Daktronics All-Central Region (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. -  Daktronics, Inc. announced today the selections for its All-Central Region team, and Southwest Minnesota State pitcher Amanda Johnson, outfielder Amanda Burkhart and first baseman Amanda Tucci were among this year's honorees.   Johnson was named Central Region Pitcher of the Year and All-Central Region first team, Burkhart was named Central Region Player of the Year and All-Central Region first team and Tucci was named All-Central Region first team.  The teams were voted on by the Central Region's sports information directors.

This is Johnson's second Daktronics All-Region Pitcher of the Year selection and third first team nod; she was also named Region Pitcher of the Year last season and was a first team honoree in 2008 and 2007.   The senior finished this regular conference season as the NSIC's leader in wins with 14 and ERA with 1.01.  Johnson held Northern Sun opponents to a .192 batting average and struck out 116 of them in 96.2 innings.

Johnson, a senior from Fremont, Neb., also tossed her first career no-hitter this season and recorded her 1,000th career strikeout—the latter a feat only 15 other players in NCAA Division II history have accomplished and only she has reached at SMSU.  No doubt an icon in Mustang softball lore, Johnson extended her lead in the records, both single season and career, that she already holds at SMSU.  Johnson finished the year with a 20-12 record on the mound and was named NSIC Pitcher of the Year and All-NSIC first team for the fourth consecutive season.

Burkhart, a senior from Omaha, Neb., put together a stellar campaign at the plate for SMSU in 2009, leading the NSIC in seven different offensive categories.  She finished the season leading the conference in batting average (.506), slugging percentage (1.065) and on base percentage (.581).  She was also tops in the conference in hits (39), RBIs (38), home runs (13) and total bases (82).  The SMSU record book has been a familiar place for the senior; this season, she's set single-season records for home runs with 18 and RBIs with 57.  Burkhart also set the SMSU single-season record in slugging percentage with .728.  In the Mustang career record book, she has owns the No. 1 spot in home runs with 34, RBIs with 160 and doubles with 42.  

The right fielder finished the season leading the Mustangs with a .367 batting average, 62 hits, 40 runs, 18 home runs and 57 RBIs.  Her .728 slugging percentage and .438 on base percentage are also Mustang bests.  Burkhart was also named the NSIC Player of the Year and All-NSIC first team.  These are Burkhart's first all-region accolades; she is the first SMSU player to receive the Player of the Year award.

Tucci, a senior from Oakdale, Minn., also had a big year at the plate for SMSU, hitting .291 with 11 home runs, 44 hits and 42 RBIs.  Her 2009 effort at the plate made its way into the SMSU record book as her 11 home runs put her in the No. 2 spot in the category, while her 42 RBIs this year put her at No. 4  for a single-season output.  In the career record book, the first baseman is in the No. 2 spot in career home runs at SMSU with 32 and third in career RBIs with 125.  Tucci was also named All-NSIC first team.

All players that land on the first team will automatically advance to the All-America ballot.

SMSU finished the 2009 season with a 32-23 (21-5 NSIC) record and won the NSIC regular season title for the fourth straight season and fifth in the last six years.  The Mustangs also made their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.