UK Softball players earn SEC honors

Kentucky+softball+seniors+recognized+before+the+first+game+of+a+double+header+against+Auburn+on+Sunday%2C+April+21%2C+2019%2C+at+John+Cropp+Stadium+in+Lexington%2C+Kentucky.+Kentucky+won+7-0.+Photo+by+Bradley+Koster+%7C+Staff

Kentucky softball seniors recognized before the first game of a double header against Auburn on Sunday, April 21, 2019, at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 7-0. Photo by Bradley Koster | Staff

Just ahead of the 2019 SEC Tournament, the league office has announced its All-SEC awards, and four UK players are included.

Kayla Kowalik – SEC All-Freshman team

Abbey Cheek – SEC Player of the Year, First Team All-SEC, SEC All-Defensive Team

Katie Reed – SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Second Team All-SEC, SEC All-Defensive Team

Jenny Schaper – First Team All-SEC, SEC All-Defensive Team

Cheek, the newly-named SEC Player of the Year, has become the first Kentucky player ever to win the award in the 22-year history of the program. The awards make for senior shortstop Reed’s second-straight Scholar Athlete Award, second-straight appearance on the Second Team All-SEC and second appearance on the All-Defensive Team, while Schaper’s two awards are her first two postseason honors by the league coaches in her career.

The No. 4 seed Cats are set to begin SEC Tournament play on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in College Station and will face either (12) Mississippi State, (13) Texas A&M or (5) Ole Miss.