May 10, 2006

CEDAR RAPIDS , IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Wartburg College senior pitcher Jackie Sorensen (Tiffin, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana) was named 2006 IIAC softball Most Valuable Player and Wartburg head coach Kara Kehe was named 2006 IIAC softball Coach of the Year.

Sorensen, the first Wartburg softball played named Conference MVP, enters the NCAA Tournament with an 18-3 record, one save, a 1.33 earned run average, 117 strikeouts and 12 complete games. Opponents are hitting just .192 against her this season as she has allowed just 98 hits and 17 walks over 137.1 innings in 23 appearances. She is tied for second in the Conference in wins, ranks third in opponents’ batting average, fourth in ERA, and fifth in innings pitched and strikeouts.

In 10 Conference games, Sorensen posted a 7-1 record with a 0.91 ERA in 54 innings. She completed six of her eight starts including five shutouts and registered one save. She surrendered seven earned runs (12 total), struck out 42 and walked just six. She led the Conference with a .187 opponents’ batting average, finished second in ERA and tied for second in wins.

Kehe led the Knights to their first Iowa Conference title since 2001 and to the Championship of the first Conference softball Tournament. Wartburg, ranked seventh in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, enters the NCAA Tournament with a 36-5 overall record, tied for the second-most wins in school history. Its 14-2 Conference record is its best Conference record ever. Kehe has led Wartburg to 30-plus wins in each of her three seasons at the helm. This year, the Knights led the Conference in all major offensive statistical categories except doubles and ranked first or second in most pitching categories.

The IIAC also announced today the 2006 softball All-Conference Team. The 26-member team includes 12 previous All-Conference selections including Loras’ Amanda Reiss, who was named Second Team All-Iowa Conference for the fourth time. Five others received their third All-Conference honor. Conference Champion Wartburg, runner-up Coe, and Luther all had a League-best five All-Conference performers. Coe placed four players on the First Team and Wartburg placed three on the First Team.

The complete 2006 IIAC All-Conference softball Team is here.

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