May 16, 2003

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . Three Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) softball players were named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Team on Thursday. Central College pitchers Libby Hysell (Colfax, Iowa/Colfax-Mingo HS) and April Miller (Pleasantville, Iowa/Pleasantville HS), and Simpson College catcher/designated player Sara Kahler (Long Beach Calif./Los Alamitos HS) were among the 45 players named to three All-American teams.

Hysell, the 2003 Iowa Conference Most Valuable Player, was named a Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-America and was named one of five finalists for the Honda Award as the Division III Player of the Year. This marks her third All-American selection, having received Second Team honors in 2002 and Third Team honors in 2001. She enters Friday’s opening round of the NCAA Championships with a 14-0 record and a 0.34 ERA.

Miller, a two-time All-Conference selection, and Kahler, a First Team All-Conference selection this season, were both named Third Team All-Americas. Miller enters the NCAA Championship with a 14-0 record and a 0.74 ERA. Kahler finished the season with a .435 batting average, five home runs and 27 RBI.

Hysell is the second Central player and fourth Iowa Conference player to be a three-time softball All-American selection. Other three-time All-Americans include Heather White (Buena Vista, 1992-94), Missy Allen (Central, 1993, 1994, 1996) and Kelly Schade (Simpson, 1997-99). With Hysell and Miller’s All-American selections, Central has had 17 different players earn 26 All-America honors since 1986. Kahler is 12th All-American selection from nine different players at Simpson.

-30-