May 7, 2008
MVC Tournament Central | 2008 MVC Tournament Photo Gallery
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
For the third-straight year and fourth time this decade, four Illinois State softball players were honored as first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, as sophomore third baseman Kara Nelson, junior left fielder Jessie Buker, junior pitcher/first baseman Amber Smith and senior second baseman Tiffany Prager were all named first-team All-MVC honorees at the 2008 Missouri Valley Conference Championship banquet Wednesday night at Southern Illinois' SIU Arena in Carbondale, Ill.
Illinois State's four first-team selections were the second-most among Valley schools, as MVC regular-season champion Creighton led the way with five first-team honorees.
One year after becoming the first-ever freshman to earn the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honor, Nelson earned her second-straight first-team All-MVC accolade. The Moline, Ill., native finished the 2008 regular season with a .399 batting average, which included team-highs in runs scored (36), hits (59), doubles (9), triples (6), slugging percentage (.622) and on-base percentage (.467). Nelson's six triples in the regular season were more than four other Valley teams had as an entire team. She had 10 multiple-hit games in MVC action and scored at least one run in 10 of her last 11 conference games.
"Kara has had another great year for us, both in terms of batting average and what she has done in the leadoff position in our lineup," said Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer. "She has been very consistent at the plate and is she is very deserving of the first-team all-conference honor."
Smith became just the third Redbird in program history to be named a three-time first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honoree. The 2006 MVC Newcomer of the Year is currently tied for the Valley's all-time home run lead with 39 career home runs. Smith hit .342 in league games with 17 runs batted in and five home runs. She makes appearances among the league's best in hitting (.339), slugging (.556), on-base percentage (.434), hits (42), RBI (28) and home runs (7). She also had the third-best ERA in conference games (1.52) and earned nine Valley wins in the circle.
"Amber has done it all for us this season," said Fischer. We have asked her to assume a different role (being ISU's No. 1 pitcher and one of its top hitters) than she has been used to over the past two years. She has been tremendous at helping us in the circle and at first base, as well as being a key part of our lineup. In all three of her seasons at ISU, she has consistently been one of our top hitters, and I think that shows the tremendous player that she is."
Buker's 2008 season has seen one of the biggest turnarounds of any Redbird, as she started the year hitting just .150 through ISU's first 20 games. She then rattled off a string of multiples hits in 10 of 17 games, which helped to increase her average 145 points to .295 at the end of the regular season. In league games, Buker hit .338 with five home runs and 16 runs batted in. After being named Valley Player of the Week April 28, Buker rose to the top of the Illinois State softball team in home runs with nine on the season, and was second on the team in RBI (27). The first-team All-MVC honor is the second in Buker's career.
"Jessie has been a very solid outfielder for us this season," said Fischer. "What you don't notice about Jessie is her great defensive ability. I know many coaches that respect her arm in the outfield. She has also really gotten herself on a good streak at the plate, and as the season progressed, she got better at the plate."
Two years after being named a second-team All-MVC selection, Prager earned her first-career first-all all-conference honor as an at-large selection after she finished second on the team in batting average (.350) in the regular season, while she was second in runs scored (26) and third in hits (41). Her eight doubles on the season have given her 33 for her career, which ranks tied for sixth all-time at Illinois State. Prager was the Redbirds' second-leading hitter in conference play at .353 and scored 12 runs and drove in nine in league action despite missing six games because of a dislocated left shoulder she suffered April 16 at Illinois.
"I'm extremely excited for Tiffany, especially since she is a senior," said Fischer. "After missing six conference games due to her injury, she showed tremendous courage and dedication to come back strong and earn her first-ever first-team All-MVC honor. Defensively, she has always been the heart of our team, and prior to her injury, she was on a great roll at the plate and has really been one of our best hitters throughout the season. I think that she was very deserving of this honor."
With a No. 2 seed in this year's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, Illinois State has earned a first- and second-round bye and will open conference tournament play at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Southern Illinois' Charlotte West Stadium against either No. 3 Southern Illinois, No. 6 Evansville or No. 7 Missouri State.
Illinois State All-Missouri Valley Conference First-Team Honorees
Third Base - Kara Nelson
Outfield - Jessie Buker
At-Large - Amber Smith
At-Large - Tiffany Prager
