Redbird all-star Audra Rast earned a unanimous vote for Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, while six other Illinois State softball players were honored with All-Conference awards on Wednesday evening at the Valley softball banquet held at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Bloomington.
Rast, a native of Tucson, Ariz., posted a 21-4 overall record and a 14-2 conference record this season, hurling a stellar 1.05 ERA, compiling 178 strikeouts in 174 innings pitched. She also managed to lead the league in two Valley categories for most victories and strikeouts per inning with an average of 7.45.
The junior was excited to find out that she had won the award and complimented her teammates on a great season, looking forward to the attempt to repeat a Valley championship this weekend.
I didnt know that I was nominated for the award until this morning, said Rast. I was stunned when I heard my name called.
Weve all worked so hard this year and I have to say that my teammates are always there to back me up out there (on the field) and they are so supportive, Rast continued. I dont think our team has peaked yet and I think the energy thats involved in the tournament will bring us there.
Members of the Redbird squad to clinch First-Team All-Conference honors were: senior outfielder Cutie Taylor, who was also voted to the Pre-season All-Conference team and was a Player of the Year finalist, leads the Valley in home runs (11) and RBI (37); senior catcher Shae Wesley posted a .320 batting average and had an on base percentage of .347; and junior Abbie Scott, who earned the Prairie Farms/Valley Scholar Athlete of the Week on 3-25-02 and led the team in doubles with 11.
Earning Second-Team awards were: senior Jamie Bagnall who was also a Pre-season All-Conference selection and was second on the team with putouts at first base holding 216 and grabbing a .286 batting average; freshman Kate Stake who filled second base for the Birds and became the first freshman at Illinois State in four seasons to hit over a .300 average (.317); and freshman shortstop Dominique Borba, who drove in 16 runs, had 13 RBI and eight doubles.
The Birds will head into the first round of the conference tournament on Thursday, May 9, to face off against Northern Iowa at noon at the Redbird Softball Complex.
