PENDLETON — Following a 20-9 season that ended in the sectional semifinals, the Pendleton Heights Arabians conducted their postseason softball banquet Monday, June 12, and handed out team awards. While most of the awards went to this year’s strong senior class, it was a junior who took home the biggest prize.

Shortstop Lauren Landes received the team’s Most Valuable Player award for 2017 after leading the Arabians in average, hits, runs, RBI, triples, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging (OPS), sacrifice flies and sacrifice bunts.

Landes hit .481 on the year with five home runs, eight triples, a .500 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.361. Even as the team’s lead-off batter, her 31 RBI was tied for the team lead with senior Ashley King.

King, the team’s third baseman, garnered Offensive Player of the Year honors after hitting .443 and a team-leading 15 doubles. King slugged at .481 with an OPS of 1.079 and stole six bases.

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Senior pitcher Audrey Ricker was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year after a 12-5 season in the circle with a 2.61 ERA. She pitched 94 innings this season, almost half of the team’s total.

Senior first baseman Jade Mollenkopf earned the Arabian Spirit Award after hitting .321 in 2017 with seven doubles. Mollenkopf will play next year at St. Francis University.

Outfielder Shelbie Longere was named the team’s Most Improved Player. The senior batted .365 this year, up from the .182 she hit as a junior.

Pitcher MaKenzie McGuire (2-0, 6.10) and outfielder Delaney Long (.267, 9 runs), both seniors, received the Coaches’ Award, while senior manager Ben Kane was named Best Manager Ever by coach Rob Davis and his staff.