May 11, 2006
IOWA CITY – The Big Ten Conference has announced the 2006 all-Big Ten softball teams, which included Hawkeye sophomore Summer Downs, senior Stacy May, sophomore Emily Nichols, junior Mindy Heidgerken and freshmen Brittany Weil and Erin Riemersma.
Downs was chosen first team all-Big Ten after a breakout conference season. Downs, who was picked as the designated player, led the Hawkeyes with a .333 batting average in conference play. The San Diego, CA, native collected 15 hits including four doubles and nine RBI in 15 league games.
May was named second team all-conference at shortstop. She recorded a .293 batting average, including three home runs and 10 RBI. The native of Reno, NV, was also solid in the field during league action, committing just two errors and finished with a .975 fielding percentage. This is the third time May has been honored by the Big Ten. She was named first team all-conference and Freshman of the Year in 2003 and second team all-Big Ten in 2004.
Nichols, Heidgerken, Weil and Riemersma were all named third team all-Big Ten. Nichols batted .271 in 19 league games this season. She recorded one home run, three doubles and nine RBI.
Heidgerken batted an even .300 in conference action and led the team with a .500 slugging percentage. She also paced the team with 18 hits in league games and also scored nine runs. Heidgerken has been named to all-league teams two years straight. In 2005, Heidgerken was a unanimous first team selection.
Weil led the Hawkeyes in the circle, recording a 12-6 conference record with a 2.11 ERA. She started 17 of the 19 league games and threw 16 complete games. The Garden Grove, CA, native struck out 99 batters and tossed four shutouts.
Riemersma was solid both at the plate and in the field during her first conference season. She batted .275 in league play and tallied six RBI along with a .451 slugging percentage. Riemersma also made many key defensive plays at second base for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa will face Indiana in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. Fans can watch like streaming video of tomorrow’s contest via www.hawkeyesports.com.
FIRST TEAM
Garland Cooper, Jr., NU 1B
Tiffany Haas, Sr., MICH 2B
Caitlin Mahoney, So., MSU 3B
Tammy Williams, Fr., NU SS
Jamie Dotson, Sr., NU C
Jenn Reynolds, So., PSU UT
Lauren Hines, Sr., IND OF
*Katie Logan, Jr., NU OF
Brittany Vanderink, So., OSU OF
Summer Downs, So., IOWA DP
*Jennie Ritter, Sr., MICH P
*Eileen Canney, Jr., NU P
SECOND TEAM
Jenna Hall, Sr., ILL 1B
Nycole Koyano, Jr., OSU 2B
Grace Leutele, Sr. MICH 3B
Stacy May, Sr., IOWA SS
Becky Marx, Sr., MICH C
Jamee Juarez, Jr., OSU UT
Megan Schwab, Jr., OSU OF
Danielle Kinley, Fr., PSU OF
Katie Hnatyk, So., WIS OF
Jen Williams, Jr., PSU DP
Mariangee Bogado, Sr., IND P
Courtnay Foster, Sr., NU P
THIRD TEAM
Samantha Findlay, So., MICH 1B
Erin Riemersma, Fr., IOWA 2B
Emily Nichols, So., IOWA 3B
Billie Carder, Sr., OSU SS
Joey Daniels, So., WIS C
Ashley Esparza, So., PSU UT
Molly Lawhead, Jr., ILL OF
Mindy Heidgerken, Jr., IOWA OF
Rebekah Milian, Jr., MICH OF
Kisten Martin, Jr., ILL DP
Brittany Weil, Fr., IOWA P
Missy Beseres, Sr., PSU P
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Garland Cooper, NU
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Eileen Canney, NU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Tammy Williams, NU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Kate Drohan, NU
* – unanimous selection