8 May 2000
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206
IWU Freshman Stephanie Stephen
CCIW Softball "Player of Year";
Titans Place Four on all-CCIW TeamBLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan University freshman Stephanie Stephen has been chosen as the "Player of the Year" for softball in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and joined three of her teammates on the all-league softball squad.
In addition to Stephen, seniors Jackie Kloiber and Christie Evitt and freshman Stephanie Hieser were members of the 24-person squad.
Stephen, a first baseman-outfielder from Martinsville (Casey-Westfield HS), is the first freshman to earn the CCIW's top honor since North Central's Brandy Valentine in 1993 and the first Titan to win the award since pitcher Jen Siron in 1996. Jenny Miller won the "Most Outstanding Player" award in 1994 and Missy McEndree shared the honor in 1991.
In 14 conference games this spring, Stephen led the CCIW with a .455 average and tied for the league lead with three home runs and 12 runs batted in.
Evitt, a catcher from Naperville (Oak Lawn Community HS), is on the all-conference team for the fourth straight year. She batted .267 and was fifth in the CCIW with nine runs batted in vs. league foes.
Kloiber, a shortstop from Tinley Park (HS), was also an all-CCIW selection as a sophomore. This spring she was eighth in the league with a .385 batting average and had seven steals and seven RBI in 14 league games.
Hieser, a utility player from Minier (Stanford Olympia HS), hit .316 against the league.
The Titans, who won the league tournament in three games this weekend, will meet Anderson (Ind.) in the NCAA Division III regional tournament this Friday, May 12, at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. IWU is 28-17 overall and finished 8-6 during the CCIW regular season.
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
All-Conference Softball Team 2000Hayley Hallstrom, Fr., P, Augustana
Christine Okon, So., OF, Augustana
Kristi Wiorkowski, Sr., OF, AugustanaLiz Nelson, Jr., P, Carthage
Meghan Gorman, Sr., 2B, Carthage
Jodi Ruhle, Sr., SS, Carthage
Amanda Rodriguez, Jr., 3B, CarthageKathi Roach, Jr., OF, Elmhurst
Tammy Czeszewski, Jr., P, Elmhurst
Justine Gaspari, Sr., 3B, ElmhurstChristie Evitt, Sr., C, Illinois Wesleyan
Stephanie Stephen, Fr., 1B, Illinois Wesleyan
Jackie Kloiber, Sr., SS, Illinois Wesleyan
Stephanie Hieser, Fr., UT, Illinois WesleyanAimee Orr, Sr., P/2B, Millikin
Mandi Mills, Sr., C, Millikin
Holly Coombes, Jr., OF, MillikinKate Parkinson, So., P, North Central
Jennifer Hill, Sr., 3B, North Central
Jamie Hankus, Sr., OF, North Central
Amanda Talley, Jr., SS, North CentralHeather Fitzgerald, So., C, North Park
Mary Schock, So., P, Wheaton
Lori Day, Jr., C, Wheaton