The old college try

A glance at how area athletes fared this spring at the collegiate level.

Baseball

• Central graduate Sean Bard earned first-team Southwestern Athletic Conference after a monster season for Mississippi Valley State's baseball team. Bard, a junior college transfer from Mineral Area College, had team highs with a .376 average, 52 RBIs, 41 runs, 9 home runs and 21 doubles. Bard also walked 32 times.
• Notre Dame graduate Lee Essner led Maryville University starters in ERA and innings pitched this past season. The junior right-hander had a 4-4 record with a 2.21 ERA in 53 innings and held opposing batters to a .190 average.
• Notre Dame graduate Shane Menz hit .328 his freshman season for Mineral Area College. Menz added 19 RBIs and 9 doubles. Central graduate Ty Craft also completed his freshman season at Mineral Area this past season, and the local duo will be joined by Central standout Blake Slattery and Jackson's Logan Lawson next year.

Soccer

• Notre Dame graduate Frankie Ellis is getting a chance to prove himself on the soccer field this summer against some of the nation's top talent. Ellis is a member of the St. Louis Lions, a member of the United Soccer League's Premiere Development League. The players are able to keep their college eligibility despite playing in the semi-professional league. Ellis was the leading scorer this past season for Greenville College with 10 goals and eight assists.

Softball

• Jefferson College sophomore Kelly Essner, a Kelly High School graduate, earned all-region honors in Region XVI this past season. Essner, a pitcher and shorstop, hit .328 with 22 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Essner had a 1.16 ERA with 14 wins, 113 strikeouts and 13 walks in 108 1/3 innings. Last year Essner earned second-team all-American honors after Jefferson College went to the junior college world series.
• Maryville University junior Laura Weissmueller was one of two players to receive the Coaches' Award for her play this past season. Weissmueller, a Notre Dame graduate, moved from the outfield to catcher this past season. Weissmueller threw out 11 base stealers and picked off six runners. She also batted .278 with 26 RBIs.
• Central graduate and Three Rivers Community College sophomore Erica Schabbing earned first-team all-region honors in Region XVI. Schabbing hit .358 with 19 RBIs and a team-high 21 stolen bases and 3 home runs. Kelly graduate and fellow Three Rivers sophomore Jessica Burnett earned second-team all-region honors after hitting .315 with 16 RBIs.

-- Jeremy Joffray