Carnes and coach Newberry nominated for NCAA 25th Anniversary Team

NEW CONCORD, OHIO, April 18, 2006 - Muskingum College has placed former four-time first team All-American Mandy Carnes and current veteran Head Coach Donna Newberry on the national ballot to determine the NCAA Division III 25th Anniversary Softball Team. A team consisting of ten student-athletes and one coach, will be selected via on-line voting. [Link to the NCAA Ballot]

Carnes (2000-03) was Muskingum's first-ever four-time first team All-American and only the second player in Division III softball history to carry that distinction. Carnes ended her illustrious career with a school record .475 batting average and Ohio Athletic Conference career records in runs (192), hits (275), RBI (211) and doubles (51). She helped lead Muskingum to the school's only National Championship in 2001 and holds NCAA national records with 59 career home runs and home runs in a season with 24. During Carnes' tenure, she led the Fighting Muskies to a 173-25 record, four OAC championships and two World Series appearances. Furthermore, she led Division III in home runs per game in 2002 (.50), RBI per game in 2002 (1.35) and total bases in 2002 and 2003 (152, 115).

Newberry begins her 32nd season as head softball coach at Muskingum College as the all-time career wins leader in NCAA Division III with 736 victories. During her tenure, she has become known as one of the most knowledgeable and successful leaders in the game and claimed Muskingum's first National Championship in 2001. She has compiled a 735-353-1 (.675 winning percentage) overall record and a amazing 286-55-1 (.839) slate in the Ohio Athletic Conference, including eight straight OAC Tournament titles.

Newberry has led the Lady Muskies to the OAC tournament every year since its inception in 1985 and to the championship game 19 times, including nine straight appearances from 1997-2005. In those 19 appearances Muskingum won the OAC title 15 times.

On the national level, she has led the Lady Muskies to 15 NCAA regional appearances (1988, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 95, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05), including eight straight from 1998-2005, and six NCAA Division III World Series appearances in 1992, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005. Newberry's peers have selected her for OAC Coach of the Year honors 10 times and as National Fastpitch Coach of the Year in 2001.

The NCAA Division III 25th Anniversary Team will be announced in early May.