Four Softball Lions Earn All-MIAA Honors
Kansas City, Mo. – The MIAA office today announced the 2012 All-MIAA honors at the opening ceremonies of the MIAA Post-Season Softball Tournament at the Blue Valley Sports Complex in Overland Park, Kansas.
Missouri Southern (16-35, 5-15 MIAA) was represented with four members on the All-MIAA squads. Senior Breanna Volkmann earned second team honors as she led the Lions in batting average, .353, and on base percentage, .400. Volkmann also had team highs with 54 hits and two triples.
The other Lions earned honorable mention honors as seniors Lydia Niemegeers and Brianna Fulkerson joined sophomore Shelby Romines.
Niemegeers finished with a .286 batting average and collecting 36 hits and 17 RBIs, while starting at catcher in 46 of the teams 51 games this season.
Fulkerson started and played in 47 games at second base for Southern and finished with a .290 batting average with 16 RBIs and 45 hits, eight of which went for doubles.
Romines stepped into a starting role this year at first base and finished second on the team in batting average with a .296 average while playing in all 51 games. She recorded 23 RBIs, four doubles, one triple, and two home runs on her way to 42 hits on the season.
Below is the complete 2012 All-MIAA Teams.
2012 ALL-MIAA SOFTBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Amanda DeCastro, Sr., SS, Pittsburg State
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Jackie Bishop, So., Missouri Western
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Adriana Wortley, Sr., 1B, Fort Hays State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Stephanie Goodwin, DP, Emporia State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Julie LeMaire, Emporia State
FIRST TEAM
P: Jackie Bishop, So., Missouri Western** [r1]
P: Maddie Holub, Jr., Fort Hays State
C: Amanda Self, Jr., Emporia State
1B: Tricia Vogel, So., Emporia State
2B: Taylor Nelson, Sr., Fort Hays State
SS: Amanda DeCastro, Sr., Pittsburg State
3B: Alex Zordel, Jr., Washburn
OF: Maegan Roemmich, Jr., Missouri Western
OF: Bridget Schade, Sr., Truman
OF: Kacy Covert, Sr., Washburn
DP: Stephanie Goodwin, Fr., Emporia State
UT: Cheslyn Mitchell, Fr., Pittsburg State
**Unanimous Selection
[r1] - Repeat first team selection from last season
SECOND TEAM
P: Karley Schmelzer, Jr., Emporia State
P: Kelsea Dorsey, Fr., Truman
C: Callie Wright, So., Fort Hays State
1B: Adriana Wortley, Sr., Fort Hays State
2B: Blair Stalder, Sr., Missouri Western
SS: Taylor Zordel, Fr., Emporia State
3B: Jessica Gragg, Fr., Emporia State
OF: Brenna George, So., Pittsburg State
OF: Jessica Brewer, Jr., Emporia State
OF: Breanna Volkmann, Sr., Missouri Southern
DP: Tiffany Brown, So., Pittsburg State
UT: Keri Lorbert, Jr., Missouri Western
HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Braylyn Bivens, So., SS; Katie Groves, Sr., 3B; Ashlea Bengtson, Jr., OF; Alex Groeger, So., OF; Jaydee Young, Sr., OF; Jakki Prater, Fr., UT.
Emporia State: Jennifer Heerey, Sr., P; Taylor Reichard, So., 2B; Andrea Piezuch, So., OF.
Fort Hays State: Chelsey Rottinghaus, Jr., 3B; Amanda Vaupel, Fr., OF.
Lincoln: Megan Braun, Sr., OF.
Missouri Southern: Lydia Niemegeers, Sr., C; Shelby Romines, So., 1B; Brianna Fulkerson, Sr., 2B.
Missouri Western: Annalee Rubio, Jr., P; Kat Steponovich, So., C; Leah Steele, Sr., 1B; Taylor Anding, So., SS; Sarah Elliott, Jr., 3B; Bre Fleschner, Fr., OF; Kendall Sorensen, Jr., OF.
Northwest Missouri: Jenna Creger, Jr., P; Hailee Hendricks, Jr., 2B; Kristen Uthe, Jr., 3B; Kayli Schurman, Jr., DP.
Pittsburg State: Hilary Erbert, Sr., P; Jessica Barnes, So., P; Kreslee Ketcham, Jr., C.
Southwest Baptist: Jessica Colliver, Fr., P; Kassy Williamson, Jr., UT.
Truman: Elizabeth Leath, Fr., C; Laura Miller, Jr., OF; Katie Pitts, Sr., OF; Kelsey Bollman, So., UT.
Washburn: Katie Schroeder, So., 2B.
