The Clark University softball team had its most successful spring in five years. Led by head coach Linda Wage, who notched her 300th career-victory this season, the Cougars set six new school records and recorded its most overall wins (19-16) and highest NEWMAC finish (4th/9-6) since the 2001-02 campaign.
Despite a squad of 10-newcomers, the Cougars had beaten every NEWMAC team going into the double-elimination conference tournament. Seeded fourth, Clark took that momentum into the play-offs and beat fifth-seed Smith College (11-8) in the opening round, only to fall to top-seed Springfield College (1-9) and Babson College (0-3) to conclude its season.
Junior Heather Warren – named the program’s first-ever National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Player of the Week – set new season marks in homeruns (12), total bases (113), slugging percentage (.934) and tied the record for RBI (59). In addition, Clark broke the record for homeruns (21) and assists (398) in a season. Senior Lauren Ackein and Warren also joined the Century Hits Club with 117 and 119 career-hits, respectively.
Two members of the team earned All-NEWMAC honors. Warren received first-team recognition, while first-year Lauren Blake was a second-team selection
Returning just four starters from last year’s 10-20 (5-11 NEWMAC) squad, the Clark University softball team will enter the 2007 campaign with a vastly different look. The Cougars welcome 10 newcomers, including a new-look infield and a trio of first-year hurlers to the staff. Although their appearance has changed, the pitch remains the same – make a run at the conference championship.
“We knew that we would have a number of new players coming into the season,” said head coach Linda Wage. “But that’s not always a negative. With such a versatile group, it will give us the opportunity to shake-up the line-up.”
One of the Cougars’ biggest concerns was pitching. Although last season’s ace Heather Warren (9-11, 3.67) returns for another year on the mound, Coach Wage supplemented the staff with three first-year pitchers. Leading the list of recruits is Melissa Traft, a three-time first-team All-Star from Milton High School. The first-year hurler, who has an assortment of pitches, is expected to be the mainstay on the staff and see playing time at first-base and designated player. A four-time All-State player from Bishop Brady High School Chelsea Proulx and Karrie Hanson will also see time on the mound as well as the infield.
“Heather will be more effective with quality pitchers around her this year,” said the 19th year head coach. “Our depth in the rotation will allow us to change it up more and keep batters off-balance.”
The pitching staff will be in good hands with senior co-captain Lauren Ackein (.307 BA, 12 RBI), a four-year starter, behind the plate.
There will be new faces all around Clark’s infield. When Warren’s not on the mound, the steady fielder will be at shortstop. Proulx, a versatile performer, will back her up and could also take a spot on the hot corner. First-year Lauren Blake, a defensive standout, will take over at second base, while newcomer Darcy Kurashige-Elliott will be in contention for time at first and third. Along with pitching, Traft will share first baseman and designated player duties, and strong-armed infielder Joanna Clark will also handle first. Both Allison Ventrice, who missed last season due to injury, and freshman Alex Gauthier, an excellent contact hitter, will serve as third base/designated player options.
“We wanted to make sure we were solid defensively this year,” said Wage. “There’s a lot of youth, but we are expecting them to step right in and get the job done.”
Senior co-captain Kaitlin Kelley (.306 BA, 13 RBI) will anchor a Cougar outfield that includes junior Julie Parnell and first-year Jenn Timmreck. Capable of power at the plate, Kelley will move from right to left this spring, while Parnell, who provides a quality arm in the outfield and Timmreck, whose speed will help around the bases, will patrol center and right, respectively. Junior Kerriann Powers, a cross-country runner, and sophomore transfer Rebecca Eldridge will also be in the mix.
“We have high expectations for this group,” Wage said. “Their attitude and work ethic has been great, and the added pitching depth is going to be a tremendous boost. We’re really excited about being a competitive team.”
Under the direction of head coach Linda Wage (17th season) and first-year assistant coaches Stacy Kelly and Mike Cole, Clark University's softball team finished the 2005 season 9-19 overall and 2-14 in the New England Women’s & Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). The Cougars opened the season with their spring training trip to Ft. Myers, Florida. Clark brought home a 16-0 five inning win against Eastern Nazarene College, a 9-1 six inning win against Simmons College and a 15-7 six inning win over Beloit College. Clark returned to New England at 3-3. Upon returning home, the Cougars patiently awaited the cooperation of the weather for the start of their regular season. With a very competitive schedule, Clark lost nine games by a single run and two games in extra innings. In the NEWMAC conference action, the Cougars split with both WPI and the United States Coast Guard Academy. In non-conference action, Clark swept a double header with Brandeis University (10-5, 3-1), shut out Trinity College (4-0), and won the tail end of a doubleheader with Bridgewater State College in extra innings (5-3).
The Cougars were led this season by senior captain and center fielder Jen Scavone. Scavone was named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America First Team for the second time in her career. She was also named the New England ECAC Player of the year and earned ECAC New England All-Star First Team, NFCA Regional First Team and New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) Regional First Team honors for the fourth consecutive year. The four-time NEWMAC All-Conference selection and Rookie of the Year in 2002, ended her career with the 2005 NEWMAC Player of the Year award. Scavone, a four-year starter and captain this season for the women’s soccer team was also recently honored with the M. Hazel Hughes Trophy awarded to the outstanding senior female athlete who has made a significant contribution to the intercollegiate athletic program and whose dedication and performance have enriched the tradition of Clark Athletics.
Scavone led the Cougars in batting average (.481), doubles (10), and home runs (3) this season. Through games 05/08/05, she was ranked 14th in the country in batting average (.481), 24th in slugging percentage (.779) and 22nd in runs per game (1.14). She ranked in the top ten in six offensive statistical categories including leading the conference in batting average for the third consecutive year, fifth in home runs (6), fifth in doubles (10), fourth in runs scored (32), eighth in stolen bases (10) and seventh in triples (2). As a junior, Scavone earned her place in Cougar softball history as the 10th member of the 100-hit club. In her 123 career games she is ranked fourth on the all-time career hits list with 168 and has a .448 career batting average. She is tied for the record for doubles in a season (15) and holds the record for triples in a season (8).
Fellow Cougars earning top statistical rankings in the NEWMAC include senior first baseman/ catcher Jackie DeMore who finished her season ranked seventh in batting average (.378). First- year pitcher/infielder Heather Warren finished eighth in the NEWMAC in batting average (.378), and fourth in triples (3). Infielder/pitcher Kelly Christensen ’06 finished third in the conference for in saves (2).
Christensen’s first appearance on the mound this season was a no hitter against Simmons College (9-1) in Ft. Myers, Florida. She pitched 3 complete games with a 2-3 overall record, 18 strikeouts and recorded two saves for the year. A 28 game starter, Christensen ended the season with 11 RBI, two triples, a double and a homerun.
The 2004 Cougars team concluded the season 13-17 overall and 5-11 in the New England Women’s
and Men’s Athletic Conference under the direction of Head Coach Linda Wage (16th season).
Clark returned from their annual spring break trip to Florida with a 7-1 record to start the
season. They recorded wins over Brandeis (3-1) and sweeps over WPI (3-1, 14-3) and MIT (9-0, 9-5) during
the season. The Cougars fell in the first round of the conference championship to Coast Guard Academy,
9-0.
The Cougars were led by junior captain and outfielder Jen Scavone who had another impressive season. She earned NEWMAC All-Conference first team honors, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) Regional first team honors for the third consecutive year. She led the team in every offensive statistical category including batting average (.435), hits (37), runs (25), RBI (16), walks (18), doubles (7), triples (5), home runs (3) and stolen bases (7) while committing only one error. Scavone was ranked in the top ten in the conference in four categories including first in batting average and triples. In addition, she became the 10th member to reach the 100-hit mark at Clark and through 95 career games is ranked fifth on the all-time career hit list with 131.
Laura Gagnon '03 and Jen Scavone '05 were named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team in 2003 while Holly Scavone 'GR earned second team honors. Scavone, who made her second straight appearnance on the all-conference team, was also selected to the NFCA New England Regionall All- America First Team and NEISCA All-Star First Team for the second consecutive year. Gagno earned NFCA Third Team honors and NEISCA honorable mention.
The Cougars finished the 2002 with a 26-12 overall record and 12-4 (second place) NEWMAC record. The Cougars started the season 8-1 in Florida including a victory over nationally ranked Wartburg. Clark earned the number one seed in the ECAC Tournament and made their third consecutive apperance in the ECAC Tournament. A number of individuals were reconginized for their outstanding seasons with first-year Jen Scavone leading the way. Scavone, the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year, became Clark's first softball player to be named to the NFCA All-America First Team. She led the team with a .424 batting average, 15 doubles, and eight triples.
In 2001, the Cougars earned the seventh seed in the ECAC Tournament, making the team's sixth consecutive post-season appearance. Five individual players received post-season honors. Aimee Lee '02, Laura Gagnon '03, and Lynne Bachand '01 were named to the NFCA Regional All-America Second Team, while Lynne Casey '03 and Kiley Maguire '04 were selected to the NFCA Regional All-America Third Team Lee was named NEWMAC Player of the Year and was joined on the all-conference team by Bachand and Gagnon. Gagnon also earned NEISCA All-New England Second Team honors.
The 2000 Clark softball team completed another outstanding season with a 31-11 record and was runner-up in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament. The team was ranked as high as eighth nationally.
Five individual players received post-season honors. Pitcher/first baseman Aimee Lee '02 was selected to the NFCA Regional First Team, the NEISCA All-New England First Team and the NEWMAC All-Conference Team after leading Clark with a .424 batting average, 61 hits and 52 RBI. Lynne Casey '02, a utility infielder, was named to the NFCA Regional First Team, the NEISCA All-New England Second Team, and the NEWMAC All-Conference Team. Pitcher/second baseman Holly Scavone '02 and catcher Lynne Bachand '01 were selected to the NFCA Regional Second Team and the NEWMAC All- Conference Team. Shortstop Marissa Garrity '00 also received NFCA Regional Second Team honors.
The 1999 women's softball team had a record breaking season and gained recognition as one of the nation's top teams. The Cougars posted a 31-11 record and were selected to their first NCAA Division III Tournament. Ranked as high as third in the highly competitive New England region during the season, Clark also earned a national ranking of 22nd. In addition 13 team records were broken and eight individual records fell.
Six individual players received post-season honors. A talented freshmen class made an immediate impact on the team. Aimee Lee '02 had a stellar rookie season as a pitcher and first- base player in 1999. Lee was named the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year and was selected to the all- conference team, the All-New England First Team, the All-Region First Team, and to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team. She also was a New England All-Star game participant. Classmate infielder Lynne Casey '02 was a Regional First Team and All-New England Second Team selection. Pitcher and second baseman Holly Scavone '02 was named to the All-Region and All-New England Second Teams, the NEWMAC All-Conference Team, to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team.
Catcher Lynne Bachand '01 made the All-Region Second Team for the second straight year and received NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honors. Classmate Erica Weisburg '01 was selected to the Regional All-Tournament Team. Centerfielder Annaliese Brasile '99 was selected to the Regional Second Team for the second straight year.
Prior to the 1999 season, the 1998 season was Clark's most successful in school history as the team posted a 25-9 record and were invited to the ECAC North Tournament for the third year in a row. This was the third consecutive season Clark had won 20 or more games. Michelle Land '98 and Michelle LeGacy '98 were NEW 8 All-Conference picks. Both players were honored in 1997 as well and LeGacy was the conference Player of the Year in 1996.