(From left to right): Melissa Schellberg, Rachel Brown, Jessica Pledger, Dana Roberts, Whitney Shaw and Margaux Black (Harvard softball).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard softball team held its annual awards banquet Tuesday night where it handed out team awards and named captains for the 2011 season.

Sophomore Rachel Brown received the Most Outstanding Pitcher Award for the second straight year. Brown set a number of school records in 2010, including breaking her own record for strikeouts in a season with 233, and led the Ivy League in strikeouts, appearances (34), shutouts (eight), opponent batting average (.178) and earned-run average (1.37).

Classmate Whitney Shaw earned the Best Offensive Player Award after leading the league with 13 home runs and driving in 42 runs on the year. Shaw also tied the record for most doubles in a season in school history with 14 and tallied the fifth-highest slugging percentage, ending the 2010 campaign with a .709 mark.

Senior Jessica Pledger followed with the Best Defensive Player Award. Pledger, the starting catcher for the 2010 Crimson, finished second on the team with 247 putouts on the season and also added 50 assists while only committing three errors.

The Becky Pocius Award, given annually to the player or players that embody the qualities of true team players, was awarded to senior co-captain Margaux Black and classmate Dana Roberts.

The final award of the evening, the Betty Ippolito Legacy Award, went to senior co-captain Melissa Schellberg. The award is given annually to the player who has done the most to continue the tradition of excellence in Harvard softball.

The team also announced its captains for the 2011 season. Juniors Ellen Macadam and Emily Henderson will lead the Crimson next season.