May 19, 2007

Columbia, Mo. -Three members of Missouri's 39-22 softball team were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Midwest Region team. Senior outfielder Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) and junior first baseman Amanda Renth (Mascoutah, Ill.) received their first all-region honor while redshirt junior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) was credited with her second all-region accolade. All three individuals are now eligible for All-America honors.

A total of 26 players from 11 different teams across the Midwest were awarded all-region honors. Bowers, Renth and Minner were three of 13 named to the second team. A total of 22 women from Big 12 schools were named to either the first or second team, with No. 1-ranked Oklahoma receiving six honorees.

Bowers, Minner and Renth all helped Missouri to its first NCAA Region Softball Tournament first-game win since 1994. Run-ruling Southern Illinois, 8-0, in five innings, Minner went 2-for-2 with an RBI double and scored one of Missouri's eight runs. Minner last received all-region honors as a redshirt freshman in 2005. Renth, Missouri's team leader with 56 RBI, owns a .320 average and .481 slugging percentage while Bowers, who scored one of Missouri's eight runs against SIU, is batting .297 and stands with 27 stolen bases on the season.