Fresno State Athletics
No. 18/17 Softball Travels to Nevada
5/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May. 2, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Fresno State Travels to Nevada
The Fresno State softball team goes on the road this week for a three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Nevada. The Bulldogs will play a doubleheader on Fri., May 6, 2:00 p.m. before playing a single game on Sat., May 7, 2:00 p.m. Improving to 11-1 in league play, Fresno State is coming off a three-game conference road sweep over Louisiana Tech.
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 have six games remaining before eyeing their 24th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Fresno State will have its hands full with a road trip to Nevada before closing out at home with UTEP.
Domestic Violence Awareness Night
Fresno State will host its Second Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Night on Fri., May 13, when the Bulldogs host UTEP in a single game, 6:00 p.m. With the three-game series sponsored by Bingham Toyota, this night is in honor and memory of Fresno State softball head coach Margie Wright's sister, who was a victim in April 2003. In conjunction with the Marjaree Mason Center, there will be a drop off box on the concourse level for items such as toys, toiletries, towels, women and children's clothes and anything else needed for day-to-day living. There also will be a fund drive to collect loose change in memory of Wright's sister. For information on the Domestic Violence Awareness Nigh, call (559) 278-6833. To donate or find out how to donate to the Marjaree Mason Center, phone (559) 237-4706.
Selection Sunday
The field of 64 teams for the 2005 NCAA Division I Softball Championship will be announced live between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., EDT (4:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., PDT) on ESPNews, which is on DirecTV (ch. 207) and Dish Network (ch. 142). The regional pairings and sites will be announced. In addition, the ESPNews audio signal is available on the ESPNews channel on XM Radio and SIRIUS Radio. A printable bracket will be posted on www.NCAAsports.com immediately after the selection announcement. Fresno State will be looking to host its 19th NCAA regional championships since 1982. The format for this year's postseason showcases 16 four-team regional sites before being paired down to eight super regional sites where the winner must win two of three games before advancing to the 2005 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Postseason Banquet
Fresno State will host its postseason softball banquet on Sun., May 15, 12:00 p.m. at TorNino's as a social will start at 12:00 p.m. and lunch will be served at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the Dog Shed on Fri., May 13 when Fresno State hosts UTEP. Tickets also may be purchased by calling Cindy Henley at (559) 323-9665.
This Week's Opponent
Nevada (22-25, 8-4 WAC): Nevada is coming off a 1-2 WAC road record at San Jose State as the Wolf Pack lost the series after a doubleheader set back on the final day (10-4, 1-2, 3-5) ... After posting its longest win streak of the season at seven, Nevada has dropped four of its last five, including a doubleheader home loss to then No. 23 Washington ... After opening the year at 10-14, the Wolf Pack have gone 12-11 since late March ... Sporting a 12-5 record at home, which includes a 5-1 home field mark in WAC play, Nevada is currently in third place in the conference standings as it sits three games back of Fresno State and a half game back of Hawai'i ... Hitting .269 as a team, the Wolf Pack are being led offensively by junior shortstop Brittany Lorenzen and junior right hander/designated player Candice Rainwater ... Lorenzen is batting a team-high .365 (50-137) with 23 runs, a team-best 13 doubles, seven home runs, 25 RBI and a team-high 16 walks while collecting 84 total bases for a .613 slugging percentage ... Rainwater is hitting .331 (48-145) with 20 runs, nine doubles, seven home runs and a team-best 27 RBI ... In the circle, Nevada owns a 3.36 ERA ... Freshman right hander Jordan McPherson is 11-8 with three shutouts, three saves and 84 strikeouts in 131.2 innings for a 2.13 ERA ... Rainwater and sophomore right hander Tiffany Hoeft each have five wins ... Rainwater is 5-6 with 27 strikeouts in 73.1 innings for a 3.63 ERA while Hoeft is 5-9 with 50 strikeouts in 80.2 innings for a 4.51 ERA ... In the all-time series, Fresno State owns a 20-2 advantage ... Having won the last 18 meetings, the series opened at 2-2 ... There has been 16 shutouts recorded in the series and Fresno State has collected all of them ... At one point of the series, from 1984-2003, the Bulldogs outscored the Wolf Pack, 53-0 ... Nevada's two wins are back-to-back victories as it won 10-8 in Fresno (1981) and 2-1 in Reno (1983).
Top 'Dog
Senior third baseman Leticia Pacheco (Bloomington, Calif.) led the Bulldogs in virtually every offensive category last week on the road at Louisiana Tech. Leading the 'Dogs to a series sweep over the Lady Techsters, she led the team in hits (5) and RBI (5) while also tallying nine total bases for a .818 slugging percentage. Hitting her second career home run, a two-run shot, Pacheco also had a double. Recording a pair of multiple RBI games as the clean up batter, she moved her season total up to seven multiple RBI games - third highest on the team as she is one of five Bulldogs with 20 or more RBI on the season. Pacheco tied her career-high mark for most RBI in a game when she went 3-4 with a double and three RBI in the series finale. Still further in the finale, her two-out RBI double tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth before recording a RBI single in the seventh for an insurance run and eventual 5-3 win. It was Pacheco's first three-hit game of the season as well as she now has seven multiple hit games to date. In Fresno State's last five games, Pacheco is batting a team-best .467 (7-15) with four runs, a double, a home run, a team-high five RBI and two walks while collecting 11 total bases for a .733 slugging percentage. In addition, she has hit safely in the last five straight as she tied her season- and career-high mark for consecutive hit games. Still further, Pacheco has helped Fresno State to a 17-3 mark in its last 20 games. In this stretch she is hitting .304 (17-56) with 10 runs, two doubles, a triple, a home run, three walks and 24 total bases while collecting the second-highest number of RBI (10).
Southern Gets Sixth WAC Pitcher of the Week Honor and 20th of Career
Honored for the sixth time this season and 20th overall in her career, senior All-America pitcher Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.) was named WAC Pitcher of the Week today. For the second consecutive week, Southern went undefeated in the circle as she posted her second straight 3-0 weekend. Not allowing a run for seven straight games, Southern posted another pair of shutout wins to make it four consecutive starts in which she has blanked the opponent. At Louisiana Tech she pitched 16.0 scoreless innings after scattering six hits, walking two and striking out 25 in three appearances. Southern, who also recorded another win in relief, has won six straight in the circle. In two starts against La Tech, Southern threw a pair of three-hit shutouts as the Lady Techsters managed a .111 batting average against. In game one she fanned 13 and walked none to earn her 20th win of the season. With her ninth 10-strikeout games of the season (51st in career), Southern also became the school's all-time career leader in shutouts (74), surpassing former Bulldog All-America pitcher Terry Carpenter (73, 1989-92) and notching her 10th career school record. The victory made it four straight years in which Southern has been a 20-game winner. The next day, she pitched her second straight three-hit shutout as she walked two and struck out six. The shutout was her 14th of the season and No. 74 of her career. That shutout tied her for No. 4 all-time in NCAA Division I history as she shares the mark with current Louisiana Tech head coach Sarah Dawson and three-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Fernandez. In the finale against the Lady Techsters, Southern pitched the final 2.0 innings and not only got the win in the circle but helped the team offensively as well. Striking out all six batters faced in the final two innings, Southern put the Bulldog ahead in the top of the seventh by leading off the inning with a solo home run - her 10th of the year. At the plate last week, she hit .400 (4-10) with two runs, two home runs, a walk, a sacrifice, three RBI and collected a team-high 10 total bases and slugging a team-high 1.000. Southern also cracked the WAC's career top 10 list in hits as well as she now has 243 to rank tenth all-time. In her last 13 appearances, she has gone 11-1 with seven shutouts, one save, five runs (two earned) with seven walks and 98 strikeouts in 75.0 innings for a 0.19 ERA. With a current streak of 36.1 scoreless innings that ranks No. 7 all-time in school history, Southern holds 10 career school records and all six WAC career marks.
Week in Review
Fresno State is coming off a 3-0 Western Athletic Conference road trip after sweeping the series against Louisiana Tech (6-0, 6-0, 5-3) ... Improving to 11-1 in league play, the Bulldogs hit five doubles and five home runs in the three-game series ... The `Dogs tied their season-high in at bats (33) and set a season-high mark in hits (13) in the first game of the series ... Southern had two home runs while Pacheco and junior All-America shortstop Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.) each had one ... While Southern sits two home runs shy of becoming the second Bulldog hurler to tally 30 or more career long balls, Pacheco hit her second of the season and of her career against the Lady Techsters ... In addition, Clark hit her 12th of the season and 50th of her career when she connected for a two-run shot in the `Dogs second game versus La Tech ... Becoming the 24th NCAA Division I player to belt 50 or more long balls, Clark moved up to No. T22 all-time in D1 history ... While Pacheco and Southern batted .400 or better, freshman first baseman Kristin Sylvester (Big Bear City, Calif.) was the third Bulldog to hit at least .400 last week ... Sylvester batted .400 (4-10) with two runs, two doubles, a home run, a walk, three RBI and nine total bases for a .900 slugging percentage ... The home run was Sylvester's first career dinger ... With 1,161 Division I career wins, head coach Margie Wright is now two victories shy of collecting her 1,000th school win ... Fresno State is on its longest win streak of the season with seven straight ... The Bulldogs have won 14 of their last 16, 17 of last 20 and 25 of their last 31 games ... With the victories last week, Fresno State posted a 14-2 record in the month of April.
Among the NCAA's Best
Ranked in seven NCAA Division I career pitching categories, Southern ranks in the Top 10 in shutouts (No. T4, 74) while being No. 11 in complete games (133) and strikeouts (1,257), No. 15 in wins (112), No. 17 in innings pitched (1,037.2), No. T18 in starts (139) and No. T24 in strikeouts per 7 innings (8.5). Still further, Southern is one of six NCAA Division I hurlers to amass 74 or more career shutouts.
Moving Ahead
Winning 15 of her last 16 starts, Southern owns a 0.39 ERA with 11 shutouts and 138 strikeouts in 107.0 innings. In this stretch, she has yielded 44 hits, nine runs (six earned) while walking 14 as opponents are batting .101 against. In Southern's last 20 appearances, she owns a 0.37 ERA with two saves while going 17-1. In this span, she has recorded 154 strikeouts to 15 walks and has given up 45 hits, nine runs (six earned) in 114.0 innings as opponents are hitting .117 against.
Third Release of NCAA Statistics
In the third release of NCAA statistics (April 24), Clark and Southern appeared as individuals while the team was ranked in two. Clark is ranked No. 23 in runs per game (0.90), Southern is fourth in ERA (0.53), No. 24 in victories (19) and No. 28 in strikeouts per 7/IP (9.3). As a team, the Bulldogs rank 25th in W/L (.762, 32-10) and No. 29 in ERA (1.66).
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 Becomes WAC's and Fresno State's All-Time Win Leader
On April 23, Southern made history at home. While helping Fresno State to a sweep over WAC opponent Tulsa, she became the league's and the school's all-time career win leader on the same day. 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, surpassing former Bulldog All-American Amanda Scott (1997-2000). 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. Breaking a 13-year old record, she surpassed former Bulldog All-American Terry Carpenter (1989-92). 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.
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 27 weeks in ERA while leading the nation in 15 of those weeks while appearing in 22 weeks for 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 (112), No. T1 saves (10), No. 1 innings pitched (1,037.2), No. 1 ERA (0.51), No. 1 strikeouts (1,257) and No. 1 strikeouts per 7 innings pitched (8.5). Of the 14 career hitting records kept by the WAC, Clark ranks in the Top 10 in five: No. 1 home runs (50), No. 2 slugging percentage (.754), No. 6 total bases (413), No. 7 runs (159) and No. 8 RBI (132). Also ranked in the offensive charts, Southern is No. 6 in at bats (773), No. 9 in doubles (39), games played (243) and home runs (28) and No. 10 in hits (243).
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).
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 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. 48 of her career.
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 14 shutouts in 22 wins while tallying nine 10-strikeout games. This season, Southern's strikeout to walk ratio is 11.5 while averaging 9.4 strikeouts/7 IP.
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. Now, she ranks in seven all together. Pushing her all-time career home run mark to 50, she ranks second in slugging percentage (.754), fourth in batting average (.385) and total bases (413), sixth in runs (159), seventh in RBI (132) and eighth in doubles (36). 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 (19 weeks), Clark has been ranked 17 weeks in home runs per game, 10 weeks in slugging percentage, nine weeks in runs per game and six in batting average. Over four years (27 weeks), Southern has been ranked all 27 weeks in ERA, 23 in wins, 10 in strikeouts per seven innings and four in saves while leading the nation in ERA in 15 of the 27 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 205 of the 217 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 that same week. Guiding Fresno State to a third place finish at the 24-team tournament field, Southern captured the school's first MVP honor at that the NFCA Leadoff Classic after collecting 18 total bases for a 1.500 slugging percentage. Hittting four home runs, she hit her fourth career multi home run game against No. 10 LSU. Southern also became just the fifth Bulldog to collect 20 or more career home runs. She also had three multiple RBI games and two multiple hit games. In the circle, she went 2-1 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.
