Horizon League Softball Release #14: NCAA Championship Preview

May 15, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Wright State University returns to the NCAA Softball Championship for the second straight season. The Raiders will meet the No. 4 seeded University of Michigan in the Ann Arbor Regional at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.

2008 NCAA Softball Championship Tournament Notes
- Wright State returns to NCAA Softball Championship for the second-consecutive season after it successfully defended its Horizon League softball title from the previous season. WSU will be appearing in its third NCAA Softball Championship in program history (2003, 2007, 2008).

- WSU is in the midst of a seven-game winning streak.

- The Raiders won four straight games in the League championship, defeating Loyola (4-3), UIC (5-1) and Cleveland State (6-4; 2-0) to claim the title.

- Dating back to the 2007 Horizon League Championship, the Raiders have won eight straight tournament contests.

- The Raiders entered the 2008 Horizon League Championship as the No. 3 seed after finishing the regular season with a 13-7 League record.

- Wright State led the League in 13 different offensive categories during the regular season, including batting average (.321), runs scored (321) and hits (492).

- Senior outfielder and Horizon League Player of the Year Jherica Williams leads the way for the Raiders. In 2008, Williams led the League in 10 offensive categories, including batting average (.472), home runs (17) and RBIs (71).

- Williams is just the second player in League history to lead the League in batting average, home runs and RBIs in the same season (Cameron Astiazaran, UIC, 2005).

- In the Horizon League championship, Williams hit tournament-best .556 and was selected as the Batting Champion.

- Sophomore left-hander Sharon Palma enters the NCAA championship after being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Horizon League Championship. Palma received the award after she collected four straight wins in the League tournament.

2008 Horizon League All-Tournament Team
Jessica Burt, Cleveland State
So. * OF * LaGrange, Ohio
In four games at the Horizon League championship, Burt batted .357, collected five hits and drove in three runs in helping the Vikings to the League title game for the second-consecutive season.

Katelyn Ciminelli, Cleveland State
Fr. * 1B * St. Clair Shores, Mich.
Ciminelli went 3-for-9 (.333) in four games, scored two runs and hit two doubles while posting an on base percentage of .500. Her two doubles tied her with Green Bay's Missy Schleicher for the tournament lead.

Amanda Houchin, Cleveland State
Jr. * INF * Lima, Ohio
Houchin had five hits in four games for the Vikings. In CSU's first game against Green Bay, the Ohio native went 3-for-4 and also drove in a run.

Amanda Macenko, Cleveland State
So. * RHP * Brunswick, Ohio
Macenko worked 30.0 innings and captured a pair of victories in the League championship. In addition, the sophomore right-hander struck out a tournament-best 29 batters and posted an earned-run average of 1.63.

Nora Schober, Loyola
Sr. * OF * Palos Park, Ill.
Schober helped the Ramblers to four wins in the Horizon League championship. The senior outfielder batted .375 and collected six hits during the tournament. Schober also stole a tournament-high five bases during the championship.

Amy Solava, Loyola
Sr. * RHP * New Lenox, Ill.
Solava won three games in the League championship. She also struck out 23 batters and had the third lowest earned-run average in the tournament (1.28). In addition, the Illinois native had a two-run home run in game 10 against Butler, which propelled the Ramblers to a 2-1 victory over the Bulldogs.

Stephanie Chavez, UIC
So. * INF * Yorba Linda, Calif.
Chavez posted a team-high .545 batting average and helped the Flames to a 2-2 record during the championship. The California native also had six hits, one double and one home run during the four-game span.

Sarah Clynes, UIC
Jr. * RHP * Florissant, Mo.
Clynes worked 24.0 innings and collected a pair of wins in the League championship while registering a tournament-best 0.88 earned-run average en route to receiving the Pitching Award. In addition, the UIC junior collected three hits and drove in one run.

Mollie Berry, Wright State
Fr. * OF * Oregon, Ohio
Berry went 3-for-8 (.375) in four games, propelling the Raiders to their second-consecutive League title. The WSU freshman also had a triple, a home run and a RBI.

Louie Haney, Wright State
Fr. * INF * Springfield, Ill.
Haney collected a hit in every game during the League championship. The WSU freshman also batted .357, drove in a pair of runs and hit a home run.

Sharon Palma, Wright State
So. * LHP * Grand Rapids, Mich.
Palma was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the League championship after she posted a perfect 4-0 record during the tournament. In four appearances, the WSU left-hander limited her opponents to a .224 batting average.

Jherica Williams, Wright State
Sr. * OF * Piqua, Ohio
Williams was crowned as the Batting Champion after she hit a tournament-best .556. The WSU senior also posted a tournament-high .714 on base percentage. In addition, Williams collected five hits and drove in two runs.