VALDOSTA — Former Lowndes Viking and Valdosta native Ben Williams was presented the 2007 Ken Dugan Award this past weekend. The award is the highest honor a Lipscomb University baseball player can achieve.

“Williams is the heart and soul of this team,” Lipscomb assistant coach Brian Ryman said in a press release. “He has the leadership qualities that you can’t teach a baseball player.”

“If I had nine players just like Ben, my job would be a lot easier.”

As a junior, Williams played a key role in the Bison’s season this year. He was an integral part of Lipscomb’s first ever run to the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.

The Ken Dugan award was created in 2001 to honor Lipscomb’s former head coach, who led the Bison from 1960 to 1996.

“Ben Williams is well deserving of the Dugan Award,” Lipscomb Athletic Director Steve Potts said in a press release.

Williams started in every game this season and finished ranked in the Top 5 in 12 statistical categories. He led the team in four categories: plate appearances (225), at bats (200), walks (21) and steal attempts (24).

This season he batted .249 with 32 runs and 13 RBI’s. He had 58 hits, four doubles, one triple and one home run. Williams had a .322 on base percentage.

The recipient of the award is selected by the Lipscomb Baseball Steering Committee, and is given each year to a player who best displays five characteristics. The player must show a commitment to excellence as a baseball player, an uncommon display of Christian character, a burning desire to be a true champion, outstanding leadership qualities, and he must be a player with an unbridled passion for baseball.

“The first thing we talked about in the steering committee was Coach Dugan and what he was all about as a person and a coach,” committee member Randy Bostic said in a press release.

“We then talked to the coaches to see who had those qualities, and Williams was the overwhelming choice.”

During his tenure at Lipscomb, Ken Dugan won two National Championships and more than 1100 games.

The award was given to Williams in a ceremony before a game last Saturday by Dugan’s daughter and two of his grandchildren.