July 13, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
Following one of the most successful seasons in program history, a year in which ISU earned its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, and head coach Melinda Fischer became the winningest coach in school history, the Illinois State softball team recently announced its team awards for the 2007 season. Continuing a trend of being nationally ranked throughout much of the season, the Redbirds also finished 21st in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) RPI rankings, the highest among all Missouri Valley Conference schools.
Senior pitcher Shannon Nicholson and freshman third baseman Kara Nelson were named co-Most Valuable Players for the 2007 Redbirds. Nicholson, a 2007 All-MVC First-Team selection, earned Easton All-America Second-Team status after going 21-8 in the circle for Illinois State, while posting a team-best 1.53 earned-run-average in 187.0 innings pitched. Nelson became the first freshman to ever earn Valley Player of the Year honors after batting a team-high .415, while setting Redbird season marks in hits (90) and runs scored (59).
Nelson's prolific offensive season also earned her the `Birds' Best Offensive Player award, along with the squad's Rookie of the Year honor.
Nicholson picked up one more team honor, as she received the team's academic award, following a season in which she was named the Prairie Farms/MVC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week three times (March 7, May 2 and May 10). She also was honored as an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V First-Team selection, as well as being named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team.
Fielding her position at a .974 clip throughout the season, junior second baseman Tiffany Prager pulled in the team's Best Defensive Player award. Prager made just seven errors in 273 chances, while turning five double plays on the year. Sophomore utility player Jessie Buker was tabbed as the Redbirds' Most Improved Player. The all-Valley first-teamer batted .322 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 51 RBI.
Senior Jackie Williams joined Nicholson and Prager as recipients of the Redbirds' Captain Award. The trio served as captains of the 2007 Illinois State softball team. Prager, the lone holdover from that group for next season, was named captain of the 2007-08 Redbird softball team. The seven team awards, along with the team captain, were voted on by the team members.
Rounding out the team awards, seniors Nicholson, Jackie Williams, Kelsey Warning and Stacy Birk were honored with the Redbird Award for their commitment, dedication, leadership, perseverance and courage in the Illinois State softball program. The group was part of one of the most successful runs in ISU softball history, earning 146 wins and a .661 winning percentage in their four years together, while helping the Redbirds earn the 2006 MVC regular-season championship, along with two-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
With the success of its 2007 season behind it, Illinois State finished No. 21 in the RPI rankings, the best among all Valley schools. Southern Illinois, which beat the `Birds at the Valley tournament to eliminate them, finished next at No. 30, while 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Champion Creighton came in at No. 44.
Owning the second-highest winning percentage among all conference schools at .712, with a league mark of 18-7-1, the Redbirds finished No. 44 in the Warren Nolan strength-of-schedule (SOS) rankings, the highest of all Valley schools. The next highest conference school was Southern Illinois at No. 59.
For a team that was nationally ranked for much of the season, the Redbirds lived up to their high status, boasting an impressive 9-7 record against ranked foes in 2007. Three of those wins came in a record-setting weekend at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament in Los Angeles, where ISU earned multiple victories over a ranked opponent (No. 17 Florida, 1-0 and No. 12 UCLA, 2-1) on the same day (March 2) for the first time in school history. Two of its losses against ranked opponents came at the hands of Northwestern in the NCAA Regional in Evanston, Ill. The then-No. 6 Wildcats first took down the Redbirds with a 5-2 victory in the second round of the regional, before ousting ISU from the postseason via a 4-1 win in the championship game. Northwestern, which made it all the way to the semi-final round of the 2007 Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., before losing to eventual runner-up Tennessee, 3-0, received an RPI ranking of No. 3 with an overall record of 51-3, and a No. 4 SOS.
