Jan. 4, 2001
The University of Notre Dame softball team was unanimously picked to repeat as BIG EAST champions in 2001, the BIG EAST announced today. In a vote by the conference’s coaches, the Irish are the favorites to capture the conference crown after winning their fourth-consecutive regular season title and second-consecutive BIG EAST Championship last season.
Notre Dame returns all nine starters from the 2000 BIG EAST championship team that compiled a 47-14 overall record last season. Connecticut was picked second in the preseason poll, followed by Seton Hall and first-year BIG EAST member Virginia Tech.
Senior shortstop Melanie Alkire (Union City, Calif.) was picked by the league coaches to earn her third consecutive BIG EAST Player of the Year award. Alkire was a unanimous first team all-BIG EAST selection in 2000 while leading the Irish in batting average (.376), hits (73), doubles (15), home runs (13), RBI (64), total bases (129), slugging percentage (.665) and on base percentage (.421). She boasts a .392 career batting average in conference games and was also named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2000 BIG EAST Championship.
Senior left-hander Jennifer Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.) earned the nod for the Preseason Pitcher of the Year award. She has won the conference’s pitcher of the year award the previous three years, becoming the first Irish pitcher and first-ever freshman to earn the honor in 1998. Sharron went 6-2 in conference competition last season, posting a 0.92 ERA. Her 0.73 lifetime ERA in conference play ranks as fifth on the conference career charts.
Alkire and Sharron were joined on the 2001 preseason all-BIG EAST team by teammates Jarrah Myers (Carbondale, Kan.), Jennifer Kriech (Indianapolis, Ind.), Lizzy Lemire (Irvine, Calif.), and 2000 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Andrea Loman (Riverside, Calif.).
The Irish will begin the 2001 season in Tampa, Fla., at the Holiday Inn Invitational, hosted by the University of South Florida, Feb. 16-18.
2001 Softball Preseason Coaches Poll1. Notre Dame, 100 pts.2. Connecticut, 91 pts.3. Seton Hall, 68 pts. Virginia Tech, 68 pts.5. Boston College, 64 pts.6. Villanova, 55 pts.7. Syracuse, 50 pts.8. St. John's, 43 pts.9. Rutgers, 29 pts.10. Pittsburgh, 25 pts.11. Providence, 12 pts.
2001 Preseason All-BIG EAST TeamP Jennifer Sharron, Sr., Notre Dame*P Kim Ryan, So., Boston CollegeC Jarrah Myers, Jr., Notre Dame*IF Melanie Alkire, Sr., Notre DameIF Vickie Lamb, Sr., Seton HallIF Andrea Loman, So., Notre DameIF Jackie Pasquerella, Sr., VillanovaIF Jessica Yanosy, Sr., ConnecticutOF Nicole Dubovik, So., ConnecticutOF Jennifer Kriech, Jr., Notre DameOF Lizzy Lemire, Sr., Notre Dame*U Sara Carlson, So., VillanovaDP Mary Lowzinski, Sr., Virginia TechNote: Due to a tie in the voting, there are five infielders on the 2001 preseason team.* - Indicates unanimous selection