Fresh off its third NCAA appearance in school history, the Illinois State softball team looks to gear-up for another exciting year of competition as the Redbirds host the 2000 Redbird Fall Softball Tournament, Sept. 9-10, at the Redbird Softball Complex.
Bradley, Illinois Central College and St. Xavier are all competing in the tournament. Bradley finished the 2000 season with a 26-28 record under head coach Stafanie Jones and ICC was 29-12, 7th overall in the NJCAA National Tournament. St. Xavier finished its season 48-12.
The Redbirds finished its season with a 28-32 record and a trip to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1995. ISU won the Missouri Valley Conference Softball Tournament to gain the automatic birth to regionals.
Illinois State returns 2000 Valley Tournament MVP Nicole Kurth, a native of Bartonville, Ill., to the mound and offensive powerhouse Bridget Fournie of Belleville, Ill., remains a mainstay in the Redbird lineup. Head coach
Melinda Fischer returns for her 16th season at the head of the softball program while
Tina Kramos, new assistant coach, makes her home debut in the fall tournament.
