By TTU Athletics & OVC Media Relations
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The 2022-23 academic year marked the 75th anniversary of the Ohio Valley Conference, which began in 1948 and currently ranks as the eighth-oldest Division I Conference.
As part of the celebration of the storied accomplishments of the League, a Committee working in conjunction with current and former schools, captured the "best-of-the-best" in each sport and celebrate the top athletes in league history with 75th Anniversary Teams across all OVC sports. A similar listing was compiled during the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the league.
Below is a listing of the top softball student-athletes and coaches in OVC history.
Tennessee Tech saw 10 student-athletes and two coaches represented on the list, including Lori Bayless, Beth Boden, Bonnie Bynum, Candice Clark, Stephanie Dallmann, Stephanie Fischer, Adrienne Fortmann, Beth Keylon, Danielle Liberatore, LeeAnn Mongar, and head coach Tory Acheson.
Softball
Maigin Alexander (OF), Jacksonville State (2005-06)
Rachel Anderson (OF), Southeast Missouri (2017-21)
Mykaela Arellanes (OF), Southeast Missouri (2017-19)
Jenny Bain (SS), UT Martin (2009-12)
Diana Barreras (SS), Eastern Kentucky (2001-04)
Taylor Beshears (OF), Jacksonville State (2018-19)
Sara Borders (INF/OF), Jacksonville State (2012-15)
Lori Bayless (P), Tennessee Tech (2001-04)
Jenna Bradley (OF), Murray State (2010-11)
Beth Boden (SS), Tennessee Tech (2005-08)
Megan Burton (SS), Eastern Illinois (2018-22)
Rebecca Butler (3B), Morehead State (2008-11)
Bonnie Bynum (P), Tennessee Tech (2004-07)
Cheyenne Cavanaugh (OF), Belmont (2018-22)
Haley Chambers-Book (P), SIUE (2013-15, 2017)
Allison Cheatham (OF), Middle Tennessee (1995-98)
Candice Clark (INF), Tennessee Tech (1994-97)
Rachel Countryman (SS), Jacksonville State (2001-04)
Jonelle Csora (P), Eastern Kentucky (2000-03)
Stephanie Dallmann (OF), Tennessee Tech (2000-03)
Ella Denes (INF/OF), Jacksonville State (2013-16)
Jenny Doehring (INF/P), Southeast Missouri (2000-01)
Stephanie Fischer (UTIL), Tennessee Tech (2005-08)
Rachel Fleming (OF), Jacksonville State (2007-08)
Adrienne Fortmann (P), Tennessee Tech (1998-01)
Kaci Fuller (OF), UT Martin (2021-present)
Diane Gallagher (OF), Eastern Kentucky (2009-12)
Alex Gjevre (P), Morehead State (2007-10)
Whitney Gillespie (P), Jacksonville State (2015-17)
Sierra Gilmore (INF), Murray State (2018-22)
Tiffany Harbin (P), Jacksonville State (2011-14)
Hannah James (P), Murray State (2019-22)
Chelsea Jones (P), UT Martin (2009-12)
Carly Kellam (P), Jacksonville State (2005-06)
Beth Keylon (INF), Tennessee Tech (1992-94)
Lisa Kraxner (C), Southeast Missouri (1995-96)
Danielle Liberatore (P), Tennessee Tech (2014-17)
Danielle Liermann (3B), Austin Peay (2016-19)
Paij Lintz (P), UT Martin (2007-10)
Amber May (P), Eastern Illinois (2009-11)
Alex McDavid (INF), SIUE (2012-15)
Melinda McDonald (C/DH), Jacksonville State (2002-05)
Hanna Mennenga (P), Eastern Illinois (2012-13)
Andrea Miller (SS), Austin Peay (1993-96)
LeeAnn Mongar, Tennessee Tech (2000-03)
Paige Murphy, Eastern Kentucky (2015-18)
Jenny Oermann (INF), Southeast Missouri (1995-98)
Lexi Osowski (INF), Austin Peay (2019-22)
Jamie Parker (INF), Eastern Kentucky (1994-96)
Kim Palmer (OF), Southeast Missouri (1995-98)
Daniela Pappano (OF), Jacksonville State (2004-07)
Stacey Perkins (C), Austin Peay (1993-94)
Karla Pittman (P), Jacksonville State (2007, 2009)
Nikki Prier (1B), Jacksonville State (2007-10)
Morgan Rackel (P), Austin Peay (2018-19)
Sara Reichert (INF), Southeast Missouri (1994-97)
Rachel Rook (P), Southeast Missouri (2018-22)
Kim Sarrazin (C), Eastern Kentucky (1977-00)
Debbie Schmelz (P), Southeast Missouri (1996-99)
Faith Sims (P), Jacksonville State (2016-19)
Jodi Smith (OF), Southeast Missouri (1993-96)
Kelly Swanson (INF), Eastern Kentucky (1997-00)
Leah Taylor (OF), UT Martin (2011-13)
Angela Thompson (P), Austin Peay (1992-95)
Jessica Twaddle (3B), Murray State (2014-17)
Kelsey White, Southeast Missouri (1999-00)
Megan Williams (OF), UT Martin (2007-10)
Coaches of Note
Tory Acheson, Tennessee Tech
Donley Canary, UT Martin
Jana McGinnis, Jacksonville State
Sandy Montgomery, SIUE
Lana Richmond, Southeast Missouri
Jane Worthington, Eastern Kentucky
