DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Chosen Preseason Softball Favorite
1/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO - Defending regular season champion DePaul (51-16-1, 17-3 in 2001) has been selected to win the 2002 Conference USA Softball Championship, as voted on by the league’s nine head coaches. Blue Demon sophomore OF/P Sarah Martz has been named the preseason Player of the Year, while Southern Miss junior Felecia Gonzales has been chosen as the conference’s preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Martz helped DePaul to its fifth straight NCAA regional appearance last spring while being named Conference USA Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year. At the plate, Martz led the conference with a .386 batting average and seven triples, while recording 25 multiple-hit games. On the mound, she threw 16 shutouts and was named Pitcher of the Week on three occasions.
The Blue Demons placed a league-high five players on the preseason all-league team. Martz is joined by pitcher Lindsay Chouinard, who set school records for strikeouts (209), innings pitched (226) and complete games (30), while posting a 0.84 ERA that ranked 19th nationally.
Also named to the squad were catcher Gina Ramacci, infielder Liz Bouck and outfielder Shavaughne Desecki. Ramacci was named first team All-C-USA last season and committted only one error in 390 chances last season. Bouck broke school records for singles in a season with 70 and tied the stolen base record of 33. Desecki was named first team All-Mideast Region as well as first team All-C-USA. She also was a member of the league's All-Tournament team and was named C-USA Hitter of the Week on March 26.
Two-time defending tournament champion Southern Miss was picked to finish second. The Golden Eagles are led by last season’s Conference USA Pitcher of the Year, Felecia Gonzales, who recorded 29 wins and 366 strikeouts, while tossing four no-hitters and one perfect game.
South Florida was chosen to place third. The Bulls won 43 games and made their fourth NCAA Tournament trip a year ago.
After posting 40 wins in 2001, Louisville was picked to finish fourth in this year’s conference race. Houston, East Carolina and UAB were picked fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively while Saint Louis and Charlotte round out the poll.
DePaul is ranked 19th in the preseason NFCA poll. The Blue Demons open the season next weekend at the LSU Tiger Classic. DePaul battles Northwestern State at 4:00 p.m. on Friday followed by a showdown against the fourth ranked Tigers of LSU at 6:00 p.m.
2002 CONFERENCE USA SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
(2001 Overall, Conference Records)
- DePaul (51-16-1, 17-3)
2. Southern Miss (46-21, 15-6)
3. South Florida (43-34, 12-9)
4. Louisville (40-26, 12-9)
5. Houston (22-33, 10-10)
6. East Carolina (51-23, ECAC Tournament Champions)
7. UAB (27-35, 10-11)
8. Saint Louis (25-34, 5-16)
9. Charlotte (17-33, 2-19)
2002 CONFERENCE USA SOFTBALL PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
C: Gina Ramacci, Jr., DePaul
IF: Liz Bouck, Jr. DePaul
IF: Tammy Edwards, Jr., Southern Miss
IF: Angela Manzo, Sr., East Carolina
IF: Melissa Jacobo, Jr., Louisville
IF: Renee Oursler, Jr., South Florida
OF: Keola Calderon, Jr., Louisville
OF: Shavaughne Desecki, Sr., DePaul
OF: Cliffanie Engram, Jr., UAB
OF: Erin Jeffery, Sr., Saint Louis
P: Lindsay Chouinard, Jr., DePaul
P: Felecia Gonzales, Jr., Southern Miss
UT: Sarah Martz, So., DePaul
DP: Arelis Ferreris, So., Houston
DP: Nicole Bohnenstiehl, Jr., Saint Louis
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Sarah Martz, So., DePaul
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Felecia Gonzales, Jr., Southern Miss
