May 5, 2003

Seven from softball team earn All-MIAA honors

Seven members of the Missouri Southern softball team were named to the all-conference team announced today by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

While the Lady Lions had no representation on the first-team, three players -- seniors Lisa Roe (Lenexa, Kan./Shawnee Mission South HS) and Jana Allison (Lebanon, Mo.) and sophomore Alese Woolard (Claremore, Okla./Oolagah HS) -- were picked for second-team All-MIAA accolades. Roe was picked at second base, while Allison earned the honor as a utility player and Woolard as an outfielder.

Roe finished second on the team with a .310 batting average and led the squad with 13 walks and 10 sacrifices. The second baseman currently ranks tied for third in the MIAA in triples, sixth in runs scored and 17th in batting average. In the field, Roe committed just six errors and ended the year with a .969 fielding percentage. Roe, a first-team pick at second base in 2001 and a second-teamer at the position in 2000, was not planning on coming back to the Lady Lions in 2003, but opted to rejoin the squad in January with Southern seeking help in filling out its roster.

Allison batted .253, led the team in doubles (13) and finished second on the squad with 20 RBI. The would-be regular in the outfield also filled in admirably in the pitching circle in 2003 as Southern came into the season short-handed on its pitching staff. Allison ended the campaign with a 10-10 overall record and a 2.54 ERA. In 151.2 innings, she struck out 59 batters. Moreover, over the last three seasons the three-time NFCA Academic All-American played in each of the Lady Lions' 164 games. Allison was also a second-team choice as an outfielder in 2001.

Woolard, who rotated between left field and shortstop this year, led Southern in many offensive categories in 2003, including batting (.358), hits (57), runs (37) and total bases (88). She leads the MIAA and ranks seventh in the nation in triples and also currently ranks second in the conference in runs (0.77 pg), fourth in the conference in on-base percentage (.427) and slugging (.533), fifth in batting and tied for ninth in doubles (0.229 pg). Woolard was an honorable mention all-conference pick in 2002.

Honorable mention honors went to senior first baseman Kristen Armilio (Belton, Mo.), junior outfielder Kara Reed (Linwood, Kan./Barry Univ.), junior shortstop Kami Weston (Baxter Springs, Kan.) and sophomore catcher Mary Barrow (Muskogee, Okla./Hilldale HS).

Armilio was another who wasn't a part of the team in December, but chose to come back with Southern short-handed as January began. The Lady Lions' all-time leader with 1,317 putouts, she batted .193 this season but finished third on the team with eight sacrifices.

Reed, a second-team all-conference pick as a designated player last year, was Southern's top RBI threat in 2003, leading the team with 28 to go with her .276 average. She was the Lady LionsÕ everyday right fielder and went error-free this season.

Weston, a two-time All-MIAA pick at third base in 2000 and 2001, hit .256 this season but batted nearly 40 points higher in the conference season, to the tune of a .292 clip. She led Southern with two home runs and was a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen bases. She also played a pretty solid shortstop/centerfield combination, posting a .961 fielding percentage with just seven errors.

Barrow finished third on the team with a .290 average and 19 RBI. She became a reliable force behind the plate, too. Barrow threw out 15 of 37 runners attempting to steal and picked off six more baserunners.

Each of the seven Lady Lions to earn All-MIAA honors not only played in every game, but started all 48 as well.

The Lady Lions finished the season with a 23-25 overall record, including 8-10 in the MIAA. Under first-year head coach Jennifer Jimerson, Southern made its 14th consecutive appearance in the conference postseason tournament.