Fresno State Athletics
Softball Continues Preseason Practice
1/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 24, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. -
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"Meet the Team" Festivities This Weekend
The Diamond Club will host its 17th Annual Meet the Team & Silent Auction dinner this Fri., Jan. 28, 6:00 p.m., at TorNino's for the 2005 Fresno State softball team. Tickets are $40 and $30 for those 65 of age or older. The Bulldogs also will make their annual "Meet the Team" appearance at center court in Fashion Fair Mall the following day at 1:00 p.m.
Bulldog Softball Media Day
Media Day for the 2005 Fresno State softball team has been set for Wed., Jan. 26, 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Bulldog Diamond. Head coach Margie Wright and players will be available for interviews. Media may come earlier to get practice footage as season parking passes will be available for pick up.
National Polls Released This Week
Both the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 and the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) will release its preseason polls this week. USA Softball will release its top 25 on Wed., Jan. 25 while the NFCA will release its top 25 the next day.
Men's Basketball Halftime Appearance Next Week
The Fresno State softball team will make its halftime appearance at the men's basketball on Sat., Feb. 5, 7:00 p.m. The Bulldogs will be introduced and conduct a short demonstration. The 'Dogs will be on hand to sign autographs during the first half on the main concourse level.
Preseason Practice in Third Week
With preseason practice underway at Bulldog Diamond for the third week, the Bulldogs bring back nine letterwinners, including six starters, from a 48-20 team that captured the program's seventh Western Athletic Conference title as well as making its 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under Wright, the NCAA's all-time winningest softball coach.
Season Opens in February
The Fresno State softball team opens the 2005 season on the road. In fact, the Bulldogs will be on the road the first three weeks of the year with tournaments in Tempe, Ariz., San Diego and Columbus, Ga. Up first for the 'Dogs is the Kajikawa Classic, formerly known as the Arizona State Fiesta Bowl. Fresno State begins the year against Syracuse and CS Northridge on Fri., Feb. 11. The following day, the Bulldogs meet Wisconsin and Buffalo before closing out with California on Sun., Feb. 13.
Softball Season Tickets On Sale
Season tickets for the 2005 Fresno State softball season are currently on sale. Fans can order on-line (www.gobulldogs.com), by phone (278-DOGS) or by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Season ticket prices are as follows: Reserved seating ($182), GA-Adult ($75), GA- Youth (ages 6-18: $52) and GA-Senior (ages 65+: $52).
Fresno State Picked to Win WAC; Three Bulldogs Garner Preseason Honors
With seven Western Athletic Conference titles in the last nine years, the 2005 Fresno State softball program has been selected to capture the league title for the ninth time in 10 years, as voted by the conference coaches . While coaches can not vote for their own team, Fresno State received all possible six first-place votes as it tallied 36 points. Tulsa, which was the conference runner-up last season, placed second as it received one first place vote and five seconds for a total of 31 points. Hawai'i (25 points) and Nevada (22 points) round out the top four while Louisiana Tech (14 points), San Jose State (12 points) and UTEP (7 points) close out the poll. Also announced was the Preseason All-WAC Team and the Bulldogs had three players named to the squad. Senior hurler Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.) and junior shortstop Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.) repeated as the WAC Preseason Pitcher and Player of the Year, respectively, while sophomore catcher Nichole Willis (Clovis, Calif.), who was named the 2004 WAC Freshman of the Year, also was selected. With preseason pitcher and player of the year awards first handed out by the WAC in 2002, Southern is the first WAC player to be honored as a four-time Preseason Pitcher of the Year while Clark is the first to be a multiple Preseason Player of the Year.
She Can Coach
Wright is a featured author in the book entitled She Can Coach! An author in various other books, magazines and videos, Wright is showcased for being a coaching legend as the book hit the newsstands last month. The book serves as an invaluable guide for current female coaches and a recruiting tool for the next generation of female mentors. Unlike any book before it, this collection speaks directly on the topics that determine success in coaching by using the words and experiences of 20 of the most successful female coaches in 13 different sports. Some other notable coaching legends include Pat Summitt, Mary Wise and Nell Fortner.
Bulldogs Return Five All-Conference Players
Returning for Fresno State is a pair of All-Americans and five all-conference players, including the 2004 WAC Pitcher, Player and Freshman of the Year. Spearheading the Bulldogs in 2005 will be Southern and senior infielder Leticia Pacheco (Boomington, Calif.), Clark, Willis and sophomore outfielder/catcher Rachael Donaldson (Murrieta, Calif.).
2005 Schedule
Fresno State, which finished the 2004 season ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA Poll and No. 21 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll, already has 11 teams on this year's schedule that were either ranked or received votes in the final two polls in 2004. In fact, the Bulldogs will tangle with the top four ranked teams from a year ago in No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 California, No. 3 LSU and No. 4 Stanford. Of the Top 10 in the final two polls, the 'Dogs will play five of them with the chance of meeting the other five in tournament play.
First Time Opponents
Fresno State will battle five first time opponents in 2005: Buffalo, Seton Hall, Kent State, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Buffalo (Kajikawa Classic), Seton Hall (NFCA Leadoff Classic) and Kent State (Bulldog Classic) are all tournament opponents while the Bulldogs will play UConn and Rhode Island at home in March in doubleheader non-conference action.
Fresno State Returns Some of WAC's Best
Fresno State brings back three of the Top 10 hit and RBI leaders in Clark (88 hits, 56 RBI), Southern (70 hits, 34 RBI) and Willis (60 hits, 28 RBI). While Clark has led the WAC in RBI the past two seasons, she, along with Southern, are back as two of the top home run hitters as well as two of the top three total base leaders. Overall, Clark is back as the WAC's top player in eight offensive categories: batting (.396), hits, runs (63), RBI (56), home runs (23), total bases (178), slugging percentage (.802) and on base percentage (.470). Southern returns as the WAC's top pitcher in seven categories: ERA (0.54), opposing batting average (.144), strikeouts (299), strikeouts per seven innings (8.08), innings pitched (259.0), victories (30) and games started (37) while second in appearances (41) and third in saves (3). While both players also finished among the top five in doubles, Clark also ranked among the top five in triples.
Bulldogs Return Nation's ERA Leader
Southern, a three-time All-American and an Academic All-American, returns as the nation's top ERA leader, again. As the WAC's first three-time conference pitcher of the year, she posted a 0.54 ERA to lead the nation last spring after posting a national-best 0.44 as a freshman. In the circle in 2004, Southern also threw her third career perfect game (most by a Bulldog), tied the school's single-game strikeout record (twice) and posted a 30-win season for the second time in her career (seventh 30-win mark overall by a Bulldog pitcher).
NCAA Beckons Southern
In her final year Southern will look to keep company with Terry Carpenter (1989-92) and Amanda Scott (1997-00) in the NCAA recordbook. Southern enters the 2005 season with 90 career victories and is 10 shy of becoming the 37th NCAA Division I pitcher to collect 100 or more career wins. In addition, having become the 23rd NCAA Division I pitcher to tally 1,000 or more career strikeouts last season, she enters the 2005 season ranked No. 23 in career strikeouts (1,039) and No. 27 in career strikeout ratio (8.3). Note: Only 17 NCAA Division I hurlers have eclipsed the 1,100 career strikeout plateau and only seven have posted 120 or more career wins.
Clark Returns as One of Nation's Top Home Run Hitters
Hitting the second-highest number of home runs in the nation last spring, Clark set a new school and WAC season long ball mark en route to becoming Fresno State's all-time career home run holder. With 38 career home runs in just two seasons, the two-time All-American became the third Bulldog to be named WAC Player of the Year (fourth honor overall for Fresno State) as well as the first ever player in WAC history to go from being selected as freshman of the year to player of the year the very next season. As the first Bulldog and WAC player to hit 20 home runs in a season, Clark currently is tied for No. 2 all-time in the league's annals for home runs. With three grand slams to her credit, she enters the 2005 season needing nine home runs to become the WAC's all-time career home run leader (46, Scia Maumausolo of CS Northridge, 1993-96).
Magic Number is Three as Clark Crashes the Record Books
While posting a new single-season school record for total bases (178) a year ago and bringing a 12-game hit streak into 2005, Clark already ranks in three career Fresno State offensive marks: No. 1 home runs (38), No. 10 total bases (319) and No. 10 run (117). Entering this spring, she is three RBI, doubles and triples shy of ranking No. 10, respectively, in each category at Fresno State. As the first Bulldog to be a two-time All-American at shortstop as well as being the first Bulldog freshman to be an All-American at shortstop, Clark also sits just single digits out of the WAC's career Top 10 list in runs, doubles, home runs and triples and 13 shy of the tenth spot for career RBI.
Serving Notice at the Dish
Willis put together one of the top defensive seasons by a Bulldog catcher last spring. With 443 putouts and 484 total chances, she finished the year ranked No. 5 in both putouts and chances in a season by a Fresno State catcher. Throwing out 13 runners and having caught 64 of the 67 games started, she captured WAC Freshman of the Year honors last season to give the Bulldogs a clean sweep of the conference player awards. With that honor Willis became the second WAC catcher, first Bulldog catcher and seventh 'Dog overall to garner conference freshman of the year accolades.
Taking it for the Team
Pacheco is closing in on a school record as all the bruises over the years have testified to her fearlessness at the plate. In position to surpass three-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Berg's career hit by pitch mark (43, 1994-95, 97-98), Pacheco comes into her final year with 35 after being hit 12 times last spring, 10 times as a sophomore and 13 times as a freshman. While Berg holds the school record for most hit by pitch in a season (14, twice), Pacheco holds down the No. 3-5 spots in the Bulldogs' single-season list.
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 193 of the 205 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 22 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 Bulldogs' athletic team.
2004 Team Notables
Fresno State clinched its seventh WAC title in nine years after posting a 20-4 league record ... The regular-season title is the program's 18th overall as Wright collected her seventh WAC championship and 14th overall at Fresno State ... Winning eight of its last 12 games and 23 of their last 31, the Bulldogs notched at least a 40-win season for the 19 times overall since 1982 and 16 times under Wright ... Fresno State posted a final 24-6 home field record in 2004, making it the 11th straight season in which the Bulldogs tallied at least 20 home game victories ... It also marked the 20th time overall in which the 'Dogs have totaled at least 20 or more wins at Bulldog Diamond since softball became a varsity sports in 1978 ... In attendance, Fresno State collected its 12th straight season in which it averaged 1,000 fans per date ... The Bulldogs also drew more than 10,000 fans for the 17th straight season ... On the national level, Fresno State led the country in both total and average attendance for the 10th time since the NCAA has officially kept attendance marks in 1991 ... As a team, the Bulldogs belted 50 home runs - breaking the old record (44) set by the 1998 national championship team ... The 'Dogs also hit 26 home runs in WAC -- a new conference mark ... The pitching staff struck out 435, the fourth-highest single-season total (just the sixth time in school history with 400 or more strikeouts recorded in a season) ... With six of the top eight teams on their slate, the 'Dogs had 16 teams on their schedule that were ranked or received votes in both the final 2004 USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 and the EPSN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 ... Fresno State made its 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and is 63-34 (.649) in NCAA Tournament action under Wright.
Grand Slam Leader
While three opponents have hit a grand slam at Bulldog Diamond, the Bulldogs' top grand slam leader is Clark. Dating back to 1991, 16 grand slams have been recorded in Bulldog softball history as Clark has three of them. However, only one has been hit at home and that was Clark, who connected against Louisiana Tech on May 10, 2003. Last season, Clark hit two and both came on the road as the two-time All-American hit one against No. 13 Pacific on March 20 at the Kia Klassic before recording her second of the year at UTEP on May 1. The most grand slams hit in a season has been three, twice (2004 and 1998).
NCAA Career Leaders
Entering the 2005 season, Southern ranks in two NCAA career pitching categories. She is the second active strikeout leader with 1,039 (No. 23 overall) and the fourth active strikeout ratio leader at 8.3 (No. 27 overall).
Making It Four In a Row
While Southern garnered All-America honors at utility for the second straight season after being named All-America at pitcher as a freshman, she became the eighth Bulldog to be a three-time All-American and the fourth Bulldog hurler to do so as she joined Terry Carpenter, Carie Dever and Amanda Scott. This season, Southern will look to be just the fourth Bulldog to be a four-time All-American as Berg, Robyn Yorke and Scott are the only 'Dogs on the elite list. In addition, Southern also will look to be the first WAC hurler to be selected as a four-time WAC Pitcher of the Year.
Southern's Milestones Reached in 2004
What's in a milestone for Southern, well, plenty and it seemed to come once a month against Top 25 teams as well last spring. Recording her 90th career victory against No. 12 Auburn in NCAA Regional play, she also made her 100th career start against No. 4 Florida State after making her 100th career appearance against No. 18 Arizona State. In addition, Southern collected her school-record third perfect game (fourth career no-hitter) against No. 18 Texas A&M. Other milestones that happened in 2004 for Southern was her 80th career victory against Louisiana Tech and her 70th career win versus Campbell. She posted her 60th career shutout against Nevada and her 50th shutout versus Long Beach State. Still further, Southern tied the school's single-game strikeout record with 15 versus No. 18 Texas A&M before tying the same mark later against Campbell.
Chasing Records
Both Clark and Southern are making their way up the school's and WAC's career record book. As the Bulldogs' top slugger, Clark established new single-season school records in home runs (23) and total bases (178). Her sophomore year also showcased her 100th career run, hit and RBI as she also became just the second Bulldog and seventh WAC player to slug .800 or better in a season. As the WAC's first three-time WAC Pitcher of the Year selection, Southern led the nation in ERA every week except one in 2004. She has pitched four no-hitters (three perfect games) to go along with 15 one-hitters and 17 two-hitters as a Bulldog. Southern also had a break out year at the plate by recording her first 100 total base season and posting a career-high 11-game hit streak. In two years of national stats (16 weeks), Clark has been ranked all 16 weeks in home runs per game, nine weeks in slugging percentage, seven weeks in runs per game and six in batting average. Over three years (24 weeks), Southern has been ranked all 24 weeks in ERA, 22 weeks in victories, nine in strikeouts per seven innings, four weeks in saves while leading the nation in ERA in 15 of the 24 weeks.
Quick WAC Glance
Coming off their seventh WAC crown, the Bulldogs are the league's preseason favorite for the ninth time in 10 years as Hawai'i has been the other preseason conference favorite (2002) ... The WAC returns all its all-conference players except three seniors (Mitzi Ing, Fresno State; Heather Hiar, Tulsa; and April Crowell, Hawai'i) ... Four of the five WAC softball players who garnered all-region honors as back: Clark and Southern (Fresno State) and Katie Torres and Kelly Miller (Tulsa) ... Tulsa became the first school to capture the league's triple crown (hitting, ERA and fielding) since Fresno State last did it in 1999 ... Both Southern and Tulsa pitcher Maren Genow have tallied eight career saves and both are eyeing the WAC record held by Bulldog All-American Amanda Scott (10) ... Last season, Hawai'i posted a 28-33 overall record and went 10-14 in the WAC after capturing the WAC title the year before ... UH was without Australia Olympic softball silver medalist Stacey Porter, who is not returning to the school ... Louisiana Tech had four All-WAC selections in 2004 and return all four ... That is the most the Lady Techsters have had honored since joining the league in 2002 ... Louisiana Tech went 27-33 overall and 10-11 in league play as its fourth place finish also is the highest since becoming a WAC member ... Nevada finished third in the WAC in just their second year back as a varsity sport after posting a 38-28 overall record and 13-11 in the WAC; the 38 wins is a school record ... Candice Rainwater became the program's third Wolf Pack player to earn all-league honors ... San Jose State went 16-35 overall and 9-13 in WAC play ... Carlie Hill was the lone Spartan on the WAC's postseason awards list ... UTEP wrapped up its first season with an 8-46 record and 1-21 in league play ... Tulsa finished second in the WAC (16-5) after posting a 45-18 mark ... The 45 wins marks the second time in three years that TU collected at least 45 victories (school record is 48).
WAC Adds Two in 2006
On Oct. 23, 2003, the WAC issued invitations to New Mexico State and Utah State effective July 1, 2005, the same date that Rice, SMU and Tulsa are moving to Conference USA. In 2006, Utah State and New Mexico State will play softball to make the conference an eight-team league field. In addition, the WAC will host a tournament for just the fourth time. The last conference tournament was in 1999 when Fresno State hosted all six teams at Bulldog Diamond and captured the tournament title after winning the regular-season crown.
