May 9, 2001

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Texas Tech seniors Amanda Renfro and Sandy Butler were each named First Team All-Big 12, while junior first baseman Carmen Grindell was named to the second team, as voted on by the coaches and announced Wednesday afternoon at a banquet to begin this week's conference tourney.

Butler, an outfielder from Tucson, Ariz., was voted all-conference for the fourth straight season, earning first team honors as a freshman and sophomore and second team recognition last season.

The 5-4 Butler won her fourth straight team batting title this season with a .374 overall average, .415 in conference play. She also leads the Red Raiders in hits, runs scored and at-bats, and started 48 of Tech's 52 games this season.

Renfro, a two-time league pitcher of the week this season, earned her second first team honor, but the first since her freshman season. She was also named to the second team last season.

The Houston, Texas, native has compiled a 29-16 record with a 1.10 earned-run-average, including a Big 12 record 369 strikeouts. She is currently tied for fourth in the nation in victories, and ranks in the top 50 in the country in ERA. She leads the Big 12 in strikeouts, shutouts, innings pitched and complete games, and is tied for first in appearances

Grindell made the second team as an at-large selection and was also voted Newcomer of the Year. She is second on the Tech squad in batting and RBIs, and leads the team with 10 doubles and five home runs. The Carrollton, Texas, native is batting .352 in conference games only with five doubles and two home runs after transferring from Southwest Texas State.

The Red Raiders begin play in the conference tournament on Thursday, facing Baylor at 11 a.m. Tech will play a second game on Thursday no matter the outcome of the morning contest. A win would put the Red Raiders in a 7:30 p.m. game, while a loss would force Tech into an elimination contest at 3:30 p.m.

Updates during this week's tournament may be accessed on the internet at www.soonersports.com or www.big12sports.com, with inning-by-inning updates and photos from each game posted.

2001 All-Big 12 Softball

(As voted on by the league coaches)

First Team

Pos. Name, School Class Hometown

DP Erica Martinez, Iowa State So. Fort Madison, Iowa

UT Leah Tabb, Kansas Jr. Oklahoma City, Okla.

P Leigh Ann Walker, Nebraska Jr. Tuscon, Ariz.

P Jennifer Stewart, Oklahoma Jr. Yukon, Okla.

P Amanda Renfro, Texas Tech Sr. Houston, Texas

OF Nicole Trimboli, Nebraska Fr. Colorado Springs, Colo.

OF Erin Evans, Oklahoma So. Lawton, Okla.

OF Sandy Butler, Texas Tech Sr. Tucson, Ariz.

1B Lisa Carey, Oklahoma Sr. Topeka, Kan.

2B Stacey Hundley, Baylor So. Mesa, Ariz.

3B Cindy Roethemeyer, Nebraska Jr. North Platte, Neb.

SS Kelli Braitsch, Oklahoma So. Broken Arrow, Okla.

C Ashli Barrett, Oklahoma Sr. Oklahoma City, Okla.

At-Large (Name, Pos., School)

Kimi Yoshizawa, C, Iowa State Sr. Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Megan Urquhart, 3B, Kansas Jr. Shawnee, Kan.

Peaches James, P, Nebraska Fr. Papillion, Neb.

Andrea Davis, DP, Oklahoma Sr. West Jordan, Utah

Lauren Bay, P/DP, Oklahoma State So. Trail, British Columbia, Canada

Hollee Hayden, OF, Texas A&M Sr. Spring, Texas

Second Team

DP Melanie Fisher, Missouri So. St. Louis, Mo.

UT Lisa Klam, Texas A&M Jr. Katy, Texas

P Joni Miller, Baylor So. Edmond, Okla.

P Kara Pierce, Kansas Fr. Mesa, Ariz.

P Jessica Slataper, Texas A&M Fr. Humble, Texas

OF Naomi Fitzgerald, Baylor Sr. College Grove, Tenn.

OF Christy Ring, Oklahoma Jr. Westminister, Calif.

OF Jennifer Stump, Oklahoma So. West Palm Beach, Fla.

1B Jamie Fuente, Nebraska Sr. Tulsa, Okla.

2B Amy Hulse, Kansas Jr. Olathe, Kan.

3B Jenny Kipp, Oklahoma State Jr. Gilbert, Ariz.

SS Courtney Wright, Kansas Jr. Tucson, Ariz.

C Ryan Realmuto, Oklahoma State So. Del City, Okla.

At-Large (Name, Pos., School)

Ryan Stukel, C, Baylor Jr. Cochise, Ariz.

Shelly Musser, OF, Kansas Jr. Scottsdale, Ariz.

Stephanie Falk, P, Missouri Sr. Beaverton, Ore.

Kim Ogee, OF, Nebraska So. Omaha, Neb.

Autumn Eastes, OF, Texas Sr. Lake Isabella, Calif.

Carmen Grindell, 1B, Texas Tech Jr. Carrollton, Texas

Player of the Year: Kelli Braitsch, SS, Oklahoma

Newcomer of the Year: Carmen Grindell, 1B, Texas Tech

Freshman of the Year: Kara Pierce, P, Kansas

Coach of the Year: Rhonda Revelle, Nebraska