At Missouri State:
Lacie Ballard will compete for the starting job at catcher this season, and has made 41 starts at the position in her first two seasons.
2006: Ballard shared starting duties behind the plate with Jen Carr, as Ballard started 23 games and played in 33 total. She posted a .976 fielding percentage, recorded 112 putouts and nine assists, and threw out five base stealers in her sophomore campaign. At the plate, Ballard notched five hits, recorded four RBIs, and scored seven runs.
2005: Ballard caught 18 games for Missouri State in her rookie season and saw action in 32 contests. Ballard had a perfect fielding percentage, with no errors in 128 chances. Ballard gunned down four runners on the base paths, for an .846 stolen base average.
Background: Ballard was a four-year starter and letterwinner at Columbia (Ill.) High. She was an all-conference selection both her freshman and sophomore years, and received the Gatorade Will-to-Win Athlete award as a sophomore. As a junior she batted .297 with a .328 on-base percentage.
Personal: Lacie Danielle Ballard is the daughter of Ron and Barb Ballard. She was born August 6, 1986, in Belleville, Ill. Her major is advertising and promotion.
