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Lady Cougars Well-Represented on NCCAA East Region Team
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Seven members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s fastpitch softball team and their head coach were honored when the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Team was released this week.


Laura Kot	Stepanie Johnson

Danielle Herbert	Heather Clark

Tiffany Simpson	Angie Smith

Shara Dyer	Coach Jeana Howald

Laura Kot, Stephanie Johnson, Danielle Herbert, Heather Clark, and Tiffany Simpson were each named to the NCCAA East Region Team, while Angie Smith and Shara Dyer each received NCCAA East Region Honorable Mention status. Head Coach Jeana Howald was also selected by the region coaches as the NCCAA East Region Coach of the Year.

Kot, a freshman outfielder from Tallmadge, Ohio, leads the Lady Cougars with a .390 batting average. The former Tallmadge High School standout has gone 32-for-82 at the plate with three doubles, four triples, seven RBI, and 20 runs scored.

Johnson, a sophomore shortstop from Tallmadge, Ohio, is batting .337 (31-for-92) with a team-high nine doubles, four triples, 17 RBI, and 20 runs scored. The former Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy star has also stolen six bases in six attempts.

Herbert, a freshman outfielder from Mount Vernon, Ohio, is batting .333 (27-for-81) with six doubles, two triples, 10 RBI, and 13 runs scored. The former Mount Vernon High School product also leads the team with three sacrifice flies.

Clark, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Oxford, Ohio, has posted a 7-7 record on the mound with one save, two shutouts, and a 1.92 earned run average. In 98 2/3 innings of work, the former Talawanda High School star has struck out 51 batters and issued 34 walks.

Simpson, a senior second baseman from Loudonville, Ohio, is batting .238 (15-for-63) with one double, two triples, eight RBI, and eight runs scored. The former Hillsdale High School standout has also stolen five bases in five attempts.

Smith, a senior first baseman from West Liberty, Ohio, is batting .268 (22-for-82) with two doubles, one triple, six runs scored, and 17 RBI. The former West Liberty-Salem High School product also leads the team with 195 putouts.

Dyer, a junior catcher from Bucyrus, Ohio, is batting .256 (20-for-78) with seven doubles, seven runs scored, and 12 RBI. The former Bucyrus High School standout has also thrown out 12 of the 29 base runners who have tried to steal on her.

Howald, who is in her fifteenth season with MVNU, has guided the Lady Cougars to a 13-13 overall record and a 6-6 American Mideast Conference South Division mark. The team, which is playing a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday at Notre Dame College, will compete in the NCCAA East Region Tournament at Geneva (Pa.) College on Friday and Saturday with the winner receiving an automatic berth in the NCCAA National Tournament at Indiana Wesleyan University.