JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Koppel continues to reap honors at Coastal Carolina

CONWAY, S.C. -- Academic and athletic honors continue to pour in for Kara Koppel, a senior standout for the Coastal Carolina University women's track and cross country team from McDonald High.
Koppel, who has a 4.0 grade-point average in psychology in the Honors Program, has become the first CCU athlete to be awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, which was announced by the NCAA April 30.
She is one of 29 collegiate athletes, including 15 from NCAA Division I, to win the award that is worth $6,900.
Koppel will use the scholarship next year at Colorado State University, attending graduate school in occupational therapy.
Koppel also has won the CCU Faculty's Academic Excellence Award as the school's top graduating senior.
Johnson caps career
COLUMBUS -- Ryan Johnson concluded his baseball career at Capital University as one of the Crusaders' offensive leaders this season.
A senior second baseman, Johnson (Boardman) batted .286 and was tied for the most doubles (6) on the team and was No. 3 in RBIs (11).
The Crusaders finished with a 4-31 record this year, including 3-15 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Johnson, the son of Linda and Robert Johnson, was a two-time All-OAC selection, and had his best season in 2001 with a .377 batting average, including 26 RBIs.
Barth, Ault MUC leaders
ALLIANCE -- Ronda Barth and Ashley Ault were two of the top players for the Mount Union softball team this season -- and battery mates.
Barth (Western Reserve), a sophomore catcher, led the team in hitting with a .317 batting average (39-for-105), including 10 doubles and two homers. She also drove in 24 runs and had a .424 on-base percentage.
Ault (Mineral Ridge), a freshman pitcher, pitched the most innings on the team (88 2/3) and compiled a 3.16 ERA and 6-8 record. She struck out 33, walked 14 and gave up 40 earned runs and 112 hits.
Barth and Ault helped Mount Union to a 19-17 record, including 11-7 in the OAC to tie for third place.
Agona has good year
WOOSTER -- Evan Agona (Ursuline), a junior outfielder, helped the College of Wooster baseball team to a 30-13 record this year.
Wooster went 15-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference to finish in first place in the East division, but then was defeated in three games in the NCAC playoffs.
Agona batted .355 (22-for-62) with two homers, seven RBIs and 13 runs scored. He also had a .484 slugging percentage and a .474 on-base percentage.
Three other area players, all freshmen, were on the Wooster roster, including Kevin Prus, a pitcher from Canfield. The others were outfielder Seth Birch and pitcher Jake Nicholson, both from East Liverpool.
kovach@vindy.com