The following area students have been named to the Tribune’s 2002 All-Area Softball Team

Ashley Chrz, Albert Lea, Junior, Center Field

A three-year varsity starter, the Tribune’s Player of the Year played wherever she was needed defensively this season, mostly in center field. She batted leadoff for the Tigers and hit .386, with five triples and one double. She struck out only eight times in 70 at-bats. &uot;She can do anything at the plate,&uot; said Tigers coach Rick Harves. &uot;Her ability to drag bunt, slap, and hit away along with good speed add up to a player hard to get out. She kept other teams guessing. She’s also a solid defensive player.&uot;

Danielle Jacobs, Albert Lea, Senior, Catcher

Jacobs earned All-Big Nine Conference honors in her third year as the Tigers’ starting catcher. She was a standout in several ways, batting .344, playing strong defense and serving as an on-field leader. &uot;Teams could not run the bases on her,&uot; said Tigers coach Rick Harves. Teams could not come home on close plays because she was great at blocking the plate and making the putout. The Big Nine coaches said she was the best catcher in the conference. She was also real team leader, calling where to make the plays against opponents.&uot;

Steph Lackey, Alden-Conger, jFreshman, Pitcher

One of several young standouts for the surprising Knights, Lackey compiled a 10-9 pitching record as her team finished 11-10. She struck out 122 batters and walked 68, with an earned run average of 3.40. &uot;She’s a great competitor,&uot; said Knights coach Gary Nelson. &uot;She loves to win, she’s a tough ballplayer. She got some lessons taught, but by the end of the year she was a much better pitcher for it. I look forward to having her for three more years.&uot;

Kendra Mathiason, Alden-Conger, Freshman, Third Base

Mathiason had some excellent offensive numbers &045; .318 batting average, seven doubles, two triples, team-high 22 stolen bases and 19 runs scored while batting leadoff &045; Knights coach Gary Nelson said her defense was even better. &uot;Her glove was her biggest strength this year,&uot; said Nelson. &uot;She had only four errors all year as a freshman playing third base. She did just a whale of a job on defense. She’s a very intelligent ballplayer. She loves the game, she loves playing it, and she hates making mistakes.&uot;

Molly Wasmoen, Alden-Conger, Senior, Catcher

Wasmoen led the Knights in two big categories, batting average at .357 and runs batted in with 22. She also hit four doubles. &uot;She was a real clutch hitter for us,&uot; said coach Gary Nelson. &uot;When we needed a hit, she stepped up to the plate and delivered it. She started out slow defensively but really improved as the year went on. By the end of the season, she had 17 assists.&uot;

Megan Avery, Glenville-Emmons, Senior, First Base

Avery was an All-Southeast Conference selection and the offensive leader for the Wolverines, who finished 12-9 overall and third in the conference at 10-6. Avery batted .390 with 23 hits, 19 runs, one double, one home run, 14 RBIs, three stolen bases and only six strikeouts in 59 at-bats. Her on-base average was .493. She was also a defensive standout, committing only three errors for a fielding percentage of .981.

Jenna Brackey, Glenville-Emmons, Soph., Second Base

Brackey was second only to Avery for the Wolverines with a batting average of .345. She totaled 19 hits, 18 runs, two doubles, eight stolen bases, 13 walks, six RBIs and an on-base average of .478. Her fielding percentage was .962, with three errors in 76 fielding chances.

Jill Delger, Glenville-Emmons, Senior, Pitcher

Delger joined Avery on the All-Southeast Conference team and was voted the Wolverines’ most valuable player by her teammates. Delger batted .327 with 18 hits, 16 runs, five doubles, three triples, two home runs, three stolen bases, 14 RBIs and 17 walks, with an on-base average of .486. Her fielding average was .975. Delger also led the Wolverines with 64 2/3 innings pitched, striking out 51 batters and walking 52 while compiling a 7-7 record and a 4.00 earned run average. Opponents batted .212 against her.

Erin Anderson, NRHEG, Sophomore, Pitcher

Anderson had a season that made her a Player of the Year candidate for the second year in a row. She was again the top pitcher in the area, striking out 113 batters while walking 33 in 99 innings, with an ERA of 1.13 and opponents’ batting average of .142. Her win-loss record was 8-9, the same as her team. She pitched two-hitters, giving her eight the last two years. Anderson batted a team-high .463 with 25 hits, 18 runs, four doubles, two triples, six walks and 24 RBIs. She struck out four times in 54 at-bats and was 9-for-10 on stolen bases. &uot;She works hard,&uot; said Panthers coach Wendy Schultz. &uot;She has a great attitude and great athletic ability..&uot;

Chelsey Quiram, NRHEG, Soph., Right Field

Quiram was a surprise for the Panthers, batting .348 while totaling 16 hits, 15 runs, one triple, 14 stolen bases, seven walks and four RBIs. &uot;She really improved throughout the year and got the Most Improved award as voted by her teammates,&uot; said NRHEG coach Wendy Schultz. &uot;She started out the season as our No. 9 hitter but really picked it up in the middle of the year and became our leadoff hitter. She’s very fast and can cover a lot of ground in the outfield.&uot;

Nichole Fulton, United South Central, Senior, Catcher

Fulton’s offensive numbers for the 12-9 Rebels made her a Player of the Year candidate. She hit .419, with an on-base average of .597 and a .694 slugging percentage, with totals of 26 hits, 17 runs, seven doubles, two triples, two home runs, 16 RBIs and eight walks. She had 15 assists and only two errors defensively. &uot;Nichole is a real hard worker who really came on this year with her leadership,&uot; said Rebels coach Brad Huse. &uot;She had a great senior year.&uot;

Shannon Schrader, United South Central, Soph., Center Field

Schrader earned All-Area honors for the second year in a row after another excellent offensive season. She batted .333, with 23 hits, 18 runs, two doubles, two triples, 14 RBIs and nine stolen bases. Her on-base percentage was .467 and her fielding percentage was 971, with seven assists from the outfield and only one error in 33 chances. &uot;Shannon has a lot of talent,&uot; said USC coach Brad Huse. &uot;I’m glad she’ll be around for two more years.&uot;

Hilary Wacholz, United South Central, Senior, Second Base/Pitcher

Also a second-year All-Area selection, Wacholz got on base often for the Rebels, hitting .297 with an on-base average of .525. She totaled 19 hits, 17 runs, one double, three triples, 14 walks, nine RBIS and seven stolen bases. As a pitcher, she had a record of 6-6 and an ERA of 3.36 in 68 2/3 innings, with 31 strikeouts and 23 walks. &uot;Hilary was a four-year starter,&uot; said Rebels coach Brad Huse. &uot;Her leadership skills will be sorely missed.&uot;

Honorable Mention:

– Albert Lea &045; Laura Olson, sr., second base; Nicole Rafdal, soph., pitcher;

– Alden-Conger &045; McKenzke Johnson, soph., first base;

– Glenville-Emmons &045; Jill Yost, sr., third base; Katy Kimble, sr., left field;

– NRHEG &045; Rachel Andree, sr., first base; Emily Hagen, fr., second base;

– United South Central &045; Kim Schultz, sr., shortstop; Heather Summer, jr., pitcher.

Player of the Year:

– 2002 &045; Ashley Chrz, Albert Lea

– 2001 &045; Erin Anderson, NRHEG

– 2000 &045; Katie Johnson, United South Central

– 1998 &045; Amanda Moxon, NRHEG

– 1997 &045; Andrea Ellsworth and Brooke Hagen, United South Central

– 1996 &045; Meghan Krause, NRHEG

– 1995 &045; Brooke Hagen, United South Central

– 1993 &045; Jill Anderson, NRHEG

– 1992 &045; Angi Nowak, United South Central

Coach of the Year:

– 2002 &045; Gary Nelson, Alden-Conger

– 2001 &045; Brad Huse, United South Central

– 2000 &045; Bob Staska, Glenville-Emmons

– 1999 &045; Wendy Schultz, NRHEG

– 1998 &045; Gary Nelson, Alden-Conger

– 1997 &045; Wendy Schultz, NRHEG

– 1996 &045; Wendy Schultz, NRHEG

– 1995 &045; Bob Staska, Glenville-Emmons

– 1994 &045; Greg Ellsworth, United South Central

– 1993 &045; Wendy Lerberg, NRHEG

– 1992 &045; Greg Ellsworth, United South Central