Bree Derhake, a senior infielder on the University of Illinois Springfield softball team and a 2016 Sacred Heart-Griffin High School graduate, was named the Prairie Stars’ Great Lakes Valley Conference James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Tuesday’s press release by the GLVC said the award goes to the player who “distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
“These individuals must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.”
In her shortened senior season, Derhake finished with a .362 average (21 for 58), with seven RBIs, six doubles, two triples and she was successful on all 18 of her stolen base attempts.
The Prairie Stars were 10-8 before spring sports were canceled throughout the country as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Derhake was UIS’ lone senior.
This story was published in The State Journal-Register on May 12, 2020.
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