For the first time in school history, a Knox softball player was named the Midwest Conference South Division Player of the Year. Katie Dura earned the honor after her outstanding senior season in which she led the Prairie Fire in most offensive categories, it was announced by the conference on Tuesday, May 6. Senior Katie Schneider and junior Ashley Konicki were named to the All-Midwest Conference Second Team.

Dura, from Edwards, Illinois (Brimfield High School), ranked among the top five in the conference in batting average (.442), slugging percentage (.753), on-base percentage (.533), and walks (14). She also tallied team-bests in RBIs (16), runs scored (22), hits (34), doubles (9) and home runs (5). Dura collected 11 multi-hit games and reached base safely in 24 of the 26 games she played.

Behind the plate, the senior catcher threw out seven players attempting steals. She is the first South Division recipient of the award from a team that did not qualify for the MWC Tournament since 1998.

This is the second consecutive year Dura has earned first team all-conference recognition.

Schneider, a senior outfielder from Evanston, Illinois (St. Scholastica Academy), batted .316 with three doubles and four home runs while appearing in all 26 games in 2008. She was second on the team with 15 RBIs and tied for second on the club with 14 runs scored. Schneider had eight multi-hit games this year.

A catcher by trade, Schneider spent the entire season in the outfield where the Prairie Fire needed her most.

Schneider was named the Midwest Conference Player of the Week on April 15 of this year after hitting two home runs to lead the Prairie Fire to a 4-3 win over Monmouth.

Konicki, a junior second baseman from Oak Lawn, Illinois (Mother McAuley High School), was second on the team with a .373 batting average and tied for second on the squad with 14 runs scored. She appeared in 22 games and made 21 starts this season.

Konicki had a tremendous second half of the season and finished third in the MWC in batting average in conference games. She had five multi-hit games, including a 5-for-5 performance in the second game of a doubleheader against Illinois College. She was 3-for-3 in the first contest against IC making her a perfect 8-for-8 in the twinbill.