News

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's fastpitch softball team was well-represented on the 2003 National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Team when the awards were announced recently.

Five Lady Cougars made the 15-player All-Region Team and two other players received Honorable Mention for MVNU, which finished as the NCCAA East Region runner-up and currently has a 23-15 overall record. Head coach Jeana Howald was also selected as the East Region Coach of the Year by her peers.

Shannon Rachel, a sophomore pitcher from Galion, Ohio, highlighted the list of players for the Lady Cougars as she was selected as the East Region Co-Player of the Year. The former All-Ohioan at Colonel Crawford High School has posted an 11-7 record on the mound with a 1.55 earned run average and three shutouts. In 131 1/3 innings of work, she has struck out 63 batters and issued just 26 walks.

Stephanie Johnson, a freshman shortstop from Tallmadge, Ohio, joined Rachel on the All-Region Team as the second infielder selected. The former All-Ohioan at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy leads MVNU with a .415 batting average, 54 hits, 29 runs scored, 26 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and two home runs.

Jenni Davis, a senior outfielder from Cardington, Ohio, was also named to the All-Region Team for the second straight year. The former Cardington-Lincoln High School standout is batting .317 with 21 runs scored while starting all 38 games in centerfield and as the Lady Cougars' lead-off hitter.

Angie Smith, a sophomore first baseman from West Liberty, Ohio, was an All-Region Team selection for the first time. The former All-Ohioan at West Liberty-Salem High School is batting .304 with 13 runs scored and 15 RBI. She also has a .986 fielding percentage after moving from third to first this season.

Heather Clark, a freshman pitcher from Oxford, Ohio, rounded out the All-Region Team picks for MVNU. The former Talawanda High School star has posted a 12-8 record with a 1.73 earned run average so far this season with four shutouts and one perfect game. In 129 2/3 innings of work, she has struck out 52 batters and issued 46 walks.

Debbie Dobson and Shara Dyer were each named to the East Region Honorable Mention list. Dobson, a senior outfielder from Elyria, Ohio, and Open Door Christian School, is batting .246 and is second on the team with 22 RBI. Dyer, a sophomore catcher from Bucyrus, Ohio, and Bucyrus High School, is batting .305 with a team-high nine doubles.

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Thursday when the team will travel to Tiffin University for an American Mideast Conference Central Division doubleheader that is slated to get under way at 3:00 p.m.