Garza and Wagner selected All-MVC Second Team
05/06/2009 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 6, 2009
By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS - Junior second baseman Alicia Garza and senior third baseman Katie Wagner were selected to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team on Wednesday night at the annual softball banquet on the eve of the State Farm MVC Tournament in East Peoria, Ill.
The two mainstays in the Salukis' lineup were recognized for their outstanding play on offense and defense to help Southern Illinois finish second in the final regular-season standings for the fourth time in the last nine years.
Garza (Lafayette, Ind./McCutcheon HS), who was a member of the All-MVC First Team as a freshman, finished the regular-season with a .376 batting average, which ranked first on the team and fourth-best in the league. As it stands, it is also the eighth-highest season batting average in the program's history.
In addition to hitting for average, she had prolific power numbers with nine doubles and four home runs, and led the team and ranked fifth in the MVC with 34 runs batted in.
Garza was one of only three players on the team to start every game, and was exceptional with her glove with a .972 fielding percentage. She was also a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts, which set a new season career-high.
Wagner (Mt. Vernon, Ill./Mt. Vernon Township HS) was chosen to the all-conference team for the first time in her career after a posting solid offensive numbers and leading the infield at third.
She started all 45 games at the hot corner, and recorded a .236 batting average, six doubles, and two home runs. Wagner also came up with clutch hits with runners on base throughout the season to post the second-most RBI on the team with 26.
She ended the regular-season on a season-long five-game hit streak, with two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
Garza and Wagner also received accolades together back in 2007 as members of the MVC All-Tournament team.
Despite finishing second in the final regular-season conference standings, Southern Illinois did not place a player on the all-conference first team for the first time since 1995.
Regular-season champion Creighton swept the league's pitcher and player of the year honors with juniors Tara Oltman and first baseman Renae Sinkler receiving the awards.
Northern Iowa's Ryan Jacobs, Julie Gerdes and Stephanie Winters were selected as the coaching staff of the year after leading the Panthers to a 14-game improvement and the most wins in the MVC in the school's history.
UNI's freshman shortstop Mackenzie Daigh was also chosen as the league's newcomer of the year.
The league awards are voted on by the head softball coaches at each institution.
2009 MVC Softball All-Conference First Team
P, Tara Oltman, Creighton
P, Jenna DeLong, Drake
C, Heather Gerritse, Wichita State
1B, Renae Sinkler, Creighton
2B, Michelle Koch, Creighton
SS, Meredith Simpson, Indiana State
3B, Abby Olson, Illinois State
OF, Rachel Gerking, UNI
OF, Megan Machovec, UNI
OF, Jen Stahlhut, Evansville
DP-P, Katie Armour, Indiana State
DP-U, Kylie Wagner, Evansville
P, Ashley Birdsong, Bradley
DP-U, Erin Bly, Drake
DP-P, Amber Smith, Illinois State
SS, Jessie Smith, Missouri State
P, Darcy Wood, Indiana State
2009 MVC Softball All-Conference Second Team
1B, Alycia Bachkora, Bradley
3B, Brittney Baldub, UNI
SS, Mackenzie Daigh, UNI
2B, Alicia Garza, Southern Illinois
DP-P, Jen Larsen, UNI
SS, Elena Leon, Drake
2B, Kara L'Huillier, Wichita State
C, Kelly Papesh, UNI
SS, Niki Stansell, Illinois State
3B, Katie Wagner, Southern Illinois
OF, Jessica Wakasugi, Creighton
