On the eve of playing in Illinois States 23rd straight conference tournament, Kate Stake, Randi Patton, Dominique Borba and Mandy Garner were honored by the Missouri Valley Conference for their achievements both on and off the field Wednesday evening at the Holiday Inn Select in Wichita, Kan.
Stake, who earned first team All-Valley accolades for the second straight season, topped off her career with her fourth all-conference honor. The second baseman becomes just the third Redbird to garner four all-league accolades under head coach Melinda Fischers direction, being recognized as a second team honoree in her first two seasons. This season the senior tri-captain from Buffalo Grove, Ill., paces her team in nearly every offensive category, and is about to crack the top three in the Illinois State career charts in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI and extra-base hits. Stake, who carries a 3.70 GPA in English, also received scholar-athlete first team honors.
Kate is very deserving of this honor and shes in great company, Fischer said. She works extremely hard, shes a great leader and she a lot of the heart of this team. Kates shown tremendous improvement each year, and shes the kind of student-athlete you want to have in your program. Shes a great role model, and seems to be the go-to person whenever theres a need. Kate has devoted so much to ISU softball and its great to see her rewarded for that.
Patton was named to the All-Valley first team for the first time in her career. Just last season the Golden, Colo., native was recognized as a member of the leagues all-tournament team. Illinois States starting left fielder, who leads the Birds with 13 stolen bases, has helped ISU steal 12 more bases this season than it attempted all last year. The junior owns a .305 average with five home runs, while following Stake in nearly every offensive category.
Even though we only played one game in last years tournament, Randi really used that as a springboard to this season, Fischer said. She came into this season with higher expectations of herself and of this team. Defensively, theres no question. Randi has one of the strongest arms weve ever had in the outfield and shes proven that with some of the plays shes made at the plate this season. This year shes been more consistent offensively, which we had seen glimpses of before. Weve moved her all over the lineup, and shes adjusted to that very well.
Borba, the Redbirds starting shortstop, received second team all-conference laurels for the second time in her career. The senior from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., provided stellar defense for the Redbirds throughout her career. The four-year starter leads ISU with 27 bases on balls and 10 doubles this season.
Its good to see Doms name back in the awards category, Fischer said. Her numbers are a little low on offense, but her selection proves just how much coaches in this conference value defense. Shes a gamer and a true competitor.
Despite missing a number of games this season with a back injury, Garner received honorable mention scholar-athlete nods for the second straight season. The senior tri-captain carries a 3.68 GPA in Accounting.
Im so happy that Mandy received some recognition for what she does in the classroom, Fischer said. We were really disappointed when we didnt have her as an option following her injury. I think she was on track to be first team in everything, but things didnt work out that way. Academically shes always been a leader on this team, and shes going to have a great career.
No. 6 seeded Illinois State (30-19) will take on No. 3 Creighton (40-11), the tenth winningest softball team (by percentage) in the NCAA this season, in its opening game of the 2005 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Bluejays won the last two conference tournaments.
The Redbirds dropped two regular season games to the Bluejays in Omaha this season. Pitching ace Tammy Nielsen stifled the ISU offense in both CU wins, striking out a total of 23 Redbirds, while picking up a no hitter in the season finale. The Birds won game two, 2-1, their first win over the Bluejays since 2003.
With a win over the Bluejays, the Birds would face tournament host Wichita State, the No. 2 seed, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. However, a loss would pit the Birds against the loser of the match-up between No. 1 Southern Illinois and either No. 4 SMS or No. 5 Drake. That game will be played at 11 a.m. Friday.
ISU will be looking for its first wins in the tournament since 2003. Last season its season was cut short due to the cancellation of the second round due to inclement weather and poor field conditions.
