Complete List of MIAC Fastpitch Softball Awards

ST. PAUL, Minn. (5/15/06)-- Concordia pitcher Lindy Sparby (Sr., Cold Spring, Minn./Cold Spring -Rocori HS), shortstop Kelli Niess (Jr., Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids HS) and catcher Shantelle Nogowski (Jr., Twin Valley, Minn./Norman County East HS) were awarded MIAC postseason honors it was announced on Monday by the conference office. Niess was named to the MIAC All-Conference Team while Nogowski earned MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention Honors.

It is the second consecutive season that Sparby has received conference postseason honors and the first for Niess and Nogowski. Last year Sparby was named to the all-conference honorable mention team.

Sparby led the team in wins in 2006. She recorded nine overall victories and six in conference play. She finished the year with a 4.33 ERA in her 15 conference appearances. Sparby was fourth in the MIAC in innings pitched (97.2) and fifth in games started (14).

Sparby also played first base for the Cobbers, recording a .186 average in 86 at bats. She had a .337 slugging percentage and 10 of her 18 hits on the year went for extra bases.

On the mound, Sparby finishes her career with 19 career wins. She pitched in 48 games, logging 292.2 innings pitched and finishing with a 3.90 ERA.

Niess led the Cobbers in hitting in 2006 with a .373 average. She also led the team in on-base percentage (.430), hits (41) and stolen bases (20). She played started in all 34 of the team's games this season. Niess hit safely in 25 of the team's 34 games and had 11 multiple-hit games during the year. She has also amassed 45 stolen bases during her three years at Concordia and is only eight away from breaking the school record for most stolen bases in a career. She is a career .339 hitter and has appeared in 101 games for the Cobbers.

Nogowski had the single-largest batting turnaround of any player on the Cobber team in 2006. She finished the season with a .337 average after entering the season with a .218 average.

In 2006, Nogowski finished second on the team in average, hits (30), RBIs (22), slugging percentage (.506) and on-base percentage (.443). She hit safely in 19 of the 32 games she played and had 10 multiple-hit games during the year.

2006 MIAC Fastpitch Softball

All-Conference Awards

MIAC All-Conference

Name School Year Pos.
Shannon Bagwill St. Catherine Fy. 2B
Maria Bye St. Thomas So. P/U
Kari Christianson Carleton Sr. SS
Rachael Click Gustavus Fy. SS
Nikki Conway St. Thomas Sr. C
Joyce DeWitz Gustavus Jr. P
Monica Eiden Saint Benedict Jr. P
Carrie Embree St. Thomas Jr. P/U
Christina Gardner Saint Benedict Jr. P
Jenni Gutterman Saint Mary's Sr. IF
Nikki Jung Saint Mary's Jr. IF
Audrey Lenoch Gustavus Sr. 1B
Jessica Lewandowski St. Catherine Jr. P
Tiffany Magnuson Augsburg Fy. 2B
Julie Mahre Gustavus So. 2B
Laura Meinke Macalester Sr. 2B
Janet Nagle St. Thomas Sr. P/1B
Kelli Niess Concordia Jr. SS
Jenny Schipp Saint Mary's Sr. P
Lindy Sparby Concordia Sr. P/1B
Angela Vedders Bethel Sr. P/OF
Lindsay Weier St. Olaf Sr. C
Rachael Young Hamline Sr. OF

Player of the Year: Nikki Conway, St. Thomas

Pitcher of the Year: Janet Nagle, St. Thomas

Rookie of the Year: Rachael Click, Gustavus

Coach of the Year: John Tschida, St. Thomas

Honorable Mention All-Conference
Theresa Boleen, Hamline
Missy Bruggeman, St. Thomas
Ashley Carlblom, St. Thomas
Tara Close, Saint Mary's
Nicole Donofri, St. Catherine
Mandy Evans, St. Thomas
Mary Furlong, Gustavus
Jenny Giannini, Saint Mary's
Erin Leone, Saint Mary's
Jacci Mattern, Augsburg
Tegan McDonough, St. Catherine
Meaghan Nelson, Bethel
Shantelle Nogowski, Concordia
Katie Prasek, Hamline
Maggie Roscher, St. Olaf
Cassie Schlargen, Saint Benedict