Fresno State Athletics
No. 20/17 Softball Travels to Louisiana Tech
4/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 25, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Fresno State Travels to Louisiana Tech
The Fresno State softball team goes on the road this week for a three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs will play a single game on Fri., April 29, 5:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m., PST) before playing a doubleheader on Sat., April 30, 2:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m., PST). Fresno State is coming off a three-game conference home sweep over Tulsa as the 'Dogs improved their league mark to 8-1.
Conference Season Half Over
The WAC season is half over for the Bulldogs as they sit in first place with an 8-1 record. Nevada, which is 7-2, is in second place as the Wolf Pack swept UTEP last week. Having opened WAC play with a 1-5 mark, Hawai'i has been on a tear by winning nine straight and currently is in third place after sweeping Louisiana Tech at home. Idle last week, San Jose State is in fourth place with a 4-5 worksheet. Tied for fifth place is Tulsa and Louisiana Tech, as both schools are 2-7 after being swept on the road at Fresno State and Hawai'i, respectively. UTEP rounds out the league standings with a 3-9 mark. The Bulldogs and Hawai'i are perfect on the road. However, Louisiana Tech is winless away from home (0-3) and Tulsa is winless at home (0-3) while Hawai'i has played the most WAC games (15).
Regular-Season Winding Down
While the Bulldogs lost 11 games to Mother Nature, Fresno State will barely play a 50-game schedule. With 51 games on the docket, pending no more rain, the 'Dogs only have nine games remaining before eyeing their 24th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Fresno State will have its hands full as it is on the road the next two weeks with contests against Louisiana Tech and Nevada (May 6-7) before closing out at home with UTEP (May 13-14).
Youth Red Seat Special Offer
For the rest of the Fresno State softball season, youth (ages 6-18) will be able to sit in a red seat for $5 for the remainder of the Bulldogs' regular-season home schedule. Tickets can be purchased at the Bulldog Ticket Office as well as on-line and on game day.
Diamond Discounts
The Fresno State Athletics Department in conjunction with Ovations is offering ticket/concession discount programs for the remainder of the Bulldogs' softball season. Offered during weekday games, Twin Packs showcase three different priced packages as it offers two seats, two hot dogs and two 22 oz. sodas ($13 to $25). The Family 4-Pack, which runs Fri.-Sun., also showcases three different priced packages as it offers four seats, four hot dogs and four 22 oz. sodas ($26 to $50). For more information on these Diamond Discounts, visit the Bulldogs' ticket page on line at gobulldogs.com.
Got Tickets? Get Free Food
Running throughout the season, fans who go on-line at gobulldogs.com can download a 2-for-1 coupon good for outfield general admission for weekday games and have a chance to receive food coupons good for Kentucky Fried Chicken and Wendy's. Fans who redeem the 2-for-1 coupon at the Bulldog ticket trailer will receive a coupon for a two piece meal at KFC as well as a quarter pound classic hamburger from Wendy's.
This Week's Opponent
Louisiana Tech (18-38, 2-7 WAC): Louisiana Tech is coming off a three-game WAC road loss at Hawai'i (7-1, 6-3, 9-1 in 6 inn.) ... Dropping its last 10 games, La Tech opened the year with a 16-19 record and has gone 2-19 since ... However, the Lady Techsters' two wins have come against league opponents as they defeated UTEP (2-1) and Nevada (4-3 in 8 inn.) at home earlier in the month ... Louisiana Tech will play a doubleheader at Southern Mississippi on Wed., April 27, before hosting Fresno State ...Hitting .245 as a team, the Lady Techsters are led offensively by senior left fielder Brittany Stanley and sophomore right fielder Ashley Cameron ... Stanley is hitting .288 (36-125) with 22 runs, four doubles, two triples, 10 walks, 10 RBI while being 15-18 on the basepaths ... Cameron is right behind and is batting .283 (45-159) with 19 runs, 11 doubles, nine walks and team-highs in home runs (9) and RBI (29) ... In the circle, Louisiana Tech owns a 4.03 ERA ... Senior right hander Lindsey Meadows, who has allowed 30 home runs, is 13-23 with three shutouts, a save and 225 strikeouts in 231 innings for a 3.33 ERA ... In the all-time series, Fresno State holds a 12-0 advantage ... Having met the last three years in league play, the Bulldogs have notched nine shutouts while outscoring Louisiana Tech, 58-6.
Southern Becomes WAC's and Fresno State's All-Time Win Leader
Senior All-America pitcher Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.) became the WAC's and Fresno State's all-time win leader on the same day. Throwing a two-hit shutout with 13 strikes in the first game against Tulsa on April 23, she surpassed former Bulldog All-American Amanda Scott as the WAC's career win leader. In the night cap, she pitched the final 2.0 innings and recorded the win in relief to become Fresno State's all-time career win leader. Breaking a 13-year old record, Southern surpassed former Bulldog All-American Terry Carpenter (1989-92). In the series finale against Tulsa, Southern would again pitch a two-hit shutout and tally her 109th career victory, which moved her up to No. 8 all-time in NCAA Division I history.
Top 'Dog
Junior All-America shortstop Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.), who became the fifth Bulldog and seventh WAC player to notch 400 or more career total bases two weeks ago, helped Fresno State go undefeated last week in the three-game conference series at home against Tulsa. Leading the `Dogs offensively, she had one multiple RBI game while knocking in both runs in the series final against Tulsa. Hitting .333 (3-9) with a run, a walk and three RBI, Clark hit her 11th home run of the season and 49th of her career when she led the game off for the Bulldogs with a solo shot in the 'Dogs 4-2 victory. That home run moved her up to No. T21 in NCAA Division I career history for home runs. While owning a current three-game hit streak, Clark has hit safely in five of her last six games and is batting .294 (5-17) with two runs, four RBI, a double, a home run, two walks and a hit by pitch. In her last 14 games, Clark is batting .357 (15-42) with eight runs, two doubles, three home runs, five walks, eight RBI and 26 total bases for a .619 slugging percentage. As the WAC's and Fresno State's career home run leader (49), she is one of two players in league history to slug better than .750.
Historic Week for Southern
Southern is coming off a historic week at home. While helping Fresno State to a 3-0 record against WAC opponent Tulsa, she became the league's and the school's all-time career win leader. Coming into the week with 106 career victories, Southern opened the three-game series against the Golden Hurricane with a two-hit shutout . While walking one and striking out 13, she posted her 17th win of the year to become the WAC's all-time career win leader with 107 wins. The 13-strikeout game was Southern's eighth of the year and No. 50 of her career. In the second game, she made her third relief appearance of the season and picked up her second win in as many games. After becoming the WAC's outright win leader, Southern came right back on the same day to become Fresno State's all-time career win leader with victory No. 108. In the finale, Southern pitched her second straight two-hit shutout while striking out five. The two-hitter was her sixth of the year while the shutout was her 12th of the season. On the week, she went 3-0 with two shutouts while scattering five hits, walking two and striking out 21 in 16.0 innings for a 0.00 ERA as the Golden Hurricane hit .098 against. In her last 10 appearances, she has gone 8-1 with five shutouts, one save, five runs (two earned) with five walks and 73 strikeouts in 59.0 innings for a 0.24 ERA. With a current streak of 20.1 scoreless innings, Southern is now the school record holder in nine categories and the WAC record holder in all six career marks.
Week in Review
Fresno State is coming off a 3-0 record at home after sweeping Tulsa ... The Bulldogs, who wrapped up their eight game home stand with a 6-2 mark, posted their 12 straight 20-win mark at home ... Overall, Fresno State now has had 20 or more victories at home in 21 of the 28 years ... Head coach Margie Wright, who is five wins shy of notching her 1,000th school win, picked up her 500th win at Bulldog Diamond on April 23 ... Southern moved up into the WAC's top 10 for career games played ... In fact, the WAC's career list now boasts all Bulldogs as Southern sits No. 10 with 240 career games played ... Clark hit her fifth home run at home with a solo shot in the Bulldogs' 4-2 win over the Golden Hurricane ... Freshman right fielder Twyla Coffman (Phoenix, Ariz.) collected her first collegiate hit and RBI when she hit a two-run double in game one to break a scoreless game ... In the three games played last week she hit .286 (2-7) with a run, a double, a sacrifice and two RBI ... Sophomore catcher Nichole Willis (Clovis, Calif.) batted a team-high .375 (3-8) while walking twice in the Tulsa series.
Among the NCAA's Best
Ranked in seven NCAA Division I career pitching categories, Southern moved into the Top 10 in shutouts. She ranks No. 8 all-time with 72 career shutouts while moving up to No. 10 in complete games (131), No. 12 in strikeouts (1,232), No. 17 in wins (109), No. 19 in innings pitched (1,021.2), No. 20 in starts (137) and No. T29 in strikeouts per 7 innings (8.4). Still further, Southern is one of 10 NCAA Division I hurlers to amass 70 or more career shutouts. Holding/sharing nine school records, she also owns 50 career 10-strikeout games.
Moving Ahead
Winning 13 of her last 14 starts, Southern owns a 0.45 ERA with nine shutouts and 119 strikeouts in 93.0 innings. In this stretch, she also has yielded 38 hits, nine runs (six earned) while walking 12 as opponents are batting .121 against. In Southern's last 17 appearances, she owns a 0.43 ERA with two saves while going 14-1. In this span, she has recorded 129 strikeouts to 13 walks and has given up 39 hits, nine runs (six earned) in 98.0 innings as opponents are hitting .118 against.
Second Release of NCAA Statistics
In the second release of NCAA statistics (April 17), Clark, Southern and Willis appeared as individuals while the team was ranked in one. Clark is ranked No. 18 in runs per game (0.95), Southern is eighth in ERA (0.59) and Willis is No. 27 in hit by pitch per game (0.18). As a team, the Bulldogs rank 27th in W/L (.744, 29-10).
Eleven Consecutive Wins Ranks Eighth Best
Just one victory shy of tying her career-best mark of consecutive wins, Southern notched a season-high 11 straight victories that ran from March 9-April 15. The streak ranks eighth-best in school history. In this stretch, Southern went 11-0 with seven shutouts while allowing six runs (four earned) and striking out 93 (8.7 strikeouts per 7/IP) in 72.0 innings for a 0.38 ERA. On the year, she also owns a season-best mark of 42.1 innings without an earned run.
Southern Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
After being named to the preseason USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List for the fourth time of her career, Southern now has been selected a Top 25 finalist for this prestigious award for the fourth consecutive time. Announced by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) on April 6, the Fourth Annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, which is likened to the Heisman Trophy, recognizes outstanding athletic achievements by collegiate softball players around the nation. Southern was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist in 2002 when she was one of the final three chosen. Highlights her senior year include being the first WAC softball player to garner player/pitcher of the week honors in the same week, first Bulldog pitcher to open the season with a no-hitter, MVP of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, sweeping national player of the week awards in the same week, throwing a perfect game out of two no-hitters this season, becoming the 16th NCAA Division I pitcher to post 1,200 career strikeouts, being the 40th NCAA Division I pitcher to collect 100 career wins and being a two-time first round professional draft selection, including the honor as the No. 1 draft pick in the 2005 LPFA Senior Draft (third Bulldog to ever go as a top draft selection by a professional organization). Entering the year, Southern became the first hurler to be a four-time Preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year as well as being the first Bulldog, male or female, to be a John Wooden candidate (Top 24). In the NCAA statistics, Southern has ranked all 26 weeks in ERA while leading the nation in 15 of those weeks the past three seasons. She also has ranked 22 of the 26 weeks in victories. Southern also can boast being just the fourth NCAA Division I pitcher to be a multiple ERA statistical champion.
Clark & Southern in the WAC's Annals
While Clark and Southern continue to climb up the school's career record book, both are making their mark in the WAC's annals as well. Of the six career pitching records kept by the WAC, Southern owns/shares all six of them: No. 1 wins (109), No. T1 saves (10), No. 1 innings pitched (1,021.2), No. 1 ERA (0.53), No. 1 strikeouts (1,232) and No. 1 strikeouts per 7 innings pitched (8.4). Of the 14 career hitting records kept by the WAC, Clark ranks in the Top 10 in five: No. 1 home runs (49), No. 2 slugging percentage (.753), No. 6 total bases (406), No. 7 runs (155) and No. 8 RBI (130). Also ranked in the offensive charts, Southern is No. 6 in at bats (763), No. 9 in doubles (39), No. T9 in games played (240) and No. 10 in home runs (26). With 239 career hits, she is three short of being listed in the top 10 for hits.
Southern Throws Perfect Game While Reaching 100 Career Win Plateau
Southern made her 100th career win memorable. As the 40th NCAA Division I pitcher to reach the 100-win plateau, she tossed her fourth career perfect game and sixth career no-hitter against Dartmouth on March 25. Striking out six in Fresno State's 8-0, 5 inning win over the Big Green, Southern threw the program's 13th perfect game and 57 no-hitter overall. Of the 13 perfect games recorded, eight have come at home. Of those eight, Southern has thrown three of her four at Bulldog Diamond. She also became just the third Bulldog pitcher to collect 100 wins as she joined Amanda Scott (106) and Terry Carpenter (107). Still further, her six no-hitters moved her into a four-way tie for second place all-time in school history for career no-hitters. While she is the school record holder in perfect games, Southern is one no-no shy of tying Melanie Parrent's mark (7).
Making Sense of It
While there have been as many as 12 Top 25 teams on the Bulldogs' 2005 schedule, Fresno State has been rained out of 11 games and three have come against Top 25 schools in then No. 1 California (Feb. 13), then No. 13 Georgia (Feb. 20) and then No. 23 Northwestern (March 25). Fresno State has six Top 25 losses, including four top five, and all of them have come to higher ranked teams played at the time. The Bulldogs appear to have suffered in the official poll for those losses as they've dropped by as much as four spots. However, Fresno State has posted three top 15 victories (No. 5 Stanford, No. 10 LSU and No. 14 Washington).
Young Guns
Trying to be successful and uncomfortable or fail and be comfortable are words that the Bulldogs are using to define themselves. While five starters are back what is deceiving is that Fresno State is still very young. There are three upperclassmen that are starting (Clark, Southern and Leticia Pacheco) but one is playing a new position (Pacheco). With sophomores Rachael Donaldson (left field) and Nichole Willis (catcher) also back as starters, the other starters on this year's squad are first year players in freshmen Kristin Sylvester (1B/DP), Shauna Johnson (1B), Amanda Nesbitt (P/UT) and Jenna Cervantez (2B) along with junior Daisy Gaynor (RF) and senior Kristy Villasenor (CF). Also breaking into the starting line up was freshman Mallory Perkins (OF) but she went down with a torn ACL on March 12. Fresno State's youth has shown at times. Of the 10 losses, the Bulldogs have committed 24 errors and 15 have come against six top 25 teams. Unfortunately, those 15 errors have led to 18 unearned runs against the top 25. One top 25 team (No. 21 Florida State) came away with a 2-0 victory on two unearned runs.
Home Cooking
While Fresno State has posted a 20-6 home field record this season, four Bulldogs have enjoyed hitting at home as five are batting better than .300. Clark is hitting .329 (25-76) with 18 runs, two doubles, a triple, five home runs, nine walks and 15 RBI. Sylvester is next and she is batting .322 (19-59) with seven runs, five doubles, a triple, eight walks and eight RBI. Willis is hitting .312 (24-77) with 15 runs, three doubles, a triple, two home runs, six walks and 10 RBI. Southern is next and is batting .305 (25-82) with 21 runs, five doubles, three home runs, four walks and 13 RBI. Southern has been stingy in the circle as well. She is 10-2 with seven shutouts, two saves and 98 strikeouts in 80.0 innings as opponents are batting .141 against.
Hitting Streaks Set
Four Bulldogs have had significant hit streaks this season. Missing the first 10 games due to surgery, Sylvester owns a season-best eight-game hit streak in which she posted four multi hit games while hitting .600 (12-20) with six runs, four doubles, a triple, seven walks, nine RBI and 17 total bases for a .850 slugging percentage. Donaldson also posted an eight-game hit streak in which she had three multi hit games while batting .478 (11-23) with six runs, a double, a triple, two home runs, nine RBI and 21 total bases for a .913 slugging percentage. Making it eight straight as well was Willis, who had three multi hit performances and hit .541 (13-24) with 10 runs, four doubles, a home run, four walks, 10 RBI, 2-3 in stolen bases and 19 total bases for a .792 slugging percentage. Southern posted a seven-game hit streak and hit .375 (9-24) with eight runs, three doubles, a home run, two walks, four RBI and 15 total bases while slugging .625.
Home Run Leader
Hitting the second-highest number of home runs (23) in the nation last spring, it took Clark just four innings into the new year to belt her first of the season. Having set a new school and WAC season long ball mark en route to becoming Fresno State's all-time career home run holder last year, the two-time All-American became the WAC's all-time career home run leader on April 2 against Hawai'i when she hit a solo home run in the night cap for No. 38 of her career. As the first Bulldog and WAC player to hit 20 home runs in a season, Clark had tied the WAC's career mark against No. 14 Washington on March 19 at the Kia Klassic.
Southern Back as Nation's ERA Leader
Southern, a three-time All-American and an Academic All-American, returns as the nation's top ERA leader, again. She notched a 0.54 ERA to lead the nation last spring after posting a national-best 0.44 as a freshman. In the circle this year, Southern already has thrown two no-hitters, including a perfect game. She has pitched 12 shutouts in 19 wins while tallying eight 10-strikeout games. This season, Southern's strike out to walk ratio is 11.4 while averaging 9.3 strikeouts per 7 innings.
Grand Slam Leader
While four opponents have hit a grand slam at Bulldog Diamond, the Bulldogs' top grand slam leader is Clark. Dating back to 1991, 18 grand slams have been recorded in Bulldog softball history as Clark has four of them. Three of them have been hit at home as Clark, who connected against UC Santa Barbara on March 11, 2005 and Louisiana Tech on May 10, 2003 along with Donaldson, who hit one against UC Santa Barbara on March 11, account for the grand slams at home. Last season, Clark hit two and both came on the road. The most grand slams hit in a season by a Bulldog team has been three, twice (2004 and 1998). This year, two have been recorded.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Entering the 2005 season Clark ranked in three career Fresno State offensive marks. Pushing her all-time career home run mark to 49, she ranks fifth in total bases (406), sixth in runs (155), seventh in RBI (130) and tenth in doubles (35). In addition, Clark posted a 17-game hit streak that ranks No. 5 all-time in school history. Dating back to April 29, 2004 and running through Feb. 26, 2005, the hitting streak saw Clark bat .422 (27-64) with 23 runs, six doubles, a triple, eight home runs, eight walks, 17 RBI and 59 total bases for a .922 slugging percentage.
In the NCAA Statistics
In the three years of national stats (18 weeks), Clark has been ranked 17 weeks in home runs per game, 10 weeks in slugging percentage, eight weeks in runs per game and six in batting average. Over four years (26 weeks), Southern has been ranked all 26 weeks in ERA, 22 in wins, nine in strikeouts per seven innings and four in saves while leading the nation in ERA in 15 weeks.
Southern Throws Fifth Career No-Hitter to Open Season
As the starting pitcher in the first game of the season against Utah, Southern became the first Bulldog pitcher to open a season with a no-hitter as Fresno State defeated the Utes, 5-0, on Feb. 17. She recorded her fifth career no-hitter and struck out 14 in her 120th career appearance in the circle. The 14 strikeout performance was her 43rd career 10-plus strikeout game as she posted her 91st career win en route to her 61st career shutout victory.
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 Laura 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.
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 204 of the 216 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 23 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 program's five No. 1 rankings is the most ever by a Bulldogs' athletic team.
Final 24 John Wooden Trophy Candidate
After more than 200 nominations were reviewed, Southern was one of 24 candidates selected for consideration of the inaugural 2004 John Wooden Trophy. This award singled out athletes of excellence on and off the field and spotlights those who are role models in performance and person. Southern, who led the nation in ERA for the second time of her career last spring, is a three-time All-American on the field and an Academic All-American in the classroom while overcoming a near career-ending injury as a freshman. Her community involvement has been equally recognized as she volunteers with Big Heroes-Little Heroes events, walks in causes such as Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence, participates in Special Olympics, is a guest speaker a various community organizations as well as work with young children in readings and sports.
Making History
For the first time in WAC history, Southern became the first softball player to sweep player and pitcher of the week awards at one time. In addition, she went on to garner USA Softball National Player of the Week as well as Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week honors after an outstanding performance at the 10th NFCA Leadoff Classic. Guiding Fresno State to a third place finish at the 24-team tournament field, Southern was a juggernaut as she captured the school's first MVP honor at that tournament. Southern collected 18 total bases for a 1.500 slugging percentage as she hit four home runs at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. She hit her fourth career multi home run game against No. 10 LSU. She also had three multiple RBI games and two multiple hit games. With the four long balls hit at the tournament, she became just the fifth Bulldog to post 20 or more career home runs. In the circle, she posted a 2-1 mark with a shutout and 26 strikeouts in 20.0 innings for a 0.70 ERA. Scattering 13 hits and yielding four runs (two earned), she also walked two as opponents batted .176 against her. Southern's sweep of the national player of the week awards made her the second Bulldog to accomplish that feat as Clark swept the same honors last year for the week of April 13/14.
Southern Top Draft Pick in LPFA Senior Draft
The Ladies Professional Fastpitch Association, a new professional venue for fastpitch players, announced its 2005 College Senior Draft and All-American Jamie Southern was the No. 1 draft choice. Southern is the third Bulldog overall and second softball player to be a top draft choice by a professional organization. Out of the the 27-player draft, four of the top five draft selections were pitchers. Former Bulldogs Laura Berg and Randi Berg have also joined the professional ranks with the LPFA as they both signed contracts in mid-March. The three teams comprising this league will be announced by the end of March. The LPFA will conduct tour stops around the country beginning at the end of May. These three teams will scrimmage each other in a round robin tournament format at designated sites, which will be announced at a later date. LPFA Tour will bring the world's best professional fastpitch softball players together with amateur communities across the United States. During each tour players, coaches and staff will incorporate youth and coach instruction, player mentoring and corporate endorsement into their schedule of games.
Southern First Round Pick in NPF Senior Draft
In the 2005 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft, Southern was the fifth overall pick in the senior draft. Selected by the Akron Racers, Southern is the program's third senior first round draft pick (sixth first round draft selection overall) and 20th total draftee chosen from the Fresno State softball program. The other two Bulldogs who were selected in the first round of a senior draft were Amanda Scott (No. 1, Ohio Pride, 2000) and Jamie Maxey (No. 5, Georgia Pride, 1999). With at least one Bulldog drafted since 1996, Fresno State softball had the university's first No. 1 draft pick, regardless of sport or gender, in Amanda Scott. While six Bulldogs have played on the professional ranks, four have been a part of a championship team: Scott (2004 NPF Champion NY/NJ Juggernaut) and Randi Berg, Kim Maher and Nina Lindenberg (2000 WPSL Champion Florida Wahoos).
From Bulldog to Professional Manager
The 2004 World Champion New York/New Jersey Juggernaut announced a new head coach and general manager in Julie Smith, a former Fresno State softball All-American and 1996 USA Olympic Softball gold medalist, last January. Having played professional softball, she was the No. 6 pick in the first round of the 1996 Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) amateur draft. However, she went on to represent the United States in softball and captured gold at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Four years later, Smith was again drafted by the WPSL and was the No. 2 pick in the 2000 Elite/Supplement Draft. Playing for the Ohio Pride, she was named the 2000 WPSL Defensive Player of the Year. On the international level, Smith was a two-time World Champion in addition to being a two-time Pan Am gold medalist. In her two-year career at Fresno State, Smith was a two-time First Team All-American. With the Bulldogs being the NCAA runner up in 1990, she led the NCAA in hits (93), runs (55) and at bats (263) that same year.
WCWS MVP to NPF MVP to Professional Pitching Coach
It was just six years ago that Scott collected a collegiate national championship crown and garnered college world series MVP honors. After a hiatus, Scott stepped onto a softball field once again and added another national title and another MVP honor to her illustrious softball resume last August. In her first season as a professional for the New York/New Jersey, she pitched the Juggernaut to a world championship as the franchise captured the inaugural Cowles Cup as the 2004 National Pro Fastpitch champion. Helping the Juggernaut to a 44-22 overall record, Scott finished the year at 18-7 with two saves and 160 strikeouts in 179.0 innings for a 0.86 ERA. On March 4, Scott retired from professional ball and became the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut pitching coach.
Bulldogs Bring Home Olympic Gold; Berg to Play Professional Ball
Playing in her third straight Olympics last summer, Laura Berg helped the United States collect its third consecutive gold medal in Athens. While former two-year player Lovie Jung (United States) and four-year starter Vanessa Czarnecki (Greece) suited up for the first time as softball Olympians last summer, it was Berg who patrolled center field for Team USA for the third straight Olympics as it captured its third consecutive gold medal. In 2000, Berg had the game-winning hit to lead the USA to a 2-1, 8 inning victory over Japan in Sydney. In 1996, Berg scored the first run in the championship game against China. Berg will make her professional debut again by playing for the LPFA this summer.
