2008 Illinois State Softball Media Guide

redbirds
ILLINOIS STATE SOFTBALL

ISU
2008 redbird sofTball

2008 rEdBIrd SOFTBALL mEdIA gUIdE
A mESSAgE FrOm hEAd
cOAch mELINdA FISchEr
Thanks to the vision and passion of Dr. Sheahon
Zenger, Illinois State director of athletics, as well as
University President Dr. Al Bowman, the Redbird
Athletics Department is emerging as of the premier
NCAA Division I athletics departments, not only in the
Midwest, but throughout the country.
The Illinois State Athletics Department’s quest for
sustained success is a long-term expedition, just as
the Illinois State softball team’s mission to become TABLE OF cONTENTS ThE cOAchINg STAFF
Head Coach Melinda Fischer ______________24
one of the top softball teams in the nation is a long- Assistant Coach Bill Kennedy ______________26
term process. With two-straight NCAA Tournament
ThIS IS rEdBIrd SOFTBALL
Table of Contents_________________________1 Assistant Coach Tina Kramos ______________26
appearances, our student-athletes, as well as our Volunteer Asst. Coach Bill Dickson __________27
Media Center/Quick Facts __________________2
coaching staff, believe that we are moving in the right Redbird Softball Tradition __________________3 Student Asst. Coach Shannon Nicholson _____27
direction. Redbird Softball Complex __________________4
Much of the success of this program is due This is Illinois State Softball _________________5 ThE OPPONENTS
to the tremendous dedication, commitment and 2008 Opponents/Tournament Schedule ______28
intestinal fortitude that our student-athletes display 2008 SEASON PrEvIEw All-time Series Records ___________________30
each day. To be a Redbird softball student-athlete 2008 Roster _____________________________6
means so much more that just being at practice and 2008 Season Outlook _____________________7 2007 SEASON rEvIEw
playing in games. To be a REDBIRD means you The Missouri Valley Conference _____________8 2007 Season Notes ______________________31
strive to uphold the success and tradition that IS 2007 Results ___________________________32
Illinois State softball. It is a commitment that is not ThE PLAyErS 2007 Overall Statistics ____________________33
for everyone, but for those who are fortunate enough Tiffany Prager ___________________________9 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Statistics____34
Andrea Shifflet __________________________10 Final MVC Standings/ISU All-MVC Players ____34
to become a part of the Illinois State Athletics family,
it is a commitment that sees each student-athlete Jessie Buker ___________________________ 11
Casey Gorrell___________________________12 rEcOrdS
actively participate in the community, excel in the Redbird Softball Honor Roll ________________35
classroom, train in our state-of-the art weight facility Amber Smith ___________________________13
Katie Thoennes _________________________14 Redbird Softball Letterwinners _____________36
and build relationships and friendships, with other Redbird All-Americans ____________________37
Kaprice Williams ________________________15
student-athletes and administrators alike, that will last All-time Hitting Records ___________________38
Michelle Henderson ______________________16
a lifetime. To be a Redbird student-athlete is truly a All-time Pitching/Fielding Records __________39
Vicki Klopf _____________________________17
privilege. Kara Nelson ____________________________18 Redbird Softball Complex Records __________40
Please continue with us as we embark on this Diciembre Vaca _________________________19 Hall of Fame Members ___________________40
2008 campaign. Your support is essential to our Jennifer Brown/Rachel Smith/Katie Mathis ____20 Miscellaneous Records ___________________40
success, and I welcome you all to help us continue to Carly Billings/Chrissy Burton/Kasey Martin ____21
“SPREAD THE RED.” Brittany McElmury/Amy Mitchell/Abby Olson ___22 ILLINOIS STATE UNIvErSITy
Jessica Roche __________________________23 Administration/Support Staff _________________41
Illinois State University ___________________42
Karin Bone Study Center __________________43
Redbirds in the Community ________________43
Owen Strength and Conditioning Center ______44
Redbird Athletic Training __________________44
2008 SOFTBALL mEdIA gUIdE EdITOr/wrITEr/dESIgNEr cOvEr dESIgN
The 2008 Illinois State softball media guide was Keith Trivitt Shawn Billo
designed and produced by the Illinois State
Athletics Media Relations Office in Normal, EdITOrIAL/rESEArch ASSISTANcE PhOTOgrAPhy
Ill., using Adobe InDesign CS2 and Adobe Todd Kober, Brett McWethy, Jimmy Knodel, John Dennis Banks and Jon Muzzarelli
Photoshop CS2. Sandberg, Jill Speer, Kyle Matthews and Munirah
McNeely, of the Illinois State Athletics Media PrINTINg
Relations Office. Illinois State University Printing Services

Two-sTraighT ncaa TournamenT appearances 16 all-americans 11 missouri valley conference championships
2008 Softball Media Guide - DO N1 1 1/29/2008 10:06:18 AM

ISU
redbirds
QUIcK FAcTS

PrImAry mEdIA OUTLETS
media cenTer
Print Phone Fax Web site
ILLINOIS STATE UNIvErSITy
School _____________________ Illinois State University Bloomington Pantagraph 309/829.9411 309/829.7000 pantagraph.com
City _________________________________ Normal, Ill. Peoria Journal-Star 309/686.3214 309/686.3205 PJStar.com
Zip Code _________________________________61761 Daily Vidette 309/438.2883 309/438.5211 dailyvidette.org
Founded __________________________________1857 Chicago Sun-Times 312/321.2635 312/321.2833 suntimes.com
Enrollment _______________________________ 20,104 Chicago Tribune 312/222.3473 312/828.9392 chicagosports.com
Nickname______________________________ Redbirds State Journal-Register 217/788.1547 217/788.1551 SJ-R.com
Colors ____________________ Red (PMS 186) White
The Normalite 309/454.5476
Affiliation _________________________ NCAA Division I
Conference ________ Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) A
Facility ___________________ Redbird Softball Complex Radio Phone Fax Web site
Capacity__________________________________ 1,000 WJBC-AM (Flagship) 309/821.1000 309/829.8071 wjbc.com
Dimensions _________________________ 190-210-190 WGLT-FM 309/438.2255 309/438.7870 wglt.org
President __________________________ Dr. Al Bowman WZND 309/438.5499 309/438.2652 wznd.com
Director of Athletics _____________ Dr. Sheahon Zenger
NCAA Faculty Representative ______Dr. Debbie Lindberg Television Phone Fax Web site
Senior Women’s Administrator ________Leanna Bordner
WMBD (CBS-31) 309/686.9461 309/686.8658 ciproud.com
WEEK (NBC-25) 309/698.3729 309/698.2070 week.com
rEdBIrd SOFTBALL hISTOry WHOI (ABC-19) 309/698.1956 309/698.1910 hoinews.com
First Year of Softball _________________________1965
WAND 217/424.2500 217/424.2583 wandtv.com
All-time Record _______________________ 1,079-681-4
All-time NCAA Division I Record ___________ 795-535-4
WCIA 217/356.8333 217/373.3663 wcia.com
All-time MVC Record ____________________ 338-124-2 WICD 217/351.8538 217/351.6134 wicd15.com
NCAA Tournament Appearances _________________ Six WICS 217/753.5614 217/753.5681 www.wics.com
______________ (1988, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007) TV-10 News 309/438.5481 309/438.2652 www.communication.ilstu.edu/tv10

TEAm INFOrmATION rEdBIrdS ON ThE
2007 Overall Record _________________ 44-17-1 (.709) ILLINOIS STATE AThLETIcS rAdIO
2007 MVC Record/Finish ___________18-7-1 (.692)/2nd
Home Record ______________________________ 15-4 mEdIA rELATIONS Redbird softball will be featured a total of 29
times during the regular season on the radio
Away Record ______________________________11-8-1 in 2008. WJBC-AM 1230, Bloomington and
Neutral Record _____________________________ 18-5
2007 Postseason __________ NCAA Regional Participant KEITH TRIVITT WJBC2.com are the official home of Illinois
State softball. Zach Parcell will provide
Letterwinners Returning/Lost___________________ 11/5 Media Relations Graduate Assistant play-by-play duties in 2008, with R.C. McBride
Position Starters Returning/Lost _________________ 6/2 Softball Contact occasionally filling in.
Pitchers Returning/Lost ________________________ 1/2 O: 309/438.7748
Newcomers ___________________________________9 C: 417/299.5996 Date Opponent Location Time
Captains ______________ Tiffany Prager, Andrea Shifflet F: 309/438.5634 2.8 Cent. Arkansas Orlando, Fla. 10:15a
______ Jessie Buker, Amber Smith, Michelle Henderson 2.8 Cent. Florida Orlando, Fla. 2:45p
E-mail: katrivi@ilstu.edu
2.9 Kansas Orlando, Fla. 8:15a
2.9 NC State Orlando, Fla. 12:15p
SOFTBALL cOAchINg STAFF Media Services: Media personnel covering Redbird Softball are
2.10 Bracket Play Orlando, Fla. TBA
Head Coach________ Melinda Fischer (Illinois State, ‘72) provided with game programs, game notes and statistics. Final box
2.22 Radford Tempe, Ariz. 1:45p
Total Years Coaching ___________________________25 scores will be distributed following all games.
2.22 Arizona State Tempe, Ariz. 8:15a
Career Record ____________________ 756-500-4 (.600)
2.23 Iowa Tempe, Ariz. 1:45p
Years at ISU __________________ 2008 is 23rd season Credentials: All media and photo credentials for home games may 2.23 Miami (Ohio) Tempe, Ariz. 8:15p
Record at ISU ____________________ 724-483-4 (.647) be obtained by contacting Illinois State Athletics Media Relations 2.24 Buffalo Tempe, Ariz. 11:45a
Assistant Coach______ Tina Kramos (Missouri State, ‘95) Graduate Assistant and softball contact Keith Trivitt at 309/438.7748 2.29 Winthrop Columbus, Ga. 9:45a
Pitching Coach ________ Bill Kennedy (Illinois State, ‘68) or by e-mail at katrivi@ilstu.edu Credentials should be requested at 2.29 Charlotte Columbus, Ga. 5:15p
Volunteer Asst. Coach ___ Bill Dickson (Illinois State, ‘54) least 48 hours in advance of a home game. 3.1 Tennessee Columbus, Ga. 2:45p
Student Asst. Coach __ Shannon Nicholson (Illinois State, ‘07)
3.1 Hofstra Columbus, Ga. 5:15p
Softball Office _______________________309/438.3633 Internet Access: Wireless internet is available inside the Redbird 3.2 North Carolina Columbus, Ga. 8:45a
Softball Fax _________________________309/438.3597 Softball Complex press box. 3.8 W. Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. 12:45p
3.8 W. Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. 2:45p
mEdIA rELATIONS Interview Policy: Interviews should be coordinated through Keith 3.9 W. Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. 11:45a
Softball Contact ________________________Keith Trivitt Trivitt in the athletics media relations office. Head coach Melinda 3.15 Creighton Normal, Ill. 11:45a
Trivitt’s Office ________________________309/438.7748 Fischer will be available for interviews following the final game each 3.15 Creighton Normal, Ill. 1:45p
Trivitt’s Cell _________________________417/299.5996 time the Redbirds play. Interviews with players or other members of 3.16 Creighton Normal, Ill. 11:45a
Trivitt’s E-mail ____________________ katrivi@ilstu.edu the coaching staff may also take place during this time. 3.18$ Illinois Normal, Ill. 6:15p
Asst. AD/Media Relations _______________ Todd Kober 4.5 Evansville Normal, Ill. 11:45a
Kober’s Office _______________________309/438.3805 4.5 Evansville Normal, Ill. 1:45p
Kober’s E-mail ___________________ gtkober@ilstu.edu
ILLINOIS STATE SOFTBALL IS SPONSOrEd 4.6 Evansville Normal, Ill. 11:45a
Media Relations Office ________________309/438.3825 IN PArT By: 4.16 Illinois Champaign, Ill. 5:45p
Media Relations Fax __________________309/438.5634 4.19 Wichita State Normal, Ill. 11:45a
Mailing Address ____________ 201A Horton Field House 4.19 Wichita State Normal, Ill. 1:45p
__________ Campus Box 7130, Normal, IL 61790-7130 4.20 Wichita State Normal, Ill. 11:45a
Softball Press Box Phone ______________309/438.5695 5.8-10 MVC Tournament Carbondale, Ill. TBA
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
Note: Games can be heard live on WJBC2.com
mEdIA INFOrmATION Note: Schedule and times subject to change
Athletics Web site _________________ GoRedbirds.com $
Will air live on WJBC-AM 1230, Bloomington

2008 redbird sofTball media guide


redbirds

ISU
This is illinois sTaTe sofTball
795
ALL-TImE dIvISION I wINS, whIch rANKS
IN ThE TOP-25 AmONg ALL dIvISION I SchOOLS

cArEEr wINS By mELINdA FISchEr, whIch rANKS IN
ThE TOP-20 AmONg ALL dIvISION I hEAd cOAchES 756
AMbER SMITh - TWO-TIME ALL-MvC FIRST TEAM MEMbER

65
gATEwAy/mISSOUrI vALLEy cONFErENcE
FIrST-TEAm SELEcTIONS

NFcA ALL-AmErIcA SchOLAr-AThLETES
51
PRISCILLA WELCh

APRIL SChERMANN
16 ALL-AmErIcANS

hEAThER STELLA

ALL-AMERICAN jODI buRCh rEgULAr-SEASON gATEwAy/mISSOUrI
vALLEy cONFErENcE chAmPIONShIPS 11

8
gATEwAy/mISSOUrI vALLEy cONFErENcE kARA NELSON - 2007 MvC PLAyER OF ThE yEAR
PLAyErS OF ThE yEAr

NcAA TOUrNAmENT APPEArANcES
6

6 ILLINOIS STATE FEmALE AThLETES OF ThE yEAr

ShANNON NIChOLSON - 2007 ISu FEMALE AThLETE OF ThE yEAR

TOUrNAmENT chAmPIONShIPS 5

5
rOOKIES OF ThE yEAr


ISU
redbirds ILLINOIS STATE SOFTBALL
redbird sofTball complex

redbird Softball Complex
19

ISU FAST FAcT ISu LEADS 72 PERCENT OF ThE SERIES IT hAS PLAyED AT ThE RSC As the success of the Illinois State softball
program continues to build, so does the team’s
home-field advantage at the Redbird Softball
Complex. The Redbirds have experienced a
progressive increase in home game attendance
over the last three years at the Redbird Softball
Complex, culminating with over 4,000 fans
experiencing an afternoon of Redbird softball in
2007.
Illinois State’s award-winning home field
officially opened April 3, 1999, beginning a new
era in Illinois State softball that continues to bring
winning traditions and successful years to the
program. The Redbird Softball Complex replaced
199
historic McCormick Field, the home of the Redbirds
for 31 years.
The 1,000-seat complex, which is located on
the east side of Adelaide Street, adjacent to other
athletics facilities, has a natural grass playing
ILLINOIS STATE AT ThE rEdBIrd SOFTBALL cOmPLEx surface, lights, convenient parking, outstanding
yEAR RECORD PCT. ATT. OPP. REC. PCT. OPP. REC. PCT. media facilities and excellent seating. Bleachers
1999_____________ 10-3 _____________ .769 ____ 1,251 Bradley _____8-1 _ .889 Creighton ___6-5 _ .545 can also be added down the baselines for extra
2000______________ 9-6 _____________ .600 ____ 1,656 DePaul _____3-2 _ .600 Drake _____ 10-1 .909 seating.
2001______________11-2 _____________ .846 ____ 1,638 E. Illinois ____4-2 _ .667 Evansville __9-4 _ .692 The field is 190 feet down the left and right
2002_____________ 17-5 _____________ .773 ____5,389* Illinois ______1-3 _ .250 Indiana St. _ 13-0 1.000 field lines and 210 feet in straight-away center.
2003_____________ 10-7 _____________ .588 ____ 2,283 Iowa________1-2 _ .333 Loyola-Chicago 3-1 _ .750 The complex is conveniently located close to the
2004______________11-4 _____________ .733 ____ 1,149 Missouri St. _ 11-4 .733 N. Illinois ___4-1 _ .800 Redbirds’ locker rooms, training facilities and
2005______________ 9-8 _____________ .529 ____ 2,528 Northern Iowa _ 14-2 .875 Northwestern 0-1 _ .000 offices.
2006_____________ 15-1 _____________ .938 ____ 2,594 Northwestern _0-1 _ .000 S. Illinois ___8-8 _ .500 The Redbird Softball Complex, which hosted
2007_____________ 15-5 _____________ .789 ____4,696* W. Illinois ____2-1 _ .667 Wichita St. _ 10-1 .909
the 2002 and 2007 State Farm MVC Tournaments,
Total ___________ 107-41 ____________ .722 ___ 23,184 Illinois State at the Redbird Softball Complex _ 107-41 _ .722
* Hosted State Farm MVC Tournament
was voted the 1999 Softball Field of the Year by
The Sports Turf Managers Association.



redbirdsILLINOIS STATE SOFTBALL

ISU
redbird sofTball TradiTion
ThE BEgINNINg
Illinois State Athletics has always been at the forefront of promoting women’s athletic
opportunities, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, when the movement to bring women’s
college athletics up to speed with men’s intercollegiate athletic programs was at its zenith.

Two visionary women, Carmen Imel and Dr. Jill Hutchison - who would later go on to coach
the Redbird women’s basketball team for 28 years - brought national attention to ISU
women’s athletics and Redbird softball in the early days of women’s athletics at Illinois State.

Softball began at ISU in 1965, and since then, the Redbirds have racked up over 1,000
wins, have made two Women’s College World Series appearances, and have won 11
regular-season conference titles and five conference tournament championships.

MELINDA FISChER (L) AND jILL huTChISON (R)
1969 WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES RuNNER-uP

2
wcwS APPEArANcES | 1969 1972 NATIONAL
chAmPIONShIP FINALISTS

6 NcAA TOUrNAmENT APPErANcES

11 mISSOUrI vALLEy cONFErENcE TITLES

1972 WCWS NATIONAL RuNNER-uP
SETTINg ThE STANdArd
While women’s intercollegiate athletics was still a young and relatively novel aspect of
the Illinois State Athletics Department in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Redbird softball
helped to set a standard for athletic excellence that continues to this day. both the 1969
and 1972 Illinois State softball squads, under the tutelage of Redbird coaching legend
jill hutchison, made appearances in the Women’s College World Series. both teams
ended their run at the WCWS as national runner-up, and thus set in motion an era of
softball dominance that has existed at Illinois State ever since.
1988 GATEWAy ChAMPIONS

1995 - REDbIRDS FINISh NO. 23 IN NATIONAL POLLS

2000 vALLEy TOuRNAMENT ChAMPIONS

ILLINOIS STATE AT ThE 2000 NCAA TOuRNAMENT

ISU
NO.
00
redbirds
NAME

Diciembre Vaca
yR.
So.
POS.
UT
hT.
5-10
b/T
R/R
hOMETOWN (PREvIOuS SChOOLS)
Fontana, Calif. (Kaiser)
2008 numerical rosTer
ALPhABETIcAL rOSTEr
NO. NAME POS. CL.
2 Amber Smith Jr. P/1B 6-0 R/R Fairfield, Calif. (Fairfield) 19 Carly Billings C Fr.
4 Jessica Roche Fr. OF 5-3 R/R Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandburg) 6 Jennifer Brown C Sr.
5 Kara Nelson So. 3B 5-8 L/R Moline, Ill. (Moline) 22 Jessie Buker UT Jr.
6 Jennifer Brown Sr. C 5-6 R/R Rock Island, Ill. (Rock Island/Blackhawk College) 20 Chrissy Burton P/OF Fr.
7 Casey Gorrell Jr. C 5-7 R/R Olathe, Kan. (Olathe East) 7 Casey Gorrell C Jr.
8 Tiffany Prager Sr. 2B 5-8 L/R Bloomington, Ill. (Olympia) 18 Michelle Henderson IF So.
9 Vicki Klopf So. OF 5-5 L/R Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton-Warrenville South) 9 Vicki Klopf OF So.
10 Rachel Smith Jr. P 5-5 R/R Williamsville, Ill. (Williamsville/Lincoln Land CC) 13 Kasey Martin 1B Fr.
11 Brittany McElmury Fr. UT 5-9 R/R Mokena, Ill. (Lincoln-Way East) 14 Katie Mathis OF Jr.
12 Andrea Shifflet Sr. OF 5-6 R/R Waynesville, Ill. (Clinton/Lewis Clark) 11 Brittany McElmury UT Fr.
13 Kasey Martin Fr. 1B 5-10 L/R Lenexa, Kan. (Shawnee Mission Northwest) 17 Amy Mitchell P Fr.
5 Kara Nelson 3B So.
14 Katie Mathis Jr. OF 5-1 R/R Shawnee, Kan. (Shawnee Mission NW/Johnson County CC)
16 Abby Olson UT Fr.
16 Abby Olson Fr. UT 5-10 R/R Hartsburg, Ill. (Hartsburg-Emden)
8 Tiffany Prager 2B Sr.
17 Amy Mitchell Fr. P 5-8 R/R Palatine, Ill. (Palatine)
4 Jessica Roche OF Fr.
18 Michelle Henderson So. IF 5-7 R/R Normal, Ill. (Normal West) 12 Andrea Shifflet OF Sr.
19 Carly Billings Fr. C 5-4 R/R Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton-Warrenville South) 2 Amber Smith P/1B Jr.
20 Chrissy Burton Fr. P/OF 5-9 L/R Mapleton, Ill. (Illini Bluffs) 10 Rachel Smith P Jr.
21 Kaprice Williams Jr. SS 5-10 R/R Portage, Mich. (Portage Northern) 23 Katie Thoennes OF Jr.
22 Jessie Buker Jr. UT 5-11 R/R Macon, Ill. (Okaw Valley) 00 Diciembre Vaca UT So.
23 Katie Thoennes Jr. OF 5-10 R/R Normal, Ill. (Normal Community) 21 Kaprice Williams SS Jr.

hEAD COACh: Melinda Fischer (Illinois State, ‘72)
PrONUNcIATION gUIdE
ASSISTANT COACh: Tina Kramos (Missouri State, ‘95) Jessie Buker ________________ BEW-kur
ASSISTANT COACh: Bill Kennedy (Illinois State, ‘68) Casey Gorrell__________________GOR-el
vOLuNTEER ASSISTANT COACh: Bill Dickson (Illinois State, ‘54) Vicki Klopf ____________________ KLOFF
STuDENT ASSISTANT COACh: Shannon Nicholson (Illinois State, ‘07) Tina Kramos _______________KRAY-miss
Brittany McElmury _______MAC-EL-murrey
Tiffany Prager _______________ PRAY-gur
juNIOR jESSIE bukER and hEAD COACh MELINDA FISChER Jessica Roche _________________ RŌSH
Katie Thoennes _______________ TENNIS
Diciembre Vaca __DEE-CEE-em-bray Va-KUH
Kaprice Williams __________kuh-PREECE

By yEAr
Seniors ___________________________3
Juniors ____________________________7
Sophomores _______________________4
Freshmen _________________________7

By hOmE STATE
Illinois____________________________15
Kansas____________________________3
California __________________________2
Michigan __________________________1

By POSITION
Infielders __________________________9
Outfielders _________________________6
Utility _____________________________4
Pitchers ___________________________4

AMbER SMITh
ThrOwS
Right ____________________________21
CASEy GORRELL

Left_______________________________0

BATS
Right ____________________________16
Left_______________________________5

TIFFANy PRAGER




ISU
2008 season ouTlook

PrOjEcTEd LINEUP ThE INFIELd ThE OUTFIELd
➢ All-American kara Nelson will once again provide an ➢ The Redbird infield will be one of the team’s biggest ➢ With the departure of starting outfielders jackie
offensive spark for the Redbirds from the leadoff spot in assets in 2008, as every starter but one returns to a Williams and kelsey Warning, the outfield will see the
the batting order, just as she did in her freshman season defensive starting set that recorded a .957 fielding most new faces in 2008, as jessie buker is the only
in 2007 when she batted a Valley-best .415, set an ISU percentage last season. returning starter for ISU.
single-season record for hits (90) and became the first- ➢ Senior co-captain Tiffany Prager will anchor the Redbird ➢ Buker is the only Redbird who has seen significant
ever freshman to earn league player of the year honors. infield as she enters her third season as a starter at playing time in the outfield. She will most likely see the
➢ The No. 2 spot in the lineup will be in the hands of second base. One of ISU’s finest infielders, Prager has majority of her playing time in left field, a position that
senior Tiffany Prager, a two-year starter for Illinois a career .980 fielding, which ranks No. 17 on the ISU she started 53 games in 2007.
State. Prager had a breakout season in 2007 with a career fielding percentage chart. ➢ Right field is slated to be manned by senior co-captain
.304 batting average and a team-high 16 doubles. She ➢ The other half ISU’s double-play tandem is junior Andrea Shifflet, who has yet to see an inning of playing
ranked seventh in the nation last year in sacrifice hits kaprice Williams, who will be back as the starting time in her ISU softball career, after she transferred from
per game (0.42) and had a team-best 26 on the season. shortstop. While somewhat deficient on defense, having Lewis and Clark Community College following the 2006
➢ Junior power hitter Amber Smith will provide one of the committed a team-high 16 errors in 2007, Williams’ bat season
biggest offensive threats for the Redbirds this season. greatly improved last season, making her an asset in the ➢ Rounding out the outfield crew is junior-transfer katie
A career .326 hitter, Smith has already set the ISU Redbird infield. Mathis and katie Thoennes, with the latter being the
career home runs record with 32, and still has two more ➢ Sophomore utility player Diciembre vaca is a viable early favorite to earn the starting nod in center field.
seasons left. defensive replacement for the Redbirds at shortstop Thoennes played in 24 games in the outfield in 2007,
➢ Veteran Redbirds jessie buker and kaprice Williams ➢ First base is the only infield position that will still be open but did not earn a start.
will bring their experience to the heart of the lineup. once the Redbirds depart for Florida in early February.
Buker is coming off a 2007 season in which she put ➢ While junior Amber Smith is a certainty to start when
up prodigious offensive numbers, with a .322 batting she is not in the circle for the Redbirds, sophomore
average that accompanied a team-high 16 home runs corner infielder Michelle henderson is the early favorite
and 51 RBI, just two shy of the ISU single-season mark. to be ISU’s regular starting first baseman. As a freshman
Williams saw her offensive output dramatically increase last season, Henderson started strong offensively, and
last season, as she batted .291 and hit 10 home runs. saw considerable playing time, only to see her offensive
➢ Several newcomers will round out the bottom portion of output wilt as the season progressed.
ThE BATTEry
ISU’s lineup, led by senior right fielder Andrea Shifflet ➢ Henderson will be challenged at first base by freshman
➢ The Redbird pitching corps is the biggest question
and sophomore outfielder katie Thoennes. Shifflet utility player Abby Olson, who showed promise during
mark entering the 2008 season, as ISU lost two of the
had a breakout fall tournament season for ISU and the Redbirds’ fall tournament season, as the Hartsburg,
top pitchers in school history with the departure Stacy
is expected to maintain her role as one of the team’s Ill., native batted .353 with a team second-best seven
birk and all-American Shannon Nicholson. The duo
leaders, while Thoennes will get her first shot at being a RBI and a 1.000 fielding percentage.
combined for 41 wins in 58 starts (.707 of ISU’s wins)
regular in the Redbird lineup.
in 2007.
➢ Junior right-hander Amber Smith will get the nod as
the Redbirds’ No. 1 pitcher. As the only current ISU
player who has Division I pitching experience, Smith
will be relied upon heavily to anchor a pitching corps
that will be made up entirely of newcomers, other than
OF ANDREA ShIFFLET

herself. With a combined 4-1 record in 11 career starts,
Smith will be tested early on, as ISU faces 10 NCAA
Tournament teams from last season and three schools
that made appearances in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
➢ Next in line will be sophomore Amy Mitchell, who
provides one of the most interesting stories on the team.
The Palatine, Ill., native did not play collegiate softball
as an academic freshman in 2007, and walked-on to the
team this fall. Mitchell made great use of ISU’s fall 2007
SS kAPRICE WILLIAMS tournament season, as she was second on the team in
wins (three), and had a team-best .071 opponent batting
whAT rETUrNS IN 2008? rEdBIrd TOP rETUrNErS average that included 17 strikeouts in just 14.1 innings
hITTING Batting Average ____ Kara Nelson ___________.415* of work.
Batting Average _____________________ 89.7% Slugging Pct. ______ Jessie Buker __________.667* ➢ Newcomers Chrissy burton and Rachel Smith will
Hits ______________________________ 74.6% On-Base Pct. ______ Kara Nelson ___________.448* add needed depth to the Redbird pitching lineup. While
Runs _____________________________ 55.0% Runs ____________ Kara Nelson ____________ 59* both pitchers may have an occasional start in the circle,
Hits _____________ Kara Nelson ____________ 90* they are projected to fill mostly a relief role in 2008.
Doubles ___________________________ 76.4% ➢ Casey Gorrell returns to the backstop for her third
Home Runs ________________________ 69.9% RBI______________ Jessie Buker ____________ 51
season. A two-year starter who has caught every inning
Slugging Percentage _________________ 90.2% Home Runs _______ Jessie Buker ____________ 16
that ISU has played over the last two seasons, Gorrell’s
presence on the field, both for pitchers and infielders
PITChING Fielding Pct. _______ Casey Gorrell __________.997* alike, is one of the Redbirds’ biggest assets.
Wins_______________________________ 6.8% ➢ The trio of senior jennifer brown, freshman Carly
Losses _____________________________ 5.9% Wins_____________ Amber Smith _____________ 3 billings and Olson will be available as capable backups
Innings Pitched ______________________ 6.3% ERA _____________ Amber Smith __________ 5.12 to Gorrell.
Earned Runs _______________________ 15.3% Opponent BA ______ Amber Smith __________ .296
Walks _____________________________ 16.7% Strikeouts_________ Amber Smith ____________ 20
Strikeouts___________________________ 6.9% * Led team in 2007


BrAdLEy • crEIghTON • drAKE • EvANSvILLE • ILLINOIS STATE • INdIANA STATE • mISSOUrI STATE • NOrThErN IOwA • SOUThErN ILLIONIS • wIchITA STATE

ISU
redbirds

mISSOUrI vALLEy cONFErENcE hIghLIghTS
The missouri valley conference
mISSOUrI vALLEy cONFErENcE
➢ Fresh off a centennial celebration in 2006-07, the Missouri Valley Conference begins its
second centennial as a leader in college athletics and is the nation’s second-oldest NCAA dOUg ELgIN
Division I conference. Commissioner
➢ In the league’s first 100 seasons, 32 members combined for 27 national championships,
while 56 Valley student-athletes captured NCAA individual titles. In addition, Valley
student-athletes and coaches earned 50 National Player or Coach of the Year honors in
their respective sports. The league had a myriad of student-athletes who collected All-
America honors and earned national academic distinction in The Valley’s first century. PATTy vIvErITO
➢ Illinois State highlighted a trio of Valley teams that made an appearance in the 2007 Senior Associate Commissioner
NCAA Division I Softball Championship. It marked the fifth-consecutive year The Valley
earned multiple bids to the NCAA Tournament, and the third-straight season that three
teams have earned spots in the field. SIU hosted an NCAA Regional, and each Valley
team won a game in the tournament.
➢ Based in St. Louis since 1985, the Missouri Valley Conference is assertive in its approach
jErEmIAh INgrAm
Asst. Comm. for Communications
to hosting NCAA basketball championship events, operating a revenue-producing in-house Softball Media Relations Contact
television network, bidding out the right to play host to sport championships and landing
title sponsorships for those events.
➢ The 2003-04 season was a landmark season for the conference, as State Farm Insurance ALL-TImE cONFErENcE
and the league came to terms on an agreement that would provide State Farm with title
sponsorship of 17 of the league’s 18 championships.
chAmPIONS
➢ The conference’s progressive marketing and in-house television package has helped yEAR REG. SEASON CONF. TOuRNEy
open doors to regional and national sponsors outside of the realm of title sponsorships, as 1983 Missouri State Missouri State
the league’s men’s basketball tournament sponsorship revenues continues to reach all- 1984 Illinois State Western Illinois•
time highs. 1985 Illinois State Illinois State
➢ The inclusion of women’s programs under The Valley banner has provided a boost to 1986 Illinois State Indiana State
the conference. The Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference - which began in 1982 1987 Eastern Illinois• Western Illinois•
- merged with the Missouri Valley Conference and was unveiled as part of the new 1988 Eastern Illinois• Illinois State
1989 Western Illinois• Wichita State
conference July 1, 1992.
1990 Illinois State Northern Iowa
➢ League members include Bradley University, Creighton University, Drake University, the
1991 Southern Illinois Southern Illinois
University of Evansville, Illinois State University, Indiana State University, Missouri State 1992 Missouri State Western Illinois•
University, the University of Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois University and Wichita State 1993 Drake Drake
University. 1994 Missouri State Drake
1995 Illinois State Illinois State
1996 Illinois State Missouri State
vALLEy dOmINANcE - ILLINOIS STATE SOFTBALL 1998 Creighton Missouri State
A league member dating back to the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference’s inception in 1999 Creighton Creighton
1982, Illinois State and Redbird softball have been a dominant force in The Valley from the 2000 Evansville Illinois State
very beginning. Below are highlights of some of the Redbirds’ Missouri Valley Conference 2001 Illinois State Illinois State
accomplishments in softball. 2002 Illinois State Evansville
2003 Illinois State Creighton
➢ Illinois State has won 11 Valley regular-season softball titles, seven more than the next 2004 Southern Illinois Creighton
2005 Southern Illinois Creighton
closest school (Creighton - four).
➢ The Redbirds are tied with Missouri State for the most conference tournament titles won
2007 Creighton Creighton
with five apiece. • Indicates school is no longer a member of the Missouri
Valley Conference

ISU FAST FAcT ILLINOIS STATE IS ThE ALL-TIME WINNINGEST vALLEy SOFTbALL PROGRAM WITh 338 MvC WINS.

➢ With 724 career victories at ISU and 311 conference wins, ISU head coach Melinda Fischer is The Valley’s all-time
winningest softball coach and was selected as the MVC All-Centennial Softball Team head coach following the
2007 season.
➢ The Redbirds rank first among Valley schools in both all-America (16) and Valley Scholar-Athlete honorees (14).
➢ Illinois State has made an appearance in each of the 25 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Softball
Tournaments, the only Valley program to appear in every conference postseason softball tournament.
DOubLIN’ uP - Much of the Redbirds’ 2007 success can be
attributed to second baseman Tiffany Prager’s ability to find the
gap, as the then-junior led the MVC in doubles with 16.



redbirdsILLINOIS STATE SOFTBALL

ISU
The redbirds
8 TIFFANy PrAgEr co-capTain | second base | 5-8 | l/r | senior | bloomingTon, ill. | olympia

ThE bIG PICTuRE: PRAGER IN 2008
One of the best hitters in the nation at advancing runners last season, Prager will anchor the No. 2 spot in the
lineup for the Redbirds in 2008, while also maintaining her starting role at second base.

SINgLE-gAmE BESTS 2007 - juNIOR 2005 - FREShMAN
At-bats ____________________ 6 Preseason All-MVC Team selection ... selected to the Named to the 2004-05 Valley Honor Roll … played 21
at Wichita State (3.31.07) Diamond Fun Sun Classic All-Tournament Team (Feb. games without an error … team co-rookie of the year …
Runs _____________________ 3 11) ... started all 62 games at second base ... Prairie scored the winning run in two straight victories at Evansville
vs. Eastern Illinois (4.5.06) Farms/MVC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week March … scored the decisive run in the Redbirds’ win over No.
RBI_______________________ 4 28, ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District V 25 Northwestern (March 4) ... AFNI Athletics Honor Roll
vs. Bradley (4.9.07) First-Team selection ... 2007 MVC Scholar-Athlete First member.
Doubles ___________________ 2 Team member ... combined with Kara Nelson, Amber
vs. Northern Illinois (5.2.06) Smith, Jessie Buker and Kelsey Warning to comprise the hIGh SChOOL - OLyMPIA
Home Runs ___________ 1, twice largest group (5) to ever collect more than 50 hits in a Four-year letterwinner in softball .... led her team to the
last at Illinois (4.17.07) single season ... third on the team in fielding percentage IHSA Class A state softball championship in 2002 and 2003
(.972), which included 121 putouts and 122 assists ... led and second place in 2001 … earned team MVP honors
Total bases ________________ 5
the team with 24 sacrifice hits ... voted a team captain by as a sophomore and junior … three-time all-conference
vs. Bradley (4.9.07)
her teammates ... AFNI Athletics Honor Roll member. honoree … second-team all-state pick in 2002 ... earned
Walks _____________________ 2
Illinois Coaches Association All-State First-Team accolades
vs. Wichita State (4.22.06)
Sacrifice Hits _____ 2, three times 2006 - SOPhOMORE as a junior and senior … received team offensive player of
All-Valley Second Team … State Farm MVC All- the year honors in 2003 ... also lettered four years in cross
last at Evansville (3.24.07) country and three years in basketball … co-valedictorian
Tournament Team … led the Redbirds with a .286
Stolen Bases _______ 1, six times … National Honor Society member … member of the high
average in their three NCAA Tournament games; also
last vs. Oklahoma (2.9.07) had the best on-base percentage (.375) and the most honor roll.
Hit-by-Pitch ______ 1, three times assists (10) ... had the fewest strikeouts among the
last vs. Missouri State (5.5.07) regular starters (19) ... hit .340 in conference action, the PERSONAL
Putouts ___________________ 8 second-best average among all Redbirds, and committed Born Sept. 4, 1985 ... Parents: Bruce and Diane Prager ...
vs. Missouri State (5.6.07) just one error in 94 league chances … ranked second Sibling: Nicole (23) ... Major: business administration … last
Assists ___________ 6, four times on the team with 109 assists and six sacrifice hits ... had name pronounced PRAY-gur.
last vs. Southern Illinois (4.29.07) 10 two-out RBI ... started every game at second base
... hit a team-best .485 in 16 games at Redbird Softball
Complex, with no strikeouts ... MVC Honor Roll ... AFNI
Athletics Honor Roll member.

ThE hONORS
➢ 2007 Preseason All-MVC First Team
➢ 2007 MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team
➢ 2007 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA All-District V First Team
➢ 2006 All-MVC Second Team
➢ 2006 State Farm MVC All-Tournament Team

PRAGER’S CAREER STATISTICS
yEAR AvG GP GS Ab R h 2b 3b hR RbI Tb S
LG% bb hbP SO GDP Ob% SF Sh Sb ATT PO A E FLD%
2005 .219 21 8 32 6 7 0 0 0 2 7 .219 2 0 11 0 .257 1 0 2 3 7 0 0 1.000
2006 .295 54 54 122 18 36 9 0 0 12 45 .369 12 1 19 0 .363 0 6 3 3 109 109 3 .986
2007 .304 62 62 194 36 59 16 0 2 24 81 .418 8 2 27 0 .338 0 26 1 2 134 132 7 .974
TOTAL .293 137 124 348 60 102 25 0 2 38 133 .382 22 3 57 0 .340 1 32 6 8 250 241 10 .980


ISU
The redbirds
12 ANdrEA ShIFFLET co-capTain | ouTfield | 5-6 | r/r | senior | waynesville, ill. | clinTon/lewis clark cc

ThE bIG PICTuRE: ShIFFLET IN 2008
Coming into her final season as a Redbird, Shifflet is expected to take over the right field duties for Illinois State in
2008. A stellar base runner, Shifflet will also be used as a threat on the base paths for the Redbirds this season.

SINgLE-gAmE BESTS
2007 – juNIOR (TRANSFER) PREvIOuS SChOOL – LEWIS CLARk CC
Runs ____________1, eight times
last vs. Notre Dame (5.18.07)* Appeared in 43 games for the Redbirds; Led the team in batting average, stolen bases and
Stolen Bases _______________ 1 served as a pinch runner in each appearance RBI in 2006 ... helped her team post a 31-20 record
vs. Illinois (2.10.07) ... scored 18 runs on the season, including and advance to the NJCAA Regional ... selected
the game-tying run at No. 12 UCLA (March 2) as a National Junior College Athletic Association
* NCAA Regional game in Evanston, Ill. ...stole one base in her second pinch-running Academic All-American in 2006 ... named to the
opportunity in ISU’s 5-2 win over Illinois (Feb. Mid-West Athletic Conference Second Team ... also
10) ... AFNI Athletics Honor Roll member. played volleyball, and was named the team’s MVP in
2006.

hIGh SChOOL - CLINTON
A three-year starter ... helped her team go 27-3
her senior season, while claiming the regional
championship ... named team’s co-MVP in 2004 ...
selected as the team’s rookie of the year in 2002, her
first year on the varsity squad ... three-sport athlete
in high school, competing in softball, basketball and
volleyball.

PERSONAL
Born Sept. 2, 1985 ... Parents: Eric and Betsy
Shifflet ... Sibling: Erica (25) ... Major: public
relations.

ShIFFLET’S CAREER STATISTICS
yEAR AvG GP GS Ab R h 2b 3b hR RbI Tb S
LG% bb hbP SO GDP Ob% SF Sh Sb ATT PO A E FLD%
2007 .000 43 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 .000
TOTAL .000 43 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 .000

0 2008 redbird sofTball media guide


2008 Illinois State Softball Media Guide

2008 Illinois State Softball Media Guide

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2008 Illinois State Softball Media Guide