In a vote by league coaches, Tara Gaines, a third baseman for the Columbia College Cougars, has been chosen as the 2000 American Midwest Conference (AMC) Player of the Year. The senior from Hannibal, Mo. totaled a batting average of .358, racking up 68 hits in 190 at-bats during the regular-season. Gaines led the AMC in RBIs and triples, recording 35 and eight, respectively. Gaines also swatted six doubles and one home run, in addition to stealing 10 bases. Defensively, Gaines committed only 11 errors in 53 games.

For the second consecutive year, Natalie Buitink, also a member of the Columbia College squad has been named the 2000 AMC Pitcher of the Year. Buitink took the mound for the Cougars 25 times during the regular-season, pitching 139 innings recording 15 wins. A native of Bartlesville, Okla., Buitink struck out 24 batters and recorded an earned run average of 1.20 for the regular-season.

Kristina Jones, a shortstop for the Cougars, has been named the AMC Freshman of the Year. Jones, who hails from Jefferson City, Mo., Jones played in 53 games as a rookie, recording a batting average of .346. In her 156 appearances at the plate, Jones totaled 54 hits, including eight doubles, four triples and six home runs. She racked up 27 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.

The AMC Newcomer of the Year honor is presented to the top transfer student-athlete in the AMC. Julie Meier, a junior shortstop for Missouri Baptist College, is the 2000 recipient of this award. During the regular-season, Meier led the AMC in batting average with .472. In 108 at-bats, she swatted 51 hits, including seven doubles, one triple and five home runs. The Warrenton, Mo. native tied Gaines for the league’s best mark in RBIs, recording 35. Defensively, Meier committed only 15 errors in 40 games, while recording 79 assists and 32 put-outs.

The 2000 AMC Coach of the Year for women's softball is Wendy Spratt from Columbia College. Spratt, who was also the 1999 recipient of this award, is in her sixth season as head coach at Columbia, where she has amassed a record of 225 wins and 108 losses. In 2000, she led the Cougars to AMC Regular-Season and Tournament Championships, totaling an overall regular-season record of 41-14.