Davenport Named MAC Softball Player of the Year
Williams Sisters Also Earn All-MAC First Team Nods

5/12/2004

Senior Sierra Davenport became Marshall's first Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. (Photo by Matt Riley)

CLEVELAND – Marshall University senior Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) was named Mid-American Conference Softball Player of the Year on Wednesday and was joined by sophomore teammates Amanda and Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) on the all-MAC first team. The trio finds themselves on an all-conference team for the second consecutive season.

Davenport, who racked up her fourth all-MAC honor and third first team appearance, leaves Marshall and the MAC as one of its most decorated players in history. She has the most steals in a career (131) in Marshall and league annals as well as the most hits (238) and runs scored (133) of any player to wear the Green and White. This season, the senior, who played three positions but earned her spot on the first team at first base, led the league in batting average (.390), hits (71), runs (44) and stolen bases (42). Davenport also rode an MU program-best 19-game hitting streak midway through 2004.

“Sierra is so deserving of this award,” head coach Shonda Stanton said. “Her hard work and dedication during her four years for the Herd have made the program and every player around her better.”

A. Williams, the 2003 MAC Freshman of the Year, became the Herd’s all-time RBI leader (92) in only her second season at Marshall. The 2003 first team all-MAC selection also led the conference in several categories, including RBIs (45), doubles (15), triples (5) and walks (22). The center fielder ranked second in runs scored with 38, total bases with 97 and stolen bases with 35. Her .357 batting average was third in the MAC this season.

Serving as the leader of the Herd infield in 2004, J. Williams landed a spot on the first-team after garnering a second-team nod a season ago. The shortstop batted .304 this year and managed to end the season on an 11-game hitting streak, batting .577 during that period with several clutch performances in the Herd’s battle for a playoff berth. She equaled her sister Amanda’s league-leading 22 walks in 2004.

Marshall (31-27, 12-12 MAC) ended its season just short of a second consecutive playoff bid after winning the MAC regular season crown for the first time in 2003. The entire 2004 all-MAC teams are listed below:


All-MAC First Team
1B - Sierra Davenport, Marshall
2B - Deanna Wisnieski, Eastern Michigan
SS - Jessica Williams, Marshall
SS - Marci Ridenbaugh, Kent State
3B - Gina Rango, Bowling Green
C - Carrie Eneix, Kent State
OF - Kris Burdine, Ball State
OF - Amanda Williams, Marshall
OF - Erin Chapman, Ohio
OF - Christin Sobeck, Central Michigan
P - Stacey Evans, Buffalo
P - Amber Puchalski, Central Michigan
P - Laura Stewart, Western Michigan
DP - Kristi Strange, Western Michigan
UT - Jaymie Voss, Western Michigan

All-MAC Second Team
1B - Lindsay Heimrich, Bowling Green
2B - Kiersten Scrima, Ohio
SS - Bianca Paz, Miami
3B - Jodi Stevens, Kent State
C - Britni Clark, Ball State
C - Becca Garcia, Miami
C - Stefanie Schuemann, Western Michigan
OF - Kerry Omerza, Akron
OF - Jeanine Baca, Bowling Green
OF - Breanne Nasti, Buffalo
P - Liz Vrabel, Bowling Green
P - Jackie Poggendorf, Miami
DP - Christan Dhondt, Central Michigan
UT - Nikki Denman, Eastern Michigan
UT - Tracie Logar, Kent State