Feb. 5, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
After a historic 2006 season that included the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title and an appearance in the NCAA Regional, the Illinois State softball team has even more to live up to as the Redbirds were tabbed as the preseason favorite in the annual MVC softball coaches' poll, announced Monday by the league office. The Illinois State due of Tiffany Prager (second base) and Amber Smith (utility) were also selected to the 2007 Preseason All -Valley Softball Team.
The `Birds hauled in six first-place votes, finishing with 86 total points. Edging out Southern Illinois by three points (83), ISU returns 11 letterwinners and seven position starters from the 2006 squad. The '07 Redbirds feature seven newcomers, several of whom could vie for starting nods. Wichita State was next in line with 71 points, rounding out the top three preseason picks.
Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer was pleased with the preseason recognition of the team and the pair of players.
"I'm impressed by this ranking," said Fischer. "Being picked first really solidifies what this team did last season. It is an honor to be recognized by the teams in your conference as a team that is predicted to do well. In the same respect, we need to approach this season as a new year and combine our veterans and our newcomers in the best way possible to get positive results.
"Tiffany and Amber both really deserve to be recognized," Fischer continued. "Tiffany is the sparkplug of our defense at second base and is just such a great leader and captain for our team. Everyone remembers Amber's bat last year and it was certainly impressive. Amber had a phenomenal freshman season last year and has the ability and the experience to repeat that success."
Prager was picked to the all-Valley Second Team in 2006, and was also selected to the State Farm MVC All-Tournament Team. The junior second baseman had the fewest strikeouts among the regular starters, and hit .340 in conference action. The only sophomore position starter, Prager committed just one error in 94 league chances and ranked second on the team with 109 assists.
Smith had an unprecedented season as the 2006 Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year. Hitting 17 home runs, Smith became the only player in ISU softball history to amass at least 40 hits, 40 runs scored and 40 RBI in a single season. She made Illinois State athletics history when she collected multiple all-American honors in her rookie season. Smith has already been named to the initial Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Top-50 Watch List for the Sixth Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award, and she enters her second collegiate season ranked No. 5 on the Illinois State career home run list, needing just eight more to tie the record.
Fischer also commented on the increasingly balanced level of play in the MVC.
"I think our entire conference is getting much stronger," Fischer recognized. "I compare it right now to the men's basketball race also going on in the Valley. There is a lot of parity, top to bottom. I believe anyone has the chance to do very well in the conference once league play begins."
Illinois State opens the 2007 season this weekend at the Diamond Fun & Sun Classic in Miami, Fla. Hosted by Florida International, the Redbirds will kick off play with an 11 a.m. game against No. 16 Oklahoma on Friday morning, and will also play FIU, Illinois and No. 20 Louisville in the three-day tournament.
2007 Valley Preseason Coaches Poll
No. Team (1st place votes) Points
1. Illinois State (6) 86
2. Southern Illinois (3) 83
3. Wichita State 71
4. Missouri State 57
5. Creighton 54
6. Indiana State 47
7. Bradley 33
8. Drake 30
9. Evansville 23
10. UNI 11
