June 2, 2005
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has announced the 2005 Louisville Slugger All-America teams and the University of Notre Dame softball team was represented by its senior captain and Terre Haute, Ind., native Megan Ciolli on the third team. The honor marks the second-straight season that Ciolli has earned All-America honors.
The most consistent offensive force on the Irish squad in 2005, Ciolli hit .386 with 71 hits, 11 doubles, 28 RBI and a school-record 32 stolen bases.
She led the team in most offensive categories, including bating average, slugging percentage (.500), on-base percentage (.424), stolen bases, at bats (184) and runs scored (40).
Ciolli captained the team to a 45-13 record in 2005, a 16-2 home field mark, a 16-2 record in the BIG EAST and the conference regular-season title. The Irish also hosted NCAA Regional competition for the first time in the program’s history in May.
Ciolli becomes the sixth Irish softball player to earn multiple All-America honors in a four-year career. Andrea Loman (2002, 2003), Jarrah Myers (2001, 2002), Katie Marten (1995, 1996), Terri Kobata (1994, 1995) and Jennifer Sharron (2000, 2001) were the others.
Not coincidentally, Ciolli passed a number of these players on the all-time lists at Notre Dame this season.
She completed her career as the all-time leader in hits (284) and stolen bases (76) while ranking in the top five in several different categories – batting average (second, .368), at bats (second, 771) and runs (second 161). Ciolli also ranks in the top 10 all-time in doubles (ninth, 37), triples (seventh, nine), home runs (ninth, 13), and RBI (10th, 101).
Ciolli will continue her softball career with the NPF Chicago Bandits this summer.
While the Irish program celebrates its 15th All-America honor, the group also is reeling from a possible snub on the national list. Senior BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Steffany Stenglein – a strong candidate for All-America honors – was not selected.
Stenglein, a second-team all-region selection and first-team all-BIG EAST performer, finished the year with a 1.04 ERA, 21-6 record and 301 strikeouts in 188.1 innings pitched. She held her opponents to a .140 batting average, tossed a team-high eight shutouts and averaged 11.2 strikeouts per seven innings.
Stenglein finished 20th in the country in ERA and seven overall in strikeouts per seven innings while helping the Notre Dame team ERA rank 11th in the nation.
For a complete list of All-America selection, visit www.nfca.org.