FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 12, 2007

CONTACT: Ted Breidenthal 816/474-7264, ext. 119 tbreidenthal@d3independents.org www.d3independents.org

 

Wagner, Thomasson Named Association of Division III Independents

Student-Athlete of the Month Award Winners for March

 

KANSAS CITY, MO.--- Pitcher Ashley Wagner of Nebraska Wesleyan University and outfielder Michael Thomasson of California State University, East Bay, were named today as the recipients of the Association of Division III Independents Student-Athlete of the Month awards for March.

First-year pitcher Wagner started her softball career at Nebraska Wesleyan in fine fashion, going 5-0 on the mound with an earned-run average of 0.58 for the month. The Minden, IA, native finished with three shutouts in four starts, including a five-inning no-hitter and a pair of one-hitters. A double was the only extra-base hit she allowed in seven total appearances during March. In 31 innings pitched, Wagner allowed just two earned runs, 10 walks and 17 hits, while striking out 26. She held opponents to a .162 batting average.   On March 17, she threw two innings of scoreless relief to pick up the decision in a 7-6 win against Northwestern College (Iowa), a team that has been ranked in the region's top five all season.  On March 27, she fell one hit short of a perfect game against Doane College, which was ranked fourth in NAIA Region III at the time, as the Prairie Wolves won 8-0 in five innings.

Thomasson, a junior kinesiology major from San Leandro, CA, hit .422 with 15 runs scored, 14 runs batted in, seven doubles and four home runs in March. He hit safely in 10 of 11 games and had five multi-hit contests.  Thomasson had four hits, scored four runs, and three RBI's, including a home run, against Linfield College. For the season, Thomasson is hitting .394 with team-highs of six home runs and 27 RBIs.

  

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 25 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in nine sports in 2006-07.  The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis.  The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports.  In addition, it also will announce All-Independent teams at the conclusion of nine sports this year. 

All competing student-athletes from the Association’s 25 members were eligible for the award.  Each school was allowed to nominate its top performing male and female student-athletes from March.  The award recipients were selected after a vote of the Association’s Student-Athlete Recognition Committee.

More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org.