CLARION CONCLUDES 2004 SEASON WITH SECOND BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN LAST 20 YEARS

Golden Eagles win fourth most games since 1980

            The Clarion University softball team recently concluded a successful 2004 season that included the team posting its second best winning percentage in the last 20 years, its fourth most overall wins since 1980 and its second highest total of PSAC-West wins since at least 1985 under second-year head coach Natalie Martin.

            In addition to the team accomplishments, the Golden Eagles also had an National FastPitch Coaches Association All-Region performer and three PSAC-West all-conference players.

            Clarion went 12-18 (.400) overall and 8-12 in the PSAC-West this season and found itself in contention for a PSAC Playoff berth going into the final two weeks of the season. The .400 wining percentage was the team’s second best since posting a .556 (10-8) winning percentage in 1984. Only last year’s .446 (16-20-1) was better in the last 20 years. The 12 wins were also tied for the fourth most since 1980 with only last year’s 16 wins, 2001’s 14 W’s and 1982’s 19 victories being more. The 1995, 1983 and 1980 teams also won 12 contests.

            The Golden Eagles also saw sophomore pitcher April Shannon earn first-team NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region honors as well as first-team PSAC-West honors. It is the second straight year Shannon has been both NFCA All-Region and first-team PSAC-West. Last season she was a second-team All-Region selection as well as the PSAC-West “Rookie of the Year”.

            Shannon earned the awards after having a stellar second season for Clarion that included her going 9-12 with a save and a 1.80 ERA. In 155.2 innings of work, she allowed just 40 earned runs on 135 hits and 46 walks while striking out 170, the second best strikeout total in the PSAC. Opponents hit a mere .233 off her this season.

            Season highlights for Shannon included a no-hitter against Wilmington College, her second career no-no, as well as a season-high 14 strikeouts against Edinboro. She struck out at least 10 batters in a game seven times this season and allowed three or fewer hits in a game five times. Shannon has a two-year record of 17-21 with one save and a 1.62 ERA. She has 335 strikeouts in 286 innings of career work.

            Joining Shannon on the all-conference teams were sophomore third baseman Ashley Walker and senior outfield Nicole Furnia, who were both second-team selections.

            Walker was the second leading hitter for the Golden Eagles this season (.282) while having a team-high seven doubles to go with eight RBI’s. In two seasons, Walker is hitting .275 with 10 doubles and 23 RBI’s.

            Furnia, the lone senior on the team, hit a team-high .296 while scoring a team-leading 12 runs and knocking in three. She finished her career a .212 hitter with two doubles and 13 RBI’s while scoring 21 runs.

            Additional key offensive contributors for Clarion this season included sophomore first baseman/designated hitter Jacquelyn Brower (.281, 1 HR, 6 RBI’s), sophomore outfielder Katie Forsyth (.241), junior first baseman/designated hitter Christina Allendorfer (.237, 5 runs), freshman second baseman Bethany Burns (.229, 10 runs, 3 doubles, 3 RBI’s) and sophomore catcher Heather Alterio (.211, 4 doubles). Junior shortstop Kristin Klinger led the team with 10 RBI’s and added three doubles and a triple while batting .165. Shannon added a home run and five RBI’s while hitting .159.

            On the mound in addition to Shannon, Clarion also got a strong performance out of freshman Brittany Anderson, who was 3-5 with a 3.47 ERA. Anderson struck out 17 while walking only eight in 40.1 innings of work. Anderson’s numbers were actually more impressive if her one bad game of the season against Jamestown in Florida where she allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings is removed. In her other seven appearances this season, she was 3-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 38.2 innings of work.

            Clarion’s season was a season of steaks.

            The year started off with the Golden Eagles losing two in a row in Florida before rebounding to win two before losing two more.

            But following a 7-2 loss to Jamestown College, Clarion took off winning seven of its next eight games to run its record to 9-5 following a 4-3 win over IUP. The Golden Eagles then spilt their next three games to go to 12-8 before suffering a 10-game losing streak to end the season. Eight of those loses, however, came against the top two teams in the PSAC-West California and Lock Haven.

            The future looks bright for the Golden Eagles with nine of the 10 players who appeared in 15 games or more slated to return next season.

April Shannon

Ashley Walker

Nicole Furnia

Kristin Klinger