(photo by Maddy Flanagan)
SELECT SOFTBALL COMPANY
Few would be surprised to hear that Olympics star Jennie Finch was named USA Softball’s female athlete of the year for 2009.
Softball’s male athlete of the year, however, received little notice — until now.
Des Moines player Matt Palazzo led the national team to a fourth-place finish at the ISF Men’s World Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Palazzo led the team with a .444 average and four home runs, while driving in 11 runs and scoring nine times as the team finished 7-3.
“To wear red, white and blue and represent your country is such an amazing thing,†Palazzo said.