May 17, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State softball team was well represented on the 2007 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-Great Lakes Region Teams, as the 'Birds landed a trio of players to the squad. Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Kara Nelson and All-MVC First Team selection Shannon Nicholson garnered NFCA All-Great Lakes First Team honors, while Amber Smith, also an All-MVC First Teamer, was picked to the second team.
A total of 248 players from 121 different teams comprised the first and second regional teams. The Missouri Valley Conference landed nine total players on the NFCA All-Region Teams and six of those players were recognized in the Great Lakes Region. Along with ISU, Southern Illinois also landed three players on the All-Great Lakes Region teams.
Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer was pleased that these three players were recognized on a regional level.
"I'm really happy for Kara, Shannon and Amber but I believe that this is not only credit to what they have done but what our entire team has been able to accomplish," said Fischer. "When coaches vote for this award, they can see each teams' RPI which is something new this year and by far, we've played a great schedule. These three players have certainly performed well while playing this schedule. And even though these are individual honors, it's really a credit to our whole team."
Nelson, the Redbirds' starting third baseman, became the first ever Valley freshman to earn the MVC Player of the Year award after sparking the ISU lineup from the No. 1 spot all season. The lefty slap hitter ended the 2007 regular season batting at a .412 clip, collecting 82 hits in 199 at bats, including 13 doubles, four triples and three home runs. Nelson scored 57 runs and drove in 21 RBI, while boasting a slugging percentage of .563 and an on-base tally of .449. A native of Moline, Ill., Nelson led the conference in batting average, runs scored and hits.
"Kara just had an outstanding freshman year," said Fischer. "She has put a lot of work into it and since coming to Illinois State, has added some great dimension to her game. Kara had to learn a new position at third base, which I give her a lot of credit for. She has been so consistent for us both offensively and defensively and we're excited to have her around for three more years."
Nicholson's 1.51 ERA leads the Illinois State pitchers and her record of 20-6 includes eight Valley wins. The senior hurler has pitched since March 28 with a torn ACL, but Nicholson's statistics haven't suffered. She has appeared in 33 games, starting 24 of those contests. Nicholson has pitched 172.0 innings, giving up 37 earned runs and striking out 109 batters. The native of Chatham, Ill., scattered just 78 hits in conference play. Additionally, Nicholson owns a 6-3 record against top-25 clubs in 2007 and has posted a 9-3 tally since coming back from her knee injury.
"Shannon is very deserving and I'm excited for her when you think back to the day we thought she wouldn't be able to finish her senior season and now she's an all-region selection. These are just tremendous accolades for her," said Fischer. "If our younger players have listened and watched, Shannon has taught them everything they need to know about being a Redbird softball player. The lessons she teaches are on the field and off the field. She's a competitor in everything she does and has a lot of respect for opportunity."
Smith follows Nelson in offensive numbers, recording a .343 batting average in the 2007 regular-season. The Redbird first baseman has started in all 58 games, gathering 59 hits and 40 RBI. Smith, a sophomore, has crushed 15 home runs this season and became the ISU career home runs leader with her 32 long balls in just two years. Smith was named a NFCA All-Great Lakes Region first-team selection in 2006 and went on to earn Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I Third Team All-American honors in her freshman campaign.
"Amber has really stepped it up later in the season until now," continued Fischer. "It's hard to repeat what she accomplished last season after she had so much success as a freshman. But I think that Amber has been a tremendous driving force behind what we've done and that started last year. What she was able to accomplish as a freshman really modeled what we are able to do today, in terms of home run hitting. Amber really drives the ball and hits it hard but her defense is so impressive, as well, at first base. Like Kara, she had to learn a new position this year. I really feel that she's added a defensive dimension to her game which helps us as a team."
Chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams. Those teams will be announced on May 30.
