Complete List of MIAC Fastpitch Softball Awards

ST. PAUL, Minn. (5/14/07)-- A pair of Concordia senior fastpitch softball players was awarded MIAC postseason honors it was announced on Monday. Shortstop Kelli Niess (Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids HS) was named to the MIAC All-Conference Team for the second consecutive season and and catcher Shantelle Nogowski (Twin Valley, Minn./Norman County East HS) earned MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for the second straight year.

Niess becomes the first player in program history to earn MIAC All-Conference honors three times in a career. She also received the honor after her freshman season in 2004.

Niess had a record-setting year in 2007. She broke four different program records during the course of the season. She shattered the all-time hits, runs and stolen bases mark and also bettered the single-season stolen base record. Niess finished her career with 162 hits, 98 runs scored and 69 stolen bases. Her stolen base total of 24 for the year broke the old mark by three.

Niess led the team in overall games in batting average (.424), slugging percentage (.492), on-base percentage (.469), runs scored (27), hits (50), total bases (58), walsk (11) and stolen bases (24).

In MIAC play she started in all 22 conference games for the Cobbers and had a team-high .387 batting average. She also led the team in on-base percentage (.453), runs (16, hits (29), total bases (32), walks (10) and stolen bases (18).

She finished tied for the league lead in stolen bases, led the league in total plate appearances, was tied for fifth in walks, tied for sixth in hits, tied for 10th in hits, 12th in on-base percentage and 14th in batting average.

Niess, who was one of the best defensive players in the league, won the MIAC Player of the Week honor on Apr. 16. Her range to either side helped the Cobber defense cut down many would-be hits and save many runs that would have been produced from balls getting into the outfield.

Nogowski was second on the team in hitting in MIAC games. She finished the season with a .306 average, and like Niess, played in every conference game in 2007. Nogowski started 86 of a possible 88 conference games in her career. She finished with a streak of 82 consecutive MIAC games as the team's starting catcher.

Besides finishing second in hitting in league play, Nogowski led the team in RBI's with 11. She was also second in at-bats (72), hits (22) and doubles (4).

Nogowski was the vocal leader for the Cobbers. Her communication skills helped the Cobber defense throughout the season and she also was in charge of developing a pitching staff that featured one sophomore and two freshmen.

Past Cobber All-MIAC Winners

2006 - Kelli Niess, Lindy Sparby,

Hon. Ment. - Shantelle Nogowski

2005 - Mandy Pearson

Hon. Ment. - Jolene Robertus, Lindy Sparby

2004 - Kelli Niess

Hon. Ment. - Mandy Pearson

2003 - Jill Flatau

Hon. Ment. - Stacie Johnson

2002 - Kathy Braun, Jill Pontius

2001 - Amanda Schindeldecker

Hon. Ment. - Jill Pontius

2000 - Cindy Frey, Erin Gunderson

Hon. Ment. - Laura Danielson, Jill Pontius

1999 - Erin Gunderson, Heidi Mueller

1998 - Sheri Damlo, Heidi Mueller

Hon. Ment. - Allison Haaland

1997 - Cindy Frey, Mindy Schirm

Hon. Ment. - Lana Thompson

1996 - Stacey Hoien, Tracy Sparby

1995 - Jenni Carlson, Mindy Schirm

1994 - Stacey Hoien, Heather Johnson

1993 - ?

1992 - ?

1991 - Sue Kalpin, Jennifer Mulville

1990 - ?

1989 - Joan Swanson

1988 - Becky Ehnert