Fresno State Athletics
Softball Meet the Team Activites On Hand
1/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 26, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. -
href="http://www.fansonly.com/photos/schools/fres/sports/w-softbl/auto_pdf/2004SBRelease4.pdf"> Fresno State Softball Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader "Meet the Team" Functions On Hand
More "Meet the Team" activities are slated for this week as fans will have two more opportunities to meet the 2004 Bulldogs before the season gets underway. This week fans will have the opportunity to bid on special auction items as well as meet the players and coaching staff at the annual "Meet the Team" Dinner and Silent Auction, which will be held at TorNino's on Fri., Jan. 30, 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the $30-plate dinner are available by phoning Dorothy Hunter at (559) 439-0605. The following day fans will be able to meet and greet the Bulldogs at Sierra Vista Mall's center court, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The 2004 Fresno State softball poster and schedule cards will be available while the players and coaching staff will be on hand to sign autographs.
Preseason Practice In Third Week
In its third week of preseason practice, the Fresno State softball team returns 12 letterwinners, including six starters, from a 36-22 team that was of one of 24 squads to reach the semifinals of the 2003 NCAA Regional Championship play. Two All-Americans, Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.), will spearhead Fresno State as it also returns 2003 First Team All-WAC performer Lori Hoffman (Benicia, Calif.). Four newcomers highlight the '04 team, including the 2003 Diamond Sports High School Catcher of the Year and three-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA High School All-American Nichole Willis (Clovis, Calif.) and 2003 Louisville Slugger/NFCA CalJC Second Team All-American Porsha Finley (West Covina, Calif.).
No Backing Down Here
The first preseason softball collegiate poll was released on Jan. 14 by ESPN.com/USA Softball and the Bulldogs' non-conference slate could be very loaded. Of the preseason ranked teams, No. 21 Fresno State will face a minimum of nine Top 25 teams, including four of the top five (UCLA, Arizona, Oklahoma and Washington). The 'Dogs also will face five programs which received votes in the preseason poll (South Carolina, Pacific, UMass, Ohio State and Texas State). Still further, Fresno State has the possibility of meeting 10 other preseason Top 25 teams in tournament play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic and/or Kia Klassic (California, Michigan, Nebraska, Louisiana-Lafayette, Georgia, Texas, DePaul, LSU, CS Fullerton and Florida State). In other words, Fresno State's non-conference schedule could showcase 19 of the Top 25 preseason teams. Additionally, seven teams that received preseason consideration by tallying votes are either penciled into the Bulldogs' schedule or are also a tournament possibility.
Comcast to Televise Six Dates
The 2004 Fresno State softball television schedule has been set. Comcast (ch. 14) will broadcast the first game of Bulldog softball doubleheaders against six opponents this upcoming season: Pacific, UCLA (tournament game), Ohio State, Nevada, San Jose State and Tulsa.
What's New
Fresno State will play seven new schools in 2004 when the Bulldogs meet Campbell, Illinois (Kia Klassic), Loyola-Chicago (Campbell/Cartier), North Texas (Clovis Auto Row), Princeton (NFCA Leadoff), Syracuse (Fiesta Bowl) and UTEP.
Head Coach Margie Wright
As the all-time winningest NCAA Division I softball coach, Margie Wright (Illinois State, 1974) is in her 19th season as the head coach of the Fresno State softball program. Wright, who became the first Division I softball coach and 24th Division I head coach overall to record 1,000 Division I victories two years ago, tallied her 900th school win on April 6 with a 7-0 win over Hawai'i last year. She owns an 18-year school mark of 917-285-1 (.763). The 1998 NCAA National Coach of the Year boasts a 24-year career record of 1,078-377-3 (.740). With 10 NCAA Women's College World Series trips under her belt, the eight-time conference coach of the year has collected 13 outright or shared conference titles, a Western Athletic Conference tournament championship, 10 regional championship crowns and 18 straight NCAA postseason appearances at Fresno State. Wright is the only coach in the program's history to garner region coach of the year honors (seven times) and is the third head coach overall at Fresno State to garner National Coach of the Year accolades. Owning a 458-87 (.840) all-time mark at Bulldog Diamond, Wright has recorded 13 50-win campaigns and has averaged 51 wins a season while coaching 47 All-Americans, 13 Academic All-Americans, 11 Olympians, four NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners and one NCAA Top VIII awardee. In the postseason, Wright is 62-32 with a NCAA title, three national runner-up finishes, three third-place showings and three fifth-place finishes at the NCAA Women's College World Series. Having served on the national level as a USA assistant head coach that won gold in the 1996 Olympic Games and at the ISF World Championships as well as a head coach for the USA Junior Women's National Team that won gold in 1995, Wright has made Fresno State one of just three programs in Division I softball to make 10 or more trips to the WCWS.
'Dogs Ranked 21st in Preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll
In the first collegiate softball preseason poll released for the 2004 season, Fresno State got a preseason nod at No. 21 in the 2004 ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 preseason poll released on Jan. 14. In its second season of conducting a softball poll, the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll is voted on by NCAA Division I coaches representing 15 different ASA regions and 112 different collegiate conferences as well as selected softball media members. The weekly poll gets underway on Feb. 10. Ranking in a Top 25 poll for the 22nd consecutive year, this is the Bulldogs first Top 25 appearance in this poll and the third time the program has appeared overall after receiving votes twice last season. In the final 2003 ESPN.COM/USA Softball Top 25, the Bulldogs received votes in the media/coaches poll and tallied six points for a 28th showing.
'Dogs are WAC's Favorite while Sweeping Preseason Honors
The Western Athletic Conference released its preseason softball coaches poll on Jan. 14 and Fresno State was selected as the preseason favorite by the league coaches for the eighth time in the last nine years. The Bulldogs edged out Hawai'i by receiving four first-place votes for 34 points. UH, the defending WAC champion, tallied three first-place votes and totaled 33 points. Tulsa was tabbed third with 26 points and Nevada was picked fourth with 18 points. Louisiana Tech and San Jose State tied for fifth place with 15 points while WAC newcomer UTEP, which is fielding its first softball program in school history, was voted seventh with six points (coaches cannot vote for their own team). The conference coaches also selected their preseason All-WAC team and Clark was voted as the WAC Player of the Year while Southern was selected as the WAC Pitcher of the Year. In its third year of selecting a softball preseason WAC Player and Pitcher of the Year, Clark is the first Bulldog to be a preseason player pick while Southern is honored as the preseason pitcher of the year for the third consecutive year. Looking for its 18th conference title overall since 1978, Fresno State has captured six WAC titles in the last eight years while finishing second, twice. The Bulldogs are the only WAC program to have captured that many softball crowns as well as being the only program to win five straight (1998-2002).
The Race to 1,000
With 740 career strikeouts, Southern enters the 2004 season needing 260 strikeouts to become just the 18th NCAA Division I player to amass 1,000 career strikeouts. She is 112 shy of breaking the school and WAC career mark of 851 (Amanda Scott, 1997-2000).
Fresno State Returns Some of WAC's Best
In the final 2003 WAC statistics, the Bulldogs return some of the league's best overall. Fresno State brings back three of the top five hit leaders in Clark (73), 2003 First Team All-WAC utility player Lori Hoffman (Benicia, Calif.) (64) and Southern (60). While all three also return as three of the top five on base percentage leaders as well, Clark and Southern are back as the WAC's top two sluggers with a .738 and .522 slugging percentage, respectively. Overall, Clark is back as the WAC's top player in batting (.382), hits, runs (54), RBI (46), doubles (15), home runs (15), total bases (141), slugging percentage and on base percentage (.439). Southern returns as the WAC's top pitcher in ERA (0.64), opposing batting average (.161), strikeouts (322) and strikeouts per seven innings (8.91) while second in wins (25), game started (36) and innings pitched (253.0). Hoffman finished second in the WAC in RBI (43), third in hits and fourth in batting (.327).
Clark & Southern Named Second Team All-Americans
Fresno State had two players named to the 2003 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association's (NFCA) Division I All-America Second Team in Southern (utility) and Clark (shortstop). Southern picked up her second consecutive All-America accolade while Clark was honored for the first time. Southern wrapped up the season with a 25-12 overall record with 17 shutouts, 322 strikeouts and a 0.64 ERA in 253.0 innings. At the plate she batted .337 (60-178) with 21 runs, seven doubles, triple, eight home runs, 13 walks, 31 RBI and 93 total bases for a .522 slugging percentage. Clark, who tied the school's single-season record in home runs (15), finished the year batting .382 (73-191) with 54 runs, 15 doubles, triples, 15 home runs, 17 walks, 7-7 stolen bases, 46 RBI and 141 total bases for a .738 slugging percentage. Clark led the Bulldogs in 14 offensive categories: batting, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage, walks, sacrifice flies (2), stolen bases, multiple-hit games (20) and multiple-RBI (11).
Hoffman Puts Up Solid Numbers
Hoffman put up solid numbers in 2003. The First Team All-WAC at utility saw time as a pitcher, right fielder and designated player this last year. She quietly put together a 15-game hitting streak (April 12-May 17), which ranks No. 5 all-time at Fresno State, and batted .431 (22-51) with four runs, walk, two home runs (one grand slam), sacrifice fly, 19 RBI and 28 total bases for a .549 slugging percentage; she ended the year hitting safely in 15 of her last 16. In Hoffman's last 27 games she hit .351 (33-94) with seven runs, double, three home runs (one grand slam), walk, sacrifice fly, 24 RBI and 43 total bases for a .457 slugging percentage. Hoffman, who is the third Bulldog this season to have a multiple home run game, had a career-high six RBI and a grand slam in the Bulldogs' 11-2 win over Nevada on April 26. For WAC games only, her multi-home run game tied the league's single-game record. Hoffman finished second on the team in hits (64), doubles (7) and RBI (43) while third in batting (.327), home runs (3), total bases (80) and slugging percentage (.408).
Clark Ties Quickest Mark to 15
Tying the school's single-season home run record with No. 15 against Long Beach State on May 15, Clark not only tied former All-America standout Michelle Bolt for most home runs in a season but also tied Bolt for the fastest Bulldog to reach 15 home runs as they both did it in 54 games. She is the fifth Bulldog to hit 10 or more home runs in a season.
Serving Notice
As the second Bulldog freshman to reach the 100 total base plateau in school history, Clark wrapped up a terrific freshman campaign. Setting a rookie mark in total bases with 141 (fourth highest mark in a season), her slugging percentage of .738 ranked third-best in a season at Fresno State. Clark ranked all eight weeks in the NCAA in home runs per game while tying the school's single-season record in home runs (15). In the school's career charts, she is tied for sixth in career home runs with former Bulldog standout Lindsay Fossatti. Clark had a season-best 12-game hit streak and batted .550 (22-40) with 17 runs, eight doubles, triple, three home runs (grand slam), five walks (two intentional), 3-3 stolen bases, 14 RBI and 41 total bases for a 1.025 slugging percentage. Her bat was potent over the last 37 games in that she was held hitless only six times and reached base in 35 of the those 37 games. In this 37-game span, Clark batted .446 (54-121) with 39 runs, 13 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs (grand slam), 14 walks (three intentional), two hit by pitch, 6-6 stolen bases, 35 RBI and 106 total bases for an .876 slug percentage. In her last 41, Clark was held hitless in eight games but reached base in 36. Clark batted .425 (57-134) with 41 runs, 13 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs (grand slam), 14 walks (three intentional), three hit by pitch, sacrifice fly, 6-6 stolen bases, 36 RBI and 111 total bases for an .828 slug percentage.
Southern Storm
At Fresno State, Southern reached the 500-career strikeout plateau against Cal Poly on March 6 when she struck out seven. She became the eighth Bulldog pitcher and the sixth WAC hurler to tally 500-career strikeouts. Southern also became the quickest Bulldog pitcher to post 500 career strikeouts as she accomplished the feat in 64 appearances. In addition, she became just the fourth Bulldog hurler to tally 600 or more career strikeouts and on May 10 she became the second pitcher to amass 700 or more career strikeouts. Southern recorded her 50th career win against La Tech on April 10 and her 60th career victory versus No. 7 Georgia on May 17.
20-20 Win Seasons
As the first Bulldog to throw back-to-back 300 strikeout seasons, Southern is the seventh pitcher to post at least 20 or more wins in back-to-back season. In 2003, she tallied 322 strikeouts (8.91 per 7/IP) in 253.0 innings with 14 ten-strikeout games for a 0.64 ERA as she went 25-12 overall with 15 shutouts. In league play Southern went 10-2 and with seven shutouts wins and 106 strikeouts in 85.2 innings for a 0.49 ERA. This marked the second straight year in which she tallied 10 or more league wins. In school history only four Bulldogs have recorded a 30-win season: Maureen Brady (36, 1994), Southern (33, 2002), Scott (33, 2000) and Terry Carpenter (30, 1991).
Nearly Untouchable
Southern virtually was untouchable in her last 27 starts as she went 21-6 with 228 strikeouts in 186.2 innings for a 0.64 ERA. Going 14-3 in her last 17 starts, she has tossed 11 shutouts with 149 strikeouts (8.21 strikeouts per 7/IP) in 127.1 innings for a 0.50 ERA (64 hits, 12 runs, 9 earned runs, 22 walks). Southern went 20-4 in her last 24 starts and pitched 15 shutout victories as she struck out 204 (9.03 strikeouts per 7/IP) in 158.2 innings for a 0.49 ERA (92 hits, 16 runs, 11 earned runs, 27 walks). On the year she had a season-best streaks of 68.1 innings without an earned run and 28.2 scoreless innings.
Southern Offering
While doing her job in the circle, Southern had a great season at the plate as a sophomore. She finished second on the team in batting (.337), doubles (7), home runs (8) and total bases (93) while third in hits (60) and RBI (31). Garnering her first WAC Player of the Week pick this season, Southern was the first Bulldog to collect a multi home-run performance since Nina Lindenberg (4 times in 1997). Hitting four home runs in a span of two days, she hit a three-run shot against No. 3 Nebraska and a two-run home run versus Hawai'i while collecting a pair of solo shots against No. 13 DePaul. In the Bulldogs' nine-game win streak, she batted .360 (9-25) with four runs, double, triple, two home runs, four walks, hit by pitch, eight RBI and 18 total bases for a .720 slugging percentage.
National Rankings
Fresno State softball has been no stranger to the national polls. Owning the longest streak for consecutive weeks (178) ranked in NCAA Division I softball history, the Bulldogs have been nationally ranked in the Top 25 for 178 of 190 weeks since the NCAA's first Top 15 poll in 1983. In addition Fresno State has been in the nation's official Top 25 polls for 21 straight years. Appearing in the Top 10 for 151 weeks, the 'Dogs achieved their first No. 1 national ranking on March 14, 1989. They were ranked No. 1 for two straight weeks in 1997 before finishing as the No. 1 team in the final 1998 USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. In 1999, Fresno State opened the year with a No. 1 preseason ranking after winning the national title in 1998. The softball program's five No. 1 rankings is the most ever by a Bulldog athletic team.
Clark & Southern Named to USA Elite Team
On Jan. 9, USA Softball announced its 2004 Women's Elite Team. The 14-player squad has two Bulldogs in Clark and Southern. The team will represent the United States at the 2004 Canada Cup, the U.S. Champions Cup and other events during the year. Clark, who was injured, was named to the 2003 USA Junior Women's World Championship team that won silver last October in Nanjing, China. She helped the USA Junior Women's National Team capture gold at the 2002 First Junior Women's Pan Am Championship in Hermosillo, Mexico. Named to her second straight USA Elite Team, Southern is coming off a gold medal at the 2003 Canada Cup in which she helped the elite team defeat the USA National Team en route to her first international gold medal. In 2002, she and the elite team took second to the national squad and captured silver.
Olympic Dreams
Also on Jan. 9, USA Softball announced its 2004 USA Olympic Softball Team and former Fresno State softball standout Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.), a four-time All-America center fielder for the Bulldogs, was named to her third straight USA Olympic Softball Team, as announced today by USA Softball. One of four two-time Olympic gold medalists selected to the 2004 USA Olympic Softball squad, Berg will look to help the United States defend its back-to-back Olympic crowns this summer in Athens, Greece. A part of the USA Softball national system since 1994, Berg also sports three ISF World Championship titles and two Pan America gold medals. As a Bulldog she helped lead Fresno State to its only Division I national title (1998). The USA Women's National Team will prepare for the Olympics with the "Aiming for Athens" tour, which starts Feb. 20 in Palm Springs. The USA squad will travel the nation and compete in collegiate tournaments as well as make a grassroots tour this spring before departing for Athens in late July. The United States has had unprecedented success on the international level. Winning the last five World Championships and Pan America Games as well as capturing the only two Olympic gold medals, the USA Women's National Team has been the indisputable top-ranked team in the world for the past 17 years. The USA, which has amassed 15 gold medals in the sport of softball, will enter the 2004 Summer Olympic Games as the No. 1 seed after winning the world title in 2002.
Olympic Dreams, Part II
While the United States has Bulldog talent to pull from the Greek Olympic Softball Team sports another Fresno State softball standout in Vanessa Czarnecki (Riverside, Calif.). Czarnecki, who is half Greek, will likely be an infielder for Greece when the country makes its inaugural debut as host to the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. The All-WAC performer played first base her final two seasons after being the starting right fielder the previous two. She finished her career ranked No. 1 in career sacrifices in WAC history and second in the school's annals. She was a part of four league championship teams while helping Fresno State advance to the WCWS in 1999. Czarnecki is the second Bulldog to play for an international Olympic team as former right-handed pitcher Lisa Mize pitched for Team Puerto Rico in 1996 (Atlanta).
