May 9, 2006

CEDAR RAPIDS , IOWA . . . Eighteen Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) softball players were named to the 2006 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Midwest Region Team announced by the Association on Tuesday. The IIAC honorees include three First Team selections, five Second Team selections and 10 Third Team selections.

Central College freshman outfielder Alysha Overturf (Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley), Luther College senior third baseman Katie Hopp (Belmond, Iowa/Belmond-Klemme) and Wartburg College junior second baseman Stephanie Howe (Clinton, Iowa/Northeast (Goose Lake)) were named to the First Team.

Earning Second Team All-Region honors were Central sophomore catcher Kelly Harris (LeClaire, Iowa/Pleasant Valley), Coe senior outfielder Ashley Wagner (Lansing, Iowa/Kee), Coe freshman pitcher Ellie Schultz (Clayton, Iowa/Clayton Ridge), Luther junior second baseman Lisa Huinker (Decorah, Iowa/Decorah) and Wartburg senior short stop Cari Kinzenbaw (Ladora, Iowa/HLV). Huinker and Kinzenbaw were at-large selections. Harris, Wagner and Schultz were named at their respective positions.

All Third-Team selections were chosen at-large and representing the Iowa Conference were: Central junior designated player Tina Shimak (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy), Coe senior first baseman Chris Engel (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) and freshman short stop Ashley Leonard (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy), Luther junior outfielders Erin Michael (Independence, Iowa/Jesup) and Christina Gaard (Decorah, Iowa/Decorah), and junior pitcher Becki Buls (Independence, Iowa/Independence), Simpson senior pitcher Bradi Smith (Lacona, Iowa/Southeast Warren), and Wartburg senior pitcher Jackie Sorensen (Tiffin, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana), freshman third baseman Amy Daniels (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls), sophomore outfielder Ashley Steines (Camanche, Iowa/Camanche).

Eight of the All-Region honorees have previously received similar recognition, including five that have become three-time All-Region selections. Howe, Wagner, Shimak, Engel and Sorensen were NFCA All-Region players in 2004 and 2005. Steines was earned All-Region in 2005, and Michael and Smith earned All-Region in 2004.

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