EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana senior outfielder Kathy Wood (Lynnville, Indiana) and sophomore designated player Sara Loete (Pekin, Illinois) have been named first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Great Lakes Region in a vote by the region's head coaches.

It marks the second consecutive day that Loete and Wood have been recognized on an All-Region team. Loete earned first-team Daktronics All-Region honors in a vote by the region's sports information directors, while Wood earned second-team Daktronics All-Region honors.

Loete led the Screaming Eagles and the GLVC with a single-season school-record 54 RBIs in 2008. She also tied for second in the GLVC with 10 home runs, marking the second time in school history that a player has reached 10 or more home runs in a single season.

In addition to being named first-team All-Region, Loete was selected by the GLVC's coaches to the first-team All-Conference squad.

Wood finished the season with a .373 batting average to go along with a career-high six doubles, a GLVC-best seven triples, and 14 RBIs. She also was second in the conference with 16 sacrifice bunts and led the GLVC in conference-only games with a .440 batting average.

Like Loete, Wood also was selected to the All-GLVC first team, marking the third straight year that she earned All-Conference honors. This also is Wood's third All-Region award after earning second-team NFCA All-Region honors as a sophomore in 2006.

Both Loete and Wood are now eligible to earn NFCA All-America honors. The Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America team will be announced May 13.

The Eagles finished the 2008 season with a 31-23 overall mark, 14-10 in the GLVC. The 31 wins marked the fourth consecutive season and the 10th time in 12 years that USI has reached the 30-win plateau.

Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Great Lakes Region

First Team
Pos.-Name, School
P- Molly Yetman, Wayne State
P-Kaitlin Colosimo, SIU-Edwardsville
C-Sarah Berry Wayne, State
1B- Kim Locke, Bellarmine
2B- Kandi Wieberg, Missouri S&T
2B- Kristin Moleski, Grand Valley
3B-Kelsey Musselman, Missouri S&T
SS-Kelly Dianis, Lewis
OF-Jessica Breeden, Indianapolis
OF-Kathy Wood, Southern Indiana
OF-Emily Tucker, Missouri S&T
DP-Sara Loete, Southern Indiana
Utility/Pitcher-Stacy Kraatz, Saginaw Valley
Utility/Non-Pitcher-Sadie Bell, Drury

Second Team
Pos.-Name, School
P-Courtney Lyons, Lewis
P-Stephanie Wheeler, West Virginia Wesleyan
P-Jaime Williams, Ashland
C-Mallory Paine, Lewis
1B-Mallory Ruggles, SIU Edwardsville
2B-Emily Nieman, West Virginia Wesleyan
3B-Lauren Zembruski, SIU Edwardsville
SS-Kaeleigh Rousey, SIU Edwardsville
OF-Nicole Beecher, SIU Edwardsville
OF-Angela Kiser, Saginaw Valley
OF-Amanda Miller, Wisconsin-Parkside
DP-Elizabeth Smith, Grand Valley
Utility/Pitcher-Sarah Mueller, Ferris State