Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Softball Sweeps Awards At BIG EAST Banquet

May 10, 2001

The University of Notre Dame softball team, enjoying its most successful season ever with a 51-4 record and the #8 ranking in the nation, swept all three major awards at the BIG EAST Softball Championship Awards Banquet in Valley Forge, Pa., on Thursday night.

The Irish finished the BIG EAST regular season with a 20-0 record, becoming just the third conference team to finish the league slate undefeated. Head coach Liz Miller, associate head coach Deanna Gumpf, along with assistants Traci Conrad and John Gumpf earned the BIG EAST’s inaugural Staff of the Year award at the banquet. Traditionally a Coach of the Year award, the league decided to change it to a Staff of the Year award this year. The Notre Dame coaches helped guide the team to eight victories over top-25 opponents this season, as well as a top-10 ranking in both team batting average (.325) and ERA (0.77).

“I just want to thank the team for all their hard work this season,” Miller said.

“They have been a joy to work with all season and this award is a reflection of their hard work. I also want to thank my assistant coaches. I truly believe that I have the best assistant coaches in the nation.”

Senior All-American Jen Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.) earned her fourth BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year award during the festivities. Notching a perfect 10-0 record in league competition, Sharron led all conference pitchers in strikeouts per appearance (9.58) and gave up just three earned runs for a 0.32 ERA. Sharron threw her first career no-hitter in conference competition this season (vs. St. John’s) and earned league’s pitcher of the week award three times. She also becomes the first pitcher in BIG EAST history to earn the pitcher of the year award four times in her career.

“I really want to thank my teammates and the teams in the BIG EAST,” Sharron said.

“I have had a great four years playing in this league and I am also happy to be leaving the pitching circle in the capable hands of Kristin Schmidt.”

Schmidt becomes the third consecutive Irish player to earn the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year award (Andrea Loman in 2000 and Jarrah Myers in 1999) after ending her first season of conference competition without surrendering a run. She struck out 77 batters and walked just 10 in 65.1 league innings this year and is currently second in the country in overall ERA (0.40).

Lizzy Lemire made it a clean sweep for the Irish by earning her first Player of the Year award, becoming the third different Irish player to be named the best in the league (Melanie Alkire in 1999 and 2000, Meghan Murray in 1996 and 1997). Lemire led the conference in runs scored (18) while also being ranked second in batting average (.383), third in hits (23) and third in stolen bases (7). She also earned All-BIG EAST First Team accolades for the third time in her career.

Joining Sharron, Schmidt and Lemire on the All-BIG EAST First Team were infielder Andrea Loman, infielder Melanie Alkire, outfielder Jenny Kriech, and designated player Lisa Mattison. Irish players on the All-BIG EAST second team were catcher Jarrah Myers and second base Alexis Madrid. Schmidt also earned All-Rookie Team honors.

Notre Dame returns to action tomorrow against Villanova at 10:30 a.m. in the second round of the BIG EAST Championship.

The All-BIG EAST First Team:

P, Jennifer Sharron, Notre Dame*

P, Kristin Schmidt, Notre Dame

C, Amy Voorhees, Virginia Tech

IF, Lisa Girolamo, Connecticut

IF, Andrea Loman, Notre Dame*

IF, Melanie Alkire, Notre Dame*

IF, Jackie Pasquerella, Villanova

OF, Lizzy Lemire, Notre Dame*

OF, Sara Carlson, Villanova

OF, Jenny Kriech, Notre Dame

DP, Lisa Mattison, Notre Dame

U, Jennifer Asbury, Boston College

All-BIG EAST Second Team:

P, Misty Beaver, Seton Hall

P, Theresa Hornick, Villanova

C, Jarrah Myers, Notre Dame

IF, Jessica Yanosy, Connecticut

IF, Mandy Simjian, Connecticut

IF, Alexis Madrid, Notre Dame

IF, Heather Garboden, Villanova

OF, Nicole Dubovik, Connecticut

OF, Marlena Kotynski, Seton Hall

OF, Christina Holowich, Syracuse

DP, Vickie Lamb, Seton Hall

DP, Karen Niwinski, Villanova

U, Megan Biddle, Connecticut

BIG EAST All-Rookie Team

Teakae Malandris, Boston College*

Jacqui Goodchild, Boston College

Kristin Schmidt, Notre Dame*

Megan Antonucci, Rutgers

McKenzie Richards, Seton Hall

Rachel Kilbert, Seton Hall

Mary Carroll Smith, Seton Hall

Ricci Lugo, Villanova*

Lisa Krueger, Villanova*

Catherine Gilliam, Virginia Tech

Shanel Garofalo, Virginia Tech

* – denotes unanimous selection