore Kozy Toriano earned first-team honors at catcher and second-team as a utility player. Juniors Casey Sugihara (second base) and Tajia Acierto (outfield) earned second-team honors.
HPU won the PacWest for the third time in as many years, earning a berth to the NCAA West Regional Tournament where they fell to Dixie State in the championship game. The Sea Warriors closed the season 42-12.