Redbird softball player Kate Stake was named to the 2004 Missouri valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team, while fellow junior Mandy Garner earned honorable mention recognition Tuesday.
Kate and Mandy are very deserving of this honor, Illinois State head coach
Melinda Fischer said. Mandys versatility has been critical and Kates steadiness and leadership at second base have been important ingredients to this years team. Theyre both great students and diligent workers in the classroom. Another nice thing is that they have been very willing to help their teammates with academic situations while on the road. Kate and Mandy understand what it takes to compete at this level in order to manage their time and be productive both on the field and in the classroom.
Stake, Illinois States starting second baseman for the past three years, carries a 3.67 in English. The Buffalo Grove, Ill., native, is the second leading hitter on this years Redbird squad with a .296 average. Stake, a co-captain this season, currently leads the league in hits in Valley games (34). She ranks third among Valley players in total bases (48), average (.386) and plate appearances (101). Last season, Stake received honorable mention accolades.
Garner, a versatile athlete who has been used in five different positions this season, has started all but one game this year and became the Redbirds leadoff hitter midway through the season. The Accounting major carries a 3.68 GPA. In just conference games, Garner is tied for the lead in runs scored (18), is second in plate appearances (102) and is tied for fourth in home runs (4).
Stake, Garner and the No. 3 seeded Redbirds will take on No. 6 Evansville in the Valley Tournament in Carbondale on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. If Illinois State wins, it will face No. 2 Creighton at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Should the Birds fall to the Purple Aces, they will take on the loser of the Southern Illinois vs. Drake/Wichita State on Friday at 11 a.m.
