May 13, 2004
ANN ARBOR, MI – Four University of Iowa softball players were named to the 2004 All-Big Ten teams today. Natalie Johnson, Stacy May, Lisa Birocci and Emily Gerlick were each honored by the Big Ten for their play this season.
Johnson, a sophomore, was named to the first team as an outfielder. The Burlington native hit .284 in conference play with nine RBIs and scored a league-best 17 runs. Overall, Johnson leads the Hawkeyes with a .304 average,
May, a sophomore, was named to the second team as a shortstop. The Reno, NV, native was second in the conference with 24 hits and had a .369 batting average in Big Ten play. May is third on the team with a .297 average.
Birocci was named to the second team as a pitcher. The junior from Des Moines was 11-3 with a 0.87 ERA in conference play. She leads the Big Ten with an Iowa single-season record 283 strikeouts, along with a league-best 113 strikeouts in conference play.
Gerlick, a sophomore from Wonder Lake, IL, was named to the third team as a second baseman. She leads the Big Ten with five triples and two three-baggers in conference play. She also hit .288 with nine RBIs in the Big Ten season.
Third-seeded Iowa opens the Big Ten tournament against Ohio State Friday at 11 a.m. (CDT).
FIRST TEAM
Jenna Hall, SO, Illinois 1B
Tiffany Haas, SO, Michigan 2B
Grace Leutele, SO, Michigan 3B
Jessica Merchant, JR, Michigan SS
Monica Schock, SR, Michigan C
Jessica Beech, SR, Michigan State UT
Natalie Johnson, JR, Iowa OF
Angel Merren, SR, Michigan State OF
Erin Mobley, JR, Northwestern OF
Garland Cooper, FR, Northwestern DP
Amanda Fortune, SR, Illinois P
*Nicole Motycka, JR, Michigan P
SECOND TEAM
Jennifer Olds, SR, Michigan 1B
Carri Leto, SR, Northwestern 2B
Kristen Amegin, SO, Northwestern 3B
Stacy May, SO, Iowa SS
Tory Yamaguchi, FR, Indiana C
Kristi DeVries, SR, Ohio State UT
Abby Stark, SR, Indiana OF
Meghan Wolfer, FR, Penn State OF
Angela Knight, SR, Purdue OF
Jennifer Williams, FR, Penn State DP
Lisa Birocci, JR, Iowa P
Eileen Canney, FR, Northwestern P
THIRD TEAM
Natalie Furrow, SR, Michigan State 1B
Emily Gerlick, SO, Iowa 2B
Erin Jones, SR, Illinois 3B
Lindsey Hamma, SR, Illinois SS
Boo Gillette, JR, Wisconsin C
Jamee Juarez, FR, Ohio State UT
Rachelle Coriddi, SO, Illinois OF
Karisa Evans, JR, Ohio State OF
Leigh Murray, SO, Penn State OF
Dayna Feenstra, FR, Michigan State DP
Piper Marten, SR, Minnesota P
Jennie Ritter, SO, Michigan P
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jessica Merchant, Michigan
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Nicole Motycka, Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Eileen Canney, Northwestern
COACH OF THE YEAR: Carol Hutchins, Michigan
* – Unanimous selection