UK's Abbey Cheek Named SEC Player of the Year

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Kentucky senior third baseman Abbey Cheek (pictured) was named the 2019 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday morning. Cheek becomes the first Kentucky player ever to win the award in the 22-year history of the program.

In addition to Cheek being the league’s player of the year, she was also voted on by the 13 head coaches as First Team All-SEC and to the All-SEC Defensive Team for third base. She was also named First Team All-SEC.

Fellow seniors Katie Reed and Jenny Schaper were also recognized for their outstanding seasons, as Reed was named the 2019 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive for shortstop. It is Reed’s second-straight Scholar Athlete Award, second-straight appearance on the Second Team All-SEC and second appearance on the All-Defensive Team.

Catcher Jenny Schaper joins Abbey Cheek as the two Wildcats to be named First Team All-SEC. The St. Louis, Missouri native was also named to the All-Defensive Team for catching. Schaper’s two awards are her first two postseason honors by the league coaches in her career.

Freshman Kayla Kowalik became the 16th player in Kentucky program history to be named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Alabama’s Patrick Murphy won SEC Coach of the Year and the Tide’s Montana Fouts won SEC Freshman of the Year. Sarah Cornell was voted the SEC Pitcher of the Year.

SEC Awards

Player of the Year – Abbey Cheek (Kentucky)

Pitcher of the Year – Sarah Cornell (Alabama)

Freshman of the Year – Montana Fouts (Alabama)

Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Katie Reed (Kentucky)

Coach of the Year – Patrick Murphy (Alabama)

UK Athletics Photo