2004 WIAC Women's Softball Headlines

Stevens Point, Wis.--All the talk of the Midwest Collegiate All-Star softball team being blown out of Zenoff Park was greatly exaggerated.

The Collegiate All-Stars put up a surprisingly good fight but eventually succumbed as expected to the USA Olympic Team 5-0 in the next-to-last stop on the national team's "Aiming for Athens" Tour.

When Team USA visited Stevens Point on its 2000 Sydney Tour against a team predominantly from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Lori Harrigan tossed a perfect game with double-digit strikeouts.

All-Star coach Kelly Erickson, a former player and coach at UWSP, worked miracles with a team that had one practice together.

Andrea Tsilis, a former UW-La Crosse catcher, recorded one of three hits for the Midwest All-Stars with a one-out single in the seventh. UW-Stout's Kaela Wold fouled out to third base in her only at-bat, while UW-Eau Claire's Emilee Planert struck out in both of her plate appearances.

UW-Superior's Erin Kegley went 0-for-1 in the contest with a fly out to left field, while fellow Yellowjacket Jamie Bang, did not get a plate appearance after entering the game in right field.

"They did a great job. You want to see the teams be competitive, and they did a nice job," Olympic coach Mike Candrea said. "We don't get a lot of teams that put the ball in play. That was good for us."

Simply having an opportunity to play against No. 1 is worth shouting about.

But Midwest Collegiate players like Lindsay Rosicky will have amazing stories to tell their children and grandchildren.

Rosicky, a former Stevens Point Area Senior High all-stater and current Winona (Minn.) State standout, slapped a single to right field in her first at-bat.

She nearly went 2-for-2, but Olympic shortstop Natasha Watley's throw beat her on a bang-bang play at first.

"When I went up to bat I was thinking maybe foul-tip a pitch," Rosicky offered. "When I got the hit I was extremely excited. That was amazing."

All-Star starting pitcher Kristen Schmidt has all sorts of stories to tell at her high school reunion.

The Cottage Grove, Minn., native turned in a brilliant performance in her four innings of work. Schmidt's pitching line is the stuff of which legends are made. She limited Team USA to five hits and three runs - none earned. A pair of errors opening the bottom of the third opened the floodgates for the Olympians.

Lisa Fernandez and Lovieanne Jung broke the door down with run-scoring singles.

"Schmitty did a great job," Erickson said. "We went seven innings against the best team in the world. This is the best of the best here."

Sarah Carlson may have the nickname Johnny Bench when she returns to Winona State for the fall.

Carlson accomplished the unthinkable when she gunned down Watley attempting to steal. The Olympic speed merchant was 20 out of 21 in the stolen bases department at the time.

Harrigan (8-0) finished with a three-hitter this time and fanned 12 as the National Team improved to 51-0 on its tour.

"When you're on a tour like this you work on different things," Harrigan said. "We're required to have a 2-second pause, so I was working on pausing on my front foot. It throws your timing off a little bit, and you make some flat pitches."
Candrea said the gas tanks of his players are running on empty following the long tour.

"Right now I think we're a little tired. A tour like this takes it out of you," he said. "We'll get a 10-day break before we go to Athens, and we'll be hungry and ready to go."

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Five To Participate In Exhibition Game Against U.S. Olympic Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, July 6, 2004

Madison, Wis.--Five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's softball players will participate in an exhibition game against the 2004 United States Olympic Team on July 15 at Zenoff Park in Stevens Point, Wis.

Individuals representing the conference include: UW-Eau Claire's Emilee Planert, UW-Stout's Kaela Wold and UW-Superior's Jamie Bang and Erin Kegley. Andrea Tsilis, who played at UW-La Crosse from 2000-03, will also participate in the contest.

These five will participate on the 12-member Midwest Collegiate All-Star Team, which will be coached by former UW-Stevens Point player and head coach Kelly Erickson.

Through July 5, the 2004 National Team is currently 45-0 and has outscored opponents 400-11. The roster consists of four two-time Olympic gold medalists and six of the 15-member 2000 Olympic Team. Thirteen of the 17 members of the 2002 World Championship gold medal team are included on the roster. The US National team is the top seeded team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens later this summer.

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Three Earn Women's Softball All-America Honors

RELEASED: Monday, May 17, 2004

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's softball players have been named to the 2004 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Team. UW-Whitewater's Erin Bravo was selected to the first team, while UW-Eau Claire's Mallory McKinney was a second team pick and UW-Superior's Erin Kegley was a third team choice.

Bravo, a senior outfielder from Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove H.S.), was named the WIAC Position Player of the Year after leading the conference with nine home runs, while ranking second with 14 doubles, third with a .452 batting average and fourth with 61 hits and 35 RBIs. She added a .756 slugging percentage, .452 on-base percentage and 16 runs scored.

Bravo played in all 84 games for UW-Whitewater the past two seasons after transferring from UW-Parkside and holds the Warhawk's all-time mark with a .420 batting average (112-for-260) and 20 home runs. Her nine home runs this year rank second on the school's single-season list, while her 61 hits rank fourth and .452 batting average is fifth.

Bravo becomes the fourth Warhawk in school history to earn All-America honors, joining Shelly Stanicek in 1988 and first team pick Valerie Kerkman and second team choice Tina Meyer in 1999.

McKinney, a freshman from utility player from Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Champlin Park H.S.), was named the WIAC Pitcher of the Year this season after leading the conference with a 1.15 ERA and three saves, while ranking third with 14 wins and 30 appearances and fourth with 128.1 innings pitched. She also added 91 strikeouts and three shutouts during the 2004 campaign.

McKinney was also a threat at the plate this season, leading the team with 30 RBIs, nine doubles and seven home runs and finishing second on the squad with a .362 batting average, .580 slugging percentage, .403 on-base percentage and 50 hits.

McKinney becomes the first Blugold to earn All-America honors since 2000, when Heidi Bergstrom and Lisa Schueler were named to the second and third teams, respectively.

Kegley, a freshman at-large selection from Inver Grove Heights, Minn. (Simley H.S.), ranked second in the conference with a .490 batting average and registered 71 hits this season, a mark that places her second on the league's single-season list. Her .490 batting average was third-best single-season performance in conference history. Kegley also added 35 runs scored, 35 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples and one home run in 2004. She did not strikeout until her 152nd plate appearance this season.

Kegley becomes the second Yellowjacket to earn All-America honors after Sarah Tarasewicz was a first team choice last year.

The NFCA also recently announced the All-Great Lakes Region Team, which includes the WIAC, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, Lake Michigan Conference, Midwest Conference and Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference.

Joining Bravo, McKinney and Kegley on the first team were UW-River Falls' Anna Poulter and UW-Stout's Erin O'Connell and Kaela Wold. UW-Eau Claire's Emilee Planert was a second team pick, while UW-Superior's Abby Glawe and UW-Whitewater's Colleen Boilini were third team selections.

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UW-Eau Claire's Planert Named To Academic All-District Team

RELEASED: Monday, May 17, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Emilee Planert has been named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Softball First Team.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Planert, a senior from Eau Claire, Wis., is majoring in elementary education and maintains a 3.47 grade point average. She is a three-time All-Great Lakes Region selection and All-WIAC first team choice. Planert ranked seventh in the conference with a .398 batting average and led the team with 51 hits, 34 runs scored, .641 slugging percentage and .458 on-base percentage.

Planert is now eligible for the Academic All-America Team, which will be announced at the beginning of June.

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UW-Whitewater's Bravo and UW-Eau Claire' McKinney Top All-WIAC Women's Softball Team

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Erin Bravo was voted the Position Player of the Year and UW-Eau Claire's Mallory McKinney was selected the Pitcher of the Year to headline the 20 individuals selected to the 2004 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Softball Team by the league coaches.

Bravo leads the conference with nine home runs, while ranking second with 14 doubles and third with a .452 batting average, 61 hits and 35 RBIs. She played in all 84 games for UW-Whitewater the past two seasons after transferring from UW-Parkside and holds the Warhawks' all-time mark with a .431 batting average (112-for-260) and 20 home runs. Her nine home runs this year rank second on the school's single-season list, while her 61 hits rank fourth and .452 batting average is fifth.

Bravo earned All-WIAC first team honors for the second straight season. She becomes the fifth Warhawk to be recognized as the Player of the Year in the league. Megan Kerkman (2001), Valerie Kerkman (1999), Patti Matel (1997) and Kim Peterson (1996) were honored as the East Division Player of the Year. Prior to the 2002 season, the WIAC was split into east and west divisions.

McKinney leads the WIAC with three saves and a 1.15 ERA, while ranking third with 14 wins, fourth with 128.1 innings pitched and seventh with 91 strikeouts. She registered a season-high nine strikeouts against UW-Stout on May 1 and hurled complete game shutouts against UW-Platteville on April 24 and UW-Oshkosh on April 26 and 30.

McKinney was also a threat at the plate in 2004, leading the team with seven home runs and 30 RBIs and ranking second with a .362 batting average, .580 slugging percentage, .403 on-base percentage and 50 hits.

McKinney is the third Blugold to claim the league honor, joining Lisa Schueler (2000), Jill Schoenike (1999 and 1997).

Bravo was joined on the first team by teammates Colleen Boilini and Dana Jakoubek. Boilini ranks second in the league with 33 stolen bases and third with 34 runs scored, while leading the Warhawks with 151 at-bats and placing second with a .331 batting average and 50 hits. Her 33 stolen bases this year established a school single-season record and helped Boilini set the school's career mark with 51 steals. Boilini's 151 at-bats in 2004 rank second on the school's list.

Jakoubek leads the conference with three saves, while ranking second with 113 strikeouts, eighth with 117.1 innings pitched and ninth with a 2.21 ERA. She was a honorable mention pick a year ago.

UW-Eau Claire's Emilee Planert and Beth Steward joined McKinney on the first team. Planert secured first team honors for the third consecutive season after ranking third in the conference with 34 runs scored and seventh with a .398 batting average. She led the Blugolds with a .641 slugging percentage, .458 on-base percentage and 51 hits.

Steward earned first team accolades for the second straight year after accumulating a .298 batting average, 37 hits, 16 runs scored, 14 RBIs, six doubles and three home runs.

UW-Stout landed four individuals on the first team as Kim Caswell, Megan Donley, Erin O'Connell and Kaela Wold were recognized for their efforts in helping the Blue Devils to 27 wins, the most for the program since 1995 when they compiled 34 victories.

Caswell ranks second in the league with four triples, while leading the team with 159 at-bats and 34 runs scored and placing third on the squad with a .352 batting average and 56 hits. Caswell earned honorable mention accolades the last two seasons.

Donley was a honorable mention selection a year ago. This season, she tops the conference with 259.0 innings pitched and 41 appearances, while ranking second with 22 wins and seven shutouts and third with 104 strikeouts and a 1.46 ERA. Her 259.0 innings pitched set a school single-season record, while her victory and ERA totals rank second on UW-Stout's list.

O'Connell secured first team honors for the second straight season after ranking third in the conference with 13 doubles and seven home runs and fifth with a .408 batting average and 58 hits. She holds the conference record with 24 career home runs and set a UW-Stout single-season mark with a .994 fielding percentage this year.

Wold claimed first team honors for the third consecutive season after leading the WIAC with 69 hits, 40 RBIs, 20 doubles, .779 slugging percentage and .542 on-base percentage, while ranking second with a .493 batting average. Her 20 doubles established a WIAC single-season record, while her hits, RBIs, batting average and slugging percentage all rank second on UW-Stout's single-season list.

UW-Superior has accumulated a school-record 32 wins this year and claimed the WIAC Tournament title, along with a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Yellowjackets had Jamie Bang, Abby Glawe and Erin Kegley recognized on the first team.

Bang leads the conference with six triples, while ranking second with 37 RBIs, third with 59 hits, fourth with a .415 batting average and seventh with 33 runs scored. Her RBI and triple totals this season established school single-season records.

Glawe leads the WIAC with 31 wins and nine shutouts, while ranking second with 249.0 innings pitched, 38 appearances and a 1.32 ERA. Her 31 victories set a conference single-season record, while her nine shutouts rank second on the league's chart and her 47 career victories are a school record.

Kegley tops the conference with a .515 batting average and 69 hits, while ranking third with 35 RBIs and 34 runs scored. She has not struck out in 147 plate appearances this year. Kegley set UW-Superior single-season records with her hits and runs scored totals and is on pace to break the conference batting average mark.

UW-Oshkosh's Julie Barth and Jessie Laha helped the team to a 20-19 overall mark in 2004, the most wins since 2000 and a 12-game improvement from a year ago. Barth earned first team honors for the third-straight season, while Laha claimed the recognition in 2001. Barth led the Titans with a .353 batting average, .471 slugging percentage, 119 at-bats and 42 hits, while Laha compiled a .333 batting average with 13 runs scored and 12 RBIs on the strength of a strong second half of the season.

UW-Stevens Point's Rebekah Bauer compiled a school record 25 extra-base hits in 2004, while ranking second in the league with 14 doubles and four triples, third with 35 RBIs and ninth with a .380 batting average. Bauer was joined on the first team by teammate Mandy Jellish, who led the Pointers with 134 at-bats, 30 runs scored and 12 stolen bases and ranked second with a .358 batting average, 48 hits and 23 runs scored.

UW-La Crosse's Alli Romoren leads the conference with 121 strikeouts and ranks seventh with a 2.04 ERA. She tossed 113.1 innings this season and compiled a 10-8 record with five shutouts.

UW-Platteville's Wendi Siedschlag led the team with 23 RBIs, 16 runs scored, eight home runs and a .550 slugging percentage this season, while ranking second with a .275 batting average, 109 at-bats, 30 hits and six doubles. She holds the school record with 19 career home runs. Siedschlag earned honorable mention honors a year ago.

UW-River Falls' Anna Poulter established a conference single-season record with 53 stolen bases in 2004, while also leading the league with 42 runs scored and ranking 10th with a .370 batting average. She also led the team with 51 hits and a .428 slugging percentage. Poulter holds the WIAC career stolen base mark with 121 steals and earned first team accolades in 2003 and 2001.

UW-Eau Claire head coach Leslie Huntington was voted the 2004 Coach of the Year by the conference coaches. She led the Blugolds to the regular-season championship and a 26-17 overall record, the most wins for the program since the 2000 campaign when they compiled 29 victories. Huntington becomes the second women's softball coach in school history to win the award, joining JoEllen Bailey, who claimed the honor in 1997.

Named to the honorable mention team were: UW-Eau Claire's Molly Blakewell, UW-La Crosse's Carly Anderson, Jenny Miller and Shelly Monahan, UW-Oshkosh's Cassie Goodweiler and Anne Stanislawski, UW-Platteville's Laura Brown and Stacey Yager, UW-River Falls' Emily Evans, Melissa Turbak and Leah Vanderploeg, UW-Stevens Point's Stephanie Anderson, UW-Stout's Jamie Gorges, UW-Superior's Kathleen Duffy and Sarah Tarasewicz and UW-Whitewater's Lauren Morstad.

2004 All-WIAC Women's Softball Team
First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Jamie Bang, UW-Superior, Sophomore, Outfield, Hermantown, Minn.
Julie Barth, UW-Oshkosh, Senior, Outfield, Neillsville
Rebekah Bauer, UW-Stevens Point, Sophomore, Outfield, Stevens Point (SPASH)
Colleen Boilini, UW-Whitewater, Junior, Shortstop, Highland Park, Ill.
Erin Bravo, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Firstbase/Outfield, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove)
Kim Caswell, UW-Stout, Senior, Outfield, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)
Megan Donley, UW-Stout, Sophomore, Pitcher, Fridley, Minn.
Abby Glawe, UW-Superior, Senior, Pitcher, Horicon
Dana Jakoubek, UW-Whitewater, Junior, Pitcher, Brookfield, Ill. (Fenwick)
Mandy Jellish, UW-Stevens Point, Freshman, Outfield, Kaukauna
Erin Kegley, UW-Superior, Freshman, Thirdbase, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. (Simley)
Jessie Laha, UW-Oshkosh, Senior, Outfield, Kimberly
Mallory McKinney, UW-Eau Claire, Freshman, Pitcher, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Champlin Park)
Erin O'Connell, UW-Stout, Junior, Firstbase, Altoona
Emilee Planert, UW-Eau Claire, Senior, Shortstop, Eau Claire (North)
Anna Poulter, UW-River Falls, Senior, Catcher, Colfax, Iowa (Colfax-Mingo)
Alli Romoren, UW-La Crosse, Freshman, Pitcher, New Berlin (Eisenhower)
Wendi Siedschlag, UW-Platteville, Junior, Firstbase/Designated Player, Monroe
Beth Steward, UW-Eau Claire, Senior, Catcher, Chippewa Falls (Chi-Hi)
Kaela Wold, UW-Stout, Junior, Shortstop, Altoona

Honorable Mention
Carley Anderson, UW-La Crosse, Junior, Catcher, Stockholm (Pepin)
Stephanie Anderson, UW-Stevens Point, Sophomore, Pitcher, Milwaukee (King)
Molly Blakewell, UW-Eau Claire, Junior, Firstbase, Eau Claire (North)
Laura Brown, UW-Platteville, Junior, Thirdbase, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (Glenbard West)
Kathleen Duffy, UW-Superior, Sophomore, Outfield, Superior (Senior)
Emily Evans, UW-River Falls, Junior, Thirdbase, White Bear Lake, Minn.
Cassie Goodweiler, UW-Oshkosh, Sophomore, Pitcher, Stoughton
Jamie Gorges, UW-Stout, Junior, Catcher, New London
Jenny Miller, UW-La Crosse, Freshman, Thirdbase, Durand
Shelly Monahan, UW-La Crosse, Freshman, Pitcher, Rochester, Minn. (Mayo)
Lauren Morstad, UW-Whitewater, Sophomore, Pitcher/Designated Player, Elgin, Ill. (Larkin)
Anne Stanislawski, UW-Oshkosh, Junior, Thirdbase, Amherst
Sarah Tarasewicz, UW-Superior, Junior, Catcher, Hurley
Melissa Turbak, UW-River Falls, Senior, Secondbase, Little Canada, Minn. (Roseville)
Leah Vanderploeg, UW-River Falls, Junior, Pitcher, Cable (Drummond)
Stacey Yager, UW-Platteville, Junior, Outfield, Lancaster

Position Player of the Year: Erin Bravo of UW-Whitewater
Pitcher of the Year: Mallory McKinney of UW-Eau Claire
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Anna Poulter of UW-River Falls
Coach of the Year: Leslie Huntington of UW-Eau Claire

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UW-River Falls' Poulter Named Women's Softball Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls' Anna Poulter has been named the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Softball Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Poulter, a senior from Colfax, Iowa (Colfax-Mingo H.S.), is majoring in health and human performance and maintains a 3.67 grade point average. She has been named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete the past two seasons and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Poulter has been recognized on UW-River Falls' Dean's List four semesters and was named the Student of the Year in the institution's Health and Human Performance Department.

Poulter, a two-year team captain, is a three-time All-WIAC first team selection and earned All-Great Lakes Region third team honors last year. She established a conference single-season record with 53 stolen bases this season and holds the league's career mark with 121 steals. Poulter finished third in NCAA Division III with her 38 stolen bases last season and was also named the team's Offensive Player of the Year.

Poulter has been a member of the UW-River Falls Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was selected to serve as the chair for the 2003-04 academic year. She is also the chair of the Recreation Activities Committee and is a student representative on the Chancellor's Enrollment Management Committee.

Poulter becomes the fourth UW-River Falls women's softball student-athlete to claim the league's scholar-athlete award, joining Amy Brooke (2003), Amy Stenson (1996) and Kim Zarling (1991).

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Emilee Planert, UW-Oshkosh's Jessica Laha, UW-River Falls' Abby Keene and UW-Whitewater's Amanda Thompson.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-Superior Headed To NCAA Women's Softball Regional

RELEASED: Monday, May 3, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Superior will travel to Pella, Iowa to participate in the NCAA Division III Women's Softball Regional Friday-Sunday, May 7-9.

UW-Superior (32-8) won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament to earn the league's automatic bid into the national tournament. The Yellowjackets will face Maryville (Mo.) (24-15) on Friday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. in the six-team double-elimination Central (Iowa) regional. The winner of the UW-Superior/Maryville contest will face St. Thomas (Minn.) (39-4) at 2:00 p.m. on May 7, while the loser will face the non-winner of the Central (Iowa)/Clarke (Iowa) game at 10:00 a.m. on May 8.

UW-Superior is making the second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. The Yellowjackets also participated in postseason play during the 2002 campaign.

The winner of the Central (Iowa) regional will advance to the NCAA Division III Championship May 14-18 in Salem, Va.

Central (Iowa) Regional Schedule (at Pella, Iowa)
Friday, May 7
Game #1--UW-Superior (32-8, No. 4 seed) vs. Maryville (Mo.) (24-15, No. 5 seed), 10:00 a.m.
Game #2--Central (Iowa) (32-7, No. 3 seed) vs. Clarke (Iowa) (21-18, No. 6 seed), Noon
Game #3--St. Thomas (Minn.) (39-4, No. 1 seed) vs. Game #1 winner, 2:00 p.m.
Game #4--Washington (Mo.) (31-3, No. 2 seed) vs. Game #2 winner, 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 8
Game #5--Game #1 loser vs. Game #2 loser, 10:00 a.m.
Game #6--Game #3 loser vs. Game #4 loser, Noon
Game #7--Game #3 winner vs. Game #4 winner, 2:00 p.m.
Game #8--Game #5 winner vs. Game #6 winner, 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 9
Game #9--Game #7 loser vs. Game #8 winner, Noon
Game #10--Game #7 winner vs. Game #9 winner, 2:00 p.m.

Monday, May 10
Game #11--Game #7 winner vs. Game #9 winner, Noon (if necessary)

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Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire won the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's softball championship after splitting a pair of games at the league cluster tournament on Monday, April 26 in La Crosse, Wis.

The Blugolds were upended, 8-0 in five innings, by UW-Whitewater in their first contest of the day, but rebounded to defeat UW-Oshkosh, 9-0 in five innings, to secure the league crown. The conference title is the first for the Blugolds since 2000 and fifth in school history (1998, 1997, 1991).

UW-Eau Claire finished the conference race with a 12-4 mark and entered Monday's competition with a one-game lead over UW-Oshkosh. The Titans lost all three of their contests on Monday to finish the league campaign with a 9-7 ledger. UW-Stout finished in second place with an 11-5 record in conference games.

In the victory over UW-Oshkosh, UW-Eau Claire scored a pair of runs in the first inning on Laura Brackey's run-scoring single and a UW-Oshkosh throwing error. The Blugolds exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Mallory McKinney highlighted the inning with a two-run double, while Molly Blakewell and Shannon Wing collected run-scoring singles. McKinney allowed only three hits in collecting her 11th victory of the season.

UW-Eau Claire also earned the top seed for the conference tournament scheduled to be hosted by UW-River Falls on Friday-Saturday, April 30-May 1. The winner of the conference tournament receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

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University of Wisconsin-Stout women's softball head coach Chris Stainer won the 100th career game on Friday, April 30 with a 6-4 victory over UW-La Crosse in the Blue Devils' opening game at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament.

Stainer is in her sixth season at the helm of the Blue Devils and owns a career record of 100-130 (.435 winning percentage). Her 100 victories rank second on the school's all-time list, trailing only Cyndi Raymond's 126 wins from 1993-98.

The Blue Devils are currently 27-14 this season.

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University of Wisconsin-River Falls women's softball head coach Faye Perkins won her 300th career game at UW-River Falls on Sunday, March 28 when her team beat UM-Morris, 9-1, at the Augsburg (Minn.) Tournament.

UW-River Falls won the second game played that day and Perkins now has a 301-252-1 record. She is in her 15th season with the Falcons and is the all-time winningest coach in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history.

The Falcons have a 12-4 record for best start to a season since the 1991 Falcons started 11-4.

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UW-Stevens Point Names Erickson Women's Softball Coach

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Stevens Point, Wis.--Kelly Erickson has gone a long way from being the batgirl for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point softball team as a sixth-grader.

Now, just 13 years later, the former Pointer All-American and assistant coach has been promoted as the school's eighth head coach in the 23-year history of the program.

"I definitely looked up to the players when I was younger," said the 25-year old Erickson, who is a 1996 graduate of Stevens Point Pacelli High School. "They were an inspiration for me and I said then that I would play for the Pointers someday. To be coaching here now is a thrill for me."

Erickson (formerly Rutta) succeeds Paul Caufield, who resigned after two 21-win seasons to spend more time with his young family. Caufield will remain an assistant coach with the UW-Stevens Point men's hockey team.

Erickson worked closely with Caufield in all facets of the program as an assistant coach the past two seasons. She was married last summer and her husband, Rob, will be an assistant football coach with the Pointers this fall after assisting at UW-Platteville last season.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity," said Erickson, who helped the Pointers to the NCAA Division III national championship in 1998. "Being a part of successful teams when I played gave me so much experience, not only as a player, but in helping me learn how to coach as well."

Erickson was a four-year starter at second base for the Pointers and set a single-season school record with 64 hits as a freshman during the national championship season.

She was the WIAC co-East Division Player of the Year her final two seasons and earned second-team All-American honors as a senior when she hit .420 and set a school record with eight triples while leading the Pointers to the WIAC title. Erickson also holds school records for career extra base hits with 53 and total bases with 280. She was named to the All-World Series team and All-Great Lakes Regional team during the 1998 championship run.

Erickson, who was also the conference's co-scholar athlete award winner her senior year, ranked second in school history in career at-bats with 558, hits with 200, doubles with 34 and stolen bases with 26. Her 130 runs scored and 11 triples rank third in school history.

The Pointers finished 21-17 last season and have won 20 or more games in 10 consecutive seasons.

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