May 8, 2008

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - University of Northern Iowa sophomore pitcher/designated player Jen Larsen was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference the league announced Thursday. Larsen is the first Panther to be selected for an all-conference honor since 2003.

 

The sophomore finished the season with a .317 overall batting average and .318 in conference play. Larsen led the Panthers with seven home runs this season, including three game-winning home runs. Larsen registered seven multiple-RBI games, including a career high five RBIs against UT-Martin (March 2).

 

Besides being a strong force at the plate for the Panthers, Larsen led the way for the Panthers in the circle also, posting the lowest ERA on the team (3.34). Larsen tossed 127.2 innings, including 10 complete games and two shutouts.

 

2008 Missouri Valley Conference Softball All-Conference Team

 

Pos. Player, School Yr. Hometown (High School)

P Tara Oltman, Creighton*! So. Cortland, Neb. (Beatrice)

P Ashly Bright, Wichita State Sr. Oklahoma City, Okla. (Putnam City/Cowley CC)

C TJ Eadus, Creighton* Sr. Tucson, Ariz. (Sahuaro/Central Arizona)

1b Lauren Haas, Southern Illinois Sr. Bremerton, Wash. (Olympic)

2b Jaci Faidley, Drake Sr. Colfax, Iowa (Colfax-Mingo)

3b Kara Nelson, Illinois State*#  So. Moline, Ill. (Moline)

SS Bailey Dawson, Creighton Jr. Lincoln, Neb. (Southeast)

OF Kristin Birocci, Drake Sr. Des Moines, Iowa (Lincoln)

OF Jessie Buker, Illinois State* Jr. Macon, Ill. (Okaw Valley)

OF Jessica Wakasugi, Creighton Jr. Woodbury, Minn. (Woodbury)

DP-Pitcher Jen Larsen, UNI So. Moline, Ill. (Moline)

DP-Utility Cynthia Verhulst, Wichita State Sr. Shawnee, Kan. (Bishop Miege)

At-Large Melissa Porche, Missouri State Sr. Buena Park, Calif. (Oxford Prep Academy)

At-Large Renae Sinkler, Creighton So. Lincoln, Neb. (Northeast)

At-Large Brittany Herald, Evansville* Sr. Old Hickory, Tenn. (Ezell-Harding Christian)

At-Large Amber Smith, Illinois State*^ Jr. Fairfield, Calif. (Fairfield) 

At-Large Meredith Simpson, Indiana State Jr. Mission Viejo, Calif. (Capo Valley)

At-Large Tiffany Prager, Illinois State Sr. Bloomington, Ill. (Olympia)

 

* 2007 First-Team; ^2006 First Team; $ 2005 First Team; # 2007 Player of the Year; ! 2007 Pitcher/Newcomer of the Year

   

MVC Player of the Year: Lauren Haas, SIU Sr. Bremerton, Wash. (Olympic)

MVC Pitcher of the Year: Tara Oltman, CU So. Cortland, Neb. (Beatrice)

MVC Newcomer of the Year: Brynne Dordel, DU Fr. Chanhassen, Minn. (Chaska)

MVC Coaching Staff of the Year:  Creighton (Brent Vigness, Abby Johnson)  

   

Missouri Valley Conference Softball Second Team All-Conference

Pos. Player, School Yr. Hometown (High School)

1b Marilyn Buss, Drake Sr. West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley)

3b Michelle Armentrout, Missouri State Sr. Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow)

OF Brooke Kempker, Missouri State Jr. Jefferson City, Mo. (Cole R-V Eugene)

SS Britnee Barnett, Wichita State*^$ Sr. Peoria, Ariz. (Centennial)

OF Katie McGeeney, Wichita State^$ Sr. Derby, Kan. (Derby)