May 14, 2009
Columbia, Mo. - Five members of the 11th-ranked and Big 12 Champion Missouri softball team were awarded Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Midwest Region honors as announced today by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Senior Lindsey Ubrun (Riverside, Calif.) and Marla Schweisberger (Raytown, Mo.) earned their first career accolade, while senior Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich.) and sophomore Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) were presented with their second career honor. Senior Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) rounds out the Missouri contingent by earning her third career All-Midwest region honor.
The five All-Midwest region honorees ties Missouri's program high, set last season. The most all-region honorees Missouri had prior to 2008 was four, set in 1994. This season, Missouri tied Texas for the most all-region honorees at five. Oklahoma and Baylor had the second most recipients at four, while Texas A&M received three nods.
One of six outfielders to receive All-Midwest Region accolades, Minner becomes just the third Tiger in program history and first since 2000 to earn three all-region honors in her career. Former Missouri standout and current Iowa State Head Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt was the last Tiger player to earn three all-region honors, doing so in 1998, 1999 and 200. Karen Snelgrove, a 1992 graduate was the first Missouri player to receive three all-region honors.
The NFCA honored a total of 263 players from 121 different institutions, making up 10 NFCA regions. A change this year is the announcement of just one team per region (First Team), although the team has the same number of members of the previous year's first and second teams combined. The change gives the regional representatives more leeway in presenting candidates for All-America selection.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams. In addition, conference pitchers and players of the year not selected to the regional teams were added for All-America consideration.
The Tigers will begin their NCAA post season run, Friday, May 15, at 5 p.m. (CT) against border opponent Illinois. This marks the third year that the University of Missouri has hosted an NCAA softball regional. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS, at the Mizzou Arena box office or at University Field entrance.