2008 Woodie Awards
Look what happened after you left
Amado Ortiz
Issue date: 9/1/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Jacksonville State softball team wrapped up the 2005 season as the Ohio Valley Conference regular season champions and runners-up of the O'Reilly OVC Softball Tournament. Although the Gamecocks fell just short of an NCAA bid into the national tournament, they finished with the best record in the OVC, and leading in nearly every statistical category in the conference.
JSU earned the right to host the 2005 OVC Softball Tournament after clinching the regular season title. Tennessee Tech defeated the Gamecocks in the title game, 6-2. The Golden Eagles were later defeated in the first round of the national tournament by the Georgia Bulldogs.
Although the team was disappointed for losing the tournament, head coach Jana McGinnis remarked that the season was "one of the best I've ever been a part of."
"Last year's team was one of the hardest-working teams we've ever had. They want to get better, and it's good as a coach to see that they want to be better," McGinnis said.
JSU made major improvements both offensively and defensively in the 2005 season by outscoring opponents an average of 6-3. Maigin Alexander, the OVC Player of the Year, led the team with a .403 batting average and 71 hits. Junior Daniela Pappano led the conference with 14 home runs, while Breanne Oleman broke the JSU record for career RBI.
The freshmen on the Jacksonville State squad accounted for one-third of the team's total offense this year, combining for 174 hits, 17 home runs, and 96 RBI.
Carly Kellam, the OVC Pitcher of the Year, finished with a 23-7 record and a conference-leading 270 strikeouts. Christine Pierce, who was another new addition to the pitching staff, recorded a team-best 2.07 ERA.
"Our pitching staff was the most improved part of our game from last year, and it's now one of our strengths," said McGinnis.
The 2005 JSU team may be best remembered for breaking the school record for longest win streak in softball. From April 9 to May 12, Jacksonville State compiled 17 consecutive wins. During this time, the Gamecocks outscored their opponents by a total of 125-26.
"At the end of March, the team came together and decided to play well," said McGinnis. "The biggest point as a coach this year was to see this team become a team."
The coming season will see the departure of three Gamecock seniors: Breanne Oleman, Melinda McDonald, and Samantha Gutierrez. Megan Jezierski will be returning, as she was injured and red-shirted at the beginning of the year. JSU has also signed a recruiting class that consists of three true freshmen and a transfer student.
Jacksonville State finished with a 42-16 record, with just four losses in Ohio Valley Conference play.
JSU earned the right to host the 2005 OVC Softball Tournament after clinching the regular season title. Tennessee Tech defeated the Gamecocks in the title game, 6-2. The Golden Eagles were later defeated in the first round of the national tournament by the Georgia Bulldogs.
Although the team was disappointed for losing the tournament, head coach Jana McGinnis remarked that the season was "one of the best I've ever been a part of."
"Last year's team was one of the hardest-working teams we've ever had. They want to get better, and it's good as a coach to see that they want to be better," McGinnis said.
JSU made major improvements both offensively and defensively in the 2005 season by outscoring opponents an average of 6-3. Maigin Alexander, the OVC Player of the Year, led the team with a .403 batting average and 71 hits. Junior Daniela Pappano led the conference with 14 home runs, while Breanne Oleman broke the JSU record for career RBI.
The freshmen on the Jacksonville State squad accounted for one-third of the team's total offense this year, combining for 174 hits, 17 home runs, and 96 RBI.
Carly Kellam, the OVC Pitcher of the Year, finished with a 23-7 record and a conference-leading 270 strikeouts. Christine Pierce, who was another new addition to the pitching staff, recorded a team-best 2.07 ERA.
"Our pitching staff was the most improved part of our game from last year, and it's now one of our strengths," said McGinnis.
The 2005 JSU team may be best remembered for breaking the school record for longest win streak in softball. From April 9 to May 12, Jacksonville State compiled 17 consecutive wins. During this time, the Gamecocks outscored their opponents by a total of 125-26.
"At the end of March, the team came together and decided to play well," said McGinnis. "The biggest point as a coach this year was to see this team become a team."
The coming season will see the departure of three Gamecock seniors: Breanne Oleman, Melinda McDonald, and Samantha Gutierrez. Megan Jezierski will be returning, as she was injured and red-shirted at the beginning of the year. JSU has also signed a recruiting class that consists of three true freshmen and a transfer student.
Jacksonville State finished with a 42-16 record, with just four losses in Ohio Valley Conference play.