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Freshman Brittney Stratton (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville)
was one of two pitchers named to the all-conference first team

BOSTON -
Four University of Hartford softball players earned America East postseason honors on Wednesday night, as announced by the conference at its annual awards banquet.

Freshman Brittney Stratton (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) was one of two pitchers named to the all-conference first team while senior Kristie Rochette (Meriden, CT/Lyman Hall) was an all-conference second team selection. Stratton and classmates Amanda Dilworth (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) and Rachel Clonick (Hilton, NY/Hilton) were also named to the all-rookie team, and Rochette earned a spot on the all-academic team.

"I am proud of Brittney, Kristie, Amanda and Rachel for their individual achievements," said head coach Todd Randall. "It's always satisfying to be recognized by the other softball coaches in our conference, and I feel these four deserved the accolades."

Stratton becomes only the fourth Hartford freshman to be named to the first team and the first pitcher since Liz Nadeau in 2002. She ranked among the conference leaders in virtually every statistical category, finishing first in innings pitched (172.1) and strikeouts (173), third in wins (15) and appearances (30), and fourth in ERA (2.03) and opponent batting average (.215).

Stratton also assaulted the Hartford single season records. She needs just five more strikeouts to break the school record and ranks second in wins, appearances, and innings pitched. Her 15 wins, nine of which came in conference play, are the most ever by a freshman in school history.

Previous Brittney Stratton Stories

BOSTON -
University of Hartford freshman Brittney Stratton was named America East Co-Pitcher and Co-Rookie of the Week, as announced by the conference on Monday afternoon.

Stratton, who shared each award with Boston University's Megan Currier, went 5-1 and picked up a save in the circle as the Hawks went 6-2 at the Rebel Spring Games last week. She posted an ERA of 1.34 over 41.2 innings and recorded a pair of complete-game shutouts. She struck out 41 batters while issuing only 13 walks. Overall, opponents batted just .190 against her for the week. The rookie hurler picked up wins in six straight appearances at the Rebel Games and had a scoreless innings streak of 25.2 innings.

Stratton becomes the first Hartford pitcher to earn pitcher of the week honors since Andi Miller during the 2002 season. The last Hartford freshman to earn rookie of the week honors was Nicole McMillon during the 2004 season.

Stratton is 6-3 overall on the season with a team-best 1.41 ERA. She's logged 64.2 innings in 12 appearances and has pitched seven complete games in eight starts with three shutouts. Her 60 strikeouts also lead the team.

The Hawks (8-8 overall) went 7-3 at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, FL. Hartford will next play a doubleheader at Army on Sunday, March 25 at 3 p.m.

BOSTON -
University of Hartford freshman Brittney Stratton was named America East Rookie of the Week, as announced by the conference on Monday afternoon.

Stratton, Hartford's top pitcher with an 11-8 overall record, went 2-1 last week and picked up both wins in conference action against the University at Albany. She went the distance in all three of her starts and recorded an ERA of 1.67 for the week with 18 strikeouts.

Following a 4-1 mid-week loss to Holy Cross in which she gave up only two earned runs and struck out a career-high 13 batters, Stratton bounced back by holding Albany to two earned runs on four hits in a 6-3 victory. She then picked up her second win against the Great Danes the following day, scattering six hits over seven innings while striking out three in a 2-1 final.

Stratton's success in the circle has been key for the Hawks this season. The 11 wins are the second-most in a single season in school history and the most ever by a Hartford freshman. She also ranks second in the conference in strikeouts (133), innings pitched (136.0), complete games (16) and opponent batting average (.210) and third in ERA (1.90). Earlier this season (March 19) she was honored by the conference as the co-pitcher and rookie of the week.

"I am proud of Brittney for being honored by our conference for the second time this season," said head coach Todd Randall. "The award is in her name, but the entire team shares in it with her as they were her support unit."

Hartford (18-18 overall, 8-5 America East) currently sits in fourth place in the conference standings with seven games remaining. The top four teams qualify for the 2007 America East Softball Championship, which will be held on May 10-12 on the campus of the highest-seeded team.

AFTER 2 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS 2007
ROESSNER NOW SELECTED SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK.

This article taken directly from the LSU site (www.LSUsports.net).
BATON ROUGE -- LSU All-American Killian Roessner was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Monday.

The Manasquan, N.J., native led the Tigers to a 5-0 record last week, including a sweep of the USF Under Armour Showcase and a share of the tournament title, while pushing LSU's winning streak to 12 straight games. Hitting .500 on the week, Roessner was 8-for-16 at the plate with six RBIs, three doubles and two home runs for a 1.063 slugging percentage.

Against South Florida on Sunday, Roessner recorded a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. With the game using the international tie-breaker rule in the eighth, the Tigers began the bottom half of the inning with Jazz Jackson on second. After Jackson moved to third on a single by Rachel Mitchell, Roessner came to the plate and came through for LSU. Roping a single to center field, Jackson easily scored to give the Tigers the 2-1 win.

It was, however, not Roessner's only heroics of the week. In the bottom of the 11th inning last Tuesday, the senior catcher scored the game-winning run in a 7-6 victory over Troy. Leading off the inning with a double to right center, Roessner moved to third on an infield single by Quinlan Duhon. After an intentional walk to Erika Sluss loaded the bases, Roessner scored the game-winner on a walk-off single by Shannon Stein.

Earlier in that game against the Trojans, Roessner slammed her seventh home run of the year that put the Tigers ahead, 5-4, in the bottom of the fifth. Following her homer, she was intentionally walked twice, becoming just the eighth LSU player to be intentionally walked twice in a game, before coming through with her leadoff double in the 11th.

Against Oklahoma State on Friday, Roessner hit her team-leading eighth home run or the season. She has now recorded more home runs this season than in any previous season in her four-year career. With 28 RBIs, she has also recorded more runs batted in than in three of her previous four seasons.

With a hit in all five games on the week, Roessner extended her hitting streak to a team-best six games. She also recorded a pair of multiple-RBI games and knocked in at least one run in four of the five games. This season, she leads the team with 10 multiple-RBI games.

In the field, the 2007 Diamond Sports National Catcher of the Year threw out a pair of runners attempting to steal on her. This year, she has caught 10 of the 23 runners who attempted to steal on her, which is tied for the second most in the SEC this season, and now has 52 runners caught stealing in her career, almost 20 more than the next best previous Tiger.

LSU will return to conference play next week. The purple and gold will host Auburn in a three-game series at Tiger Park. Due to Easter Sunday, the series will be played on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers will square off on Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. before concluding the series with a single game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

All three games of the series will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network in Baton Rouge on The X - 104.5/104.9 FM and in the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net. In addition, the final game of the series will be televised on Cox Sports Television in Baton Rouge on cable channel 37.

Killian Roessner selected-
Louisville/NFCA All-American 1st Team
Easton All-American 1st Team
First-team All-South Region
Second-team All-Southeastern Conference

This article taken directly from the LSU site (www.LSUsports.net).
BATON ROUGE -- LSU softball players Killian Roessner and Leslie Klein were two of the 54 student-athletes named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America team, it was announced by the organization on Wednesday.

Roessner garnered first-team honors at catcher, while Klein was named to the third team in the outfield. It marked the third All-America award for Klein, who also earned third-team honors in 2004 and 2006. This is the first All-America honor for Roessner.

A first-team All-South Region and second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, Roessner earned SEC Player of the Week honors once and Louisiana Hitter of the Week honors twice this season. The junior catcher broke the LSU single-season record and leads the SEC with 19 runners caught stealing, while allowing just 28 stolen bases on the year. She also is tied for the league lead and the school single-season record with four runners picked off. In addition, she allowed just two passed balls and eight wild pitches on the season.

At the plate, she recorded the third most hits in consecutive at-bats in NCAA history, posting 10 straight hits in 10 consecutive at-bats. The Manasquan, N.J., native ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in doubles with a career-best 15, while also posting career highs with six home runs, 36 RBIs and 23 runs scored this season. With 17 multiple-hit games and nine multiple-RBI games, she knocked in the game-winning run in six games this year, including a win over nationally ranked Florida.

The senior center fielder recorded the second most RBIs with 60 and third most total bases with 132 in a single-season in LSU history. The Tiger softball career record holder for slugging percentage, doubles, home runs, RBIs, total bases and multiple-RBI games finished her career ranked second in career doubles and third in career RBIs in SEC history. The Sunrise, Fla., native recorded separate 10-game, nine-game and eight-game hitting streaks this season and led the team with 15 game-winning RBIs, including six over nationally ranked teams.

LSU catcher Killian Roessner earned first-team honors

BATON ROUGE -- The LSU softball team had five players named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region teams. Catcher Killian Roessner earned first-team honors, while pitchers Emily Turner and Dani Hofer and outfielders Leslie Klein and Jazz Jackson earned second-team honors. All five student-athletes will now be eligible to earn All-America honors, which will be announced at the opening of the Women's College World Series.

This is the first NFCA All-South Region honor for Roessner, who was named to the All-SEC second team last week. The junior catcher earned SEC Player of the Week honors once and Louisiana Hitter of the Week honors twice this season. Roessner broke the LSU single-season record and leads the SEC with 18 runners caught stealing. She also is tied for the league lead and the school single-season record with four runners picked off. In addition, at the plate she ranks in the top 11 in the SEC in batting average, slugging percentage and doubles.

Killian Roessner earns ALL SEC 2nd Team honors

In addition to Hofer, catcher Killian Roessner and outfielders Leslie Klein and Jazz Jackson were named to the All-SEC second team.

Roessner has earned SEC Player of the Week honors once and Louisiana Hitter of the Week honors twice this season. The junior catcher broke the LSU single-season record and leads the SEC with 17 runners caught stealing. She also is tied for the league lead and the school single-season record with four runners picked off. In addition, at the plate she ranks in the top 11 in the SEC in batting average, slugging percentage and doubles.

"I thought that Killian, Leslie and Jazz had outstanding seasons," said Girouard. "Killian was particularly invaluable behind the plate by throwing out runners and being a force not only with her bat, but in keeping the fastest people in the SEC from beating us. "

Killian Roessner a Players Player and Our Travel Player of the Year.

Killian Roessner a Players Player and Our Travel Player of the Year. Killian is a two time winner of this award. Playing for the Stratford Brakettes www.brakettes.com is an extreme honor in itself. The Brakettes were organized in 1947 and have won 26 ASA National Championships at the Women's Major level. Many of the USA Olympic team members have played there. If you read their history, you might think it was a mandatory stop on your way to TEAM USA. This coming year Coach John Stratton will take his team into the Women's Professional League. Don't worry there will still be a Women's Major team and Killian is planning on being there. Lisa interviewed Killian this year just after the "Hurricane Katrina" disaster hit down near LSU's campus. Her interview was part of last months Recruiting Newsletter that Lisa puts out to our College Recruiting Clients.

AthleteSpeak: Q & A with Killian Roessner
Q. Congratulations on being named an ASA All-American. What are your impressions on receiving such an honor?
A. Well, to be honest with you, I wasn't the happiest person in the world when I first received the award because we didn't win the tournament. I was more upset about finishing second and at the time I didn't want an award for anything. However, it is a great honor to have been selected. The tournament was a bit longer than last year's and as usual the competition was tough toward the end. Catching Cat Osterman was a challenge but as the games went on, I got to know her better and we got in a nice little groove. As a team, we just didn't hit when we needed to.
Q. The competition at the Women's Major level is intense. What is it about the Brakettes that makes them so competitive and able to compete in the National Championship game the last 2 years?
A. There is nothing like playing with the Brakettes. I love everything about them. It is more than an honor to be a part of the Brakette family. First of all, the Brakettes always win. They have such a prestigious reputation so the pressure is intense but every ounce of it is worth it, especially to play for someone like John Stratton and his crew. You really want to win for them because there is such a high level of respect.
Q. Best pitcher and hitter you played against this year?
A. Two pitchers I felt were awesome. Danielle Henderson clearly had my number this summer. Also, Christa Williams, of the Texas Thunder, was very impressive. Kellie Wilkerson is a monster hitter and an awesome person. As a catcher, when someone like Kellie steps up to the plate, you have to think twice before you make any call.
Q. How did you prepare yourself for your first collegiate season?
A. You can't prepare yourself totally for a collegiate season, especially at LSU. I ran as much as I could and played ball a lot. Playing with the Brakettes helped a lot by making me feel comfortable around older and more experienced girls. I also learned a lot from the Brakette staff.
Q. What was your most memorable moment from your first season?
A. Wow. My first season at LSU was a long one yet at the same time, very short. There were a lot of memories from that first season, most of which I'm trying to forget. I love my teammates very much. Right now, we are living in the present and moving on to a bigger and better season.
Q. Was it tough juggling classes, practices, and travel to away games? How did you manage it all?
A. For me, time management wasn't an issue. I was fortunate to attend a prep school. At the Lawrenceville School, I learned all about time management and living away from home. During the season, it was tough being on the road a lot, but I was lucky to have understanding teachers.
Q. How has Hurricane Katrina affected the LSU campus, classes, etc.? Did you get involved in the relief effort?
A. Anytime you hear the word 'Hurricane' or even 'Katrina', your heart stops for a second. It has affected everyone here in more ways than one. The one thing that really hits me is the sound of ambulance and police sirens. The minute I hear them I automatically think something is wrong, which is normal, but around here you assume the worst. I have done what I can to help out. My teammates and I folded clothes for people and distributed food, clothes, and accessories to the people in need.
Q. You are majoring in General Studies. What are your plans after graduation?
A. My plans after graduation are to be a coach and/or possibly start running my own organization of softball training. I have grown up around softball and I want to teach it to young children who deserve to learn about the game.
Q. What advice would you give to younger players who aspire to the level you're at now?
A. Never settle. Always want more! Start looking now. There are tons of schools out there and you have plenty of time to find the right one for you. College is supposed to be the best experience of your life. So pick the one you feel is right for you in all aspects, not just softball. Get your name out there. They won't come to you unless you let them know you're out there. Be a leader out there. Command your troops on the field. That's what they're looking for - someone who LOVES the game! So, love it girls because it's worth it and time goes by so fast!
Killian, thank so much for your time. We look forward to hearing and writing about your future successes on and off the softball field!

FORDHAM'S NICOLE AYRES NAMED ATLANTIC 10
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Philadelphia, Pa. - (May 8, 2007) -
Fordham University freshman pitcher Nicole Ayres (Westville, N.J./Deptford) was named the 2007 Atlantic 10 Softball Rookie of the Year in voting conducted among the Conference's head coaches it was announced by the league.

Additionally, junior catcher Allison Storc (Boynton Beach, Fla./Santaluces) was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 while four other Rams were named to the Second Team and junior infielder Allison Twarowski (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) was named to the Academic All-Conference Team.

Earning Second Team honors were Ayres and Twarowski along with sophomore outfielder Melissa Andrews (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista) and senior outfielder Krystle Henry (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy).

Additionally, Ayres was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Ayres becomes the fourth Ram in the past five years to earn Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors, joining Laura Klaiber (2005), Sara Kinney (2004) and Michelle Schlichtig (2003). On the year, Ayres was 16-4 with a 2.03 ERA, leading the team in wins, striking out 133 batters in 131 innings. A three-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week and one-time Pitcher of the Week, she recorded three shutouts on the year, two in A-10 play, to go with one save and she held conference opponents to a .193 batting average. Her 16 wins on the year are the second most for a Fordham freshman.

In the latest Atlantic 10 rankings, Ayres is second in wins and fourth in ERA, strikeouts and appearances.

Twarowski, who was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10 last spring, is batting at a .381 clip (69-181) with 14 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 25 RBI while swiping 16 bases. She leads the squad in average, hits, runs (57), doubles and triples and is second in home runs and third in stolen bases. Twarowski leads the Atlantic 10 in runs scored and total bases and is tied for the lead in hits while ranking second in doubles and third in average.

Twarowski, a Mathematics major who makes her first appearance on the All-Academic team, also spent some time on the mound for the Rams, compiling a 6-3 record in 18 appearances with a 1.52 ERA, fanning 32 batters in 60 innings. She was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week once in 2007.

The Rams closed out the 2007 regular season with a 38-16 overall record, 16-4 in the Atlantic 10. The 38 wins ties the school record set in 2005, while the 16 conference wins is the most by the Rams in their history.

Fordham, the two seed, will open the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championship on Thursday, May 10th at 2:00 p.m., meeting the winner of the Saint Louis-George Washington game scheduled for Wednesday.

Previous Nicole Ayres Stories

Bronx, NY - (March 19, 2007) -
Fordham University freshman pitcher Nicole Ayres (Westville, NJ/Deptford) was named Atlantic 10 Softball Rookie of the Week it was announced today. This is her first Atlantic 10 weekly honor at Fordham and the third of the year for the Rams.

In four appearances on the week, Ayres went 1-0 with a 0.59 ERA, allowing just one earned run in 14.2 innings. She struck out 13 batters in the 14.2 innings and allowed just two walks. Ayres picked up the win in Fordham's 7-5 victory over Fairfield in the Aztec Classic in San Diego on Saturday, throwing three and two-thirds innings of two-hit relief. She also had an impressive outting against the host team in the classic, posting six strike outs in four innings versus the Aztecs on Friday.

On the year, Ayres has a 3-2 record with a 2.90 ERA. In 48.1 innings of work, she has struck out 47, second best on the squad.

The Rams, who are 12-12 on the year, will open their Atlantic 10 schedule on Friday, March 23rd as they host George Washington University on Bahoshy Field at 3:30 p.m.

Bronx, NY - (April 9, 2007) -
Fordham University sophomore outfielder Melissa Andrews (Vista, CA/Rancho Buena Vista) was named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week for the week ending April 8th it was announced today while freshman pitcher Nicole Ayres (Westville, NJ/Deptford) was named Co-Rookie of the Week. This is the first Player of the Week award for Andrews while Ayres picks up her second Rookie of the Week honor.

On the week, the Rams went 5-1, sweeping a doubleheader from Seton Hall and a two-game Atlantic 10 series from Temple while splitting a conference doubleheader with Saint Joseph's. The loss in the second game of the Saint Joseph's twin bill snapped a school-record 16-game winning streak for the Rams, who had not lost since dropping a game at San Diego State on March 16th. The 16-game winning streak surpassed the previous record of 14 set in 2005.

Andrews, a centerfielder, hit a sizzling .545 on the week (12-22) with a double, three home runs and 12 RBI. In Atlantic 10 play she was just as hot, hitting at a .500 clip (7-14) with three home runs and ten RBI. In a 22-4 win over Temple on Friday, Andrews tied school records with two home runs and seven RBI. She became the ninth Rams to hit two home runs in one game, the last since Allison Storc on March 31st of last year, while also tying Allison Twarowski's single game record with the seven RBI. She also garnered ECAC Co-Player of the Week honors.

In the second game against Temple, Andrews hit a two-run home run the bottom of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie and lead the Rams to a 5-3 win.

On the year, Andrews, who has started 37 games, is hitting a team-high .393 (46-117) with four doubles, one triple, three home runs and 25 RBI. She is second on the team in RBI and leads the squad with 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts.

Ayres went 3-1 on the week with a 0.84 ERA in four appearances with 18 strikeouts and only four walks. She picked up a win in relief of game one against Temple, throwing three innings of one-hit ball, striking out three and then earned another win in game two with the Owls, with six innings of four-hit ball. Her first win of the week was in the first game at Seton Hall in which she threw three and two-thirds innings of four-hit ball, allowing no runs and striking out four.

On the year, Ayres is 10-3 with a 2.44 ERA with two complete games and one shutout. In 80.1 innings of work, she has 78 strikeouts. She leads the squad in wins and is second in strikeouts and innings pitched.

The Rams are currently 25-13 overall on the year and they sit in second place in the Atlantic 10 with a 9-1 conference mark. They will next be in action on Tuesday, April 10th as they host Manhattan College for a doubleheader on Bahoshy Field beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Bronx, NY - (April 16, 2007) -
Fordham University freshman pitcher Nicole Ayres (Westville, NJ/Deptford) was named Atlantic 10 Softball Pitcher of the Week while freshman infielder Erin Fisher (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) was named Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 15th it was announced today. This is the third Player of the Week award for Ayres, who was twice named Rookie of the Week, while Fisher earns her second Rookie of the Week honor.

On the week, the Rams went a perfect 6-0, sweeping doubleheaders from Manhattan and Iona and an Atlantic 10 twin bill at Saint Louis. The Rams have now won 23 of their past 24 games.

Ayres, a right hander, was a perfect 3-0 on the week with one save and a 1.21 ERA. She picked up the win in both games of the Saint Louis doubleheader, throwing four and one-third innings of four-hit ball, striking out eight, in a 6-3 victory and then started game two and went five innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs in a 15-3 Fordham win.

Ayres also picked up a win against Iona, throwing a complete-game five-hitter, striking out six in a 15-3 win, and she earned a save against Manhattan, throwing three innings of four-hit relief, fanning six, in a 3-1 Fordham victory.

On the year, Ayres is 13-3 with a 2.22 ERA with four complete games and one shutout. In 97.2 innings of work, she has 101 strikeouts. She leads the squad in wins and is second in strikeouts and innings pitched.

Fisher, a shortstop, hit .400 (6-15) on the week with two doubles three home runs and ten RBI. She went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and drove in four runs Fordham's 15-3 win over Saint Louis in game two on Sunday and hit another round tripper and had five RBI in the Rams' 15-3 win over Iona. Fisher raised her average from .238 to .261 on the week.

On the year, Fisher is hitting .261 (30-115) with eight doubles, one triple, six home runs and a team-high 36 RBI. She leads the team with 28 walks and is a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts.

The Rams are currently 31-13 overall on the year and they sit in second place in the Atlantic 10 with an 11-1 conference mark. They will next be in action on Wednesday, April 18th as they host Hofstra University in a single game on Bahoshy Field beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Bronx, NY - (April 30, 2007) -
Fordham University freshman pitcher Nicole Ayres (Westville, N.J./Deptford) was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 29th it was announced today. This is the fourth Player of the Week award for Ayres, who has been named Rookie of the Week three times and Pitcher of the Week once this spring.

On the week, the Rams went a perfect 4-1, sweeping an Atlantic 10 doubleheader from Dayton on Sunday as well as picking up a win over Quinnipiac and splitting a doubleheader with Marist.

Ayres, a right hander, was a perfect 2-0 on the week with two shutouts and a 0.37 ERA. She picked up her first win with a complete-game, seven-hit shutout at Marist, striking out four, as the Rams upended the Red Foxes, 7-0, on Tuesday. She also threw a shutout against Dayton on Sunday, allowing just two hits while striking out six in a 6-0 Fordham win.

On the week, Ayres worked 19 innings over four games, allowing just one earned run while striking out 16 and walking two.

On the year, Ayres is 15-4 with a 2.09 ERA, seven complete games and three shutouts. In 124.0 innings of work, she has 125 strikeouts. She leads the squad in wins and is second in strikeouts and innings pitched.

The Rams are currently 36-16 overall on the year and they sit in second place in the Atlantic 10 with a 14-2 conference mark. They will next be in action on Friday, May 5th as they travel to Amherst, Massachusetts to take on top-seeded University of Massachusetts in an Atlantic 10 contest at 3:30 p.m.

Allison Twarowski Story #1

Bronx, NY - (March 12, 2007) -
Fordham University junior pitcher Allison Twarowski (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week for the week ending March 11th it was announced today.

On the week, Twarowski compiled a 3-1 record with a 0.99 ERA. In 21.1 innings of work, she allowed just three earned runs while striking out eight and walking just three. She led the Rams to a third place finish at the ECU Pirate Classic (3/2-3/4) and to a second place showing in the bronze bracket of the USF/adidas Invitational (3/8-3/11).

Twarowski picked up her first win of the week in relief, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing four hits and no runs in an 8-3 win over Delaware on March 3rd. She followed that with five inning of two-hit ball, striking out three, and not allowing a run in a 13-4 win over Robert Morris on March 9th and then picked up a win with a complete-game, eight-hitter, striking out four, in a 3-1 win over South Florida on March 11th.

Twarowski also helped the Rams with her bat on the week, hitting .372 with 16 hits, nine RBI, six steals and seven walks.

On the year, Twarowski is 4-1 with a 1.22 ERA in seven appearances for the Rams with 15 strike outs in 28.2 innings of work.

At the plate, Twarowski is hitting a team-high .414 (24-58) with five doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI. She leads the team in home runs and is tied for the team lead in RBI and in stolen bases (9).

The Rams will next be in action on Tuesday, March 13th as they take on UNLV at Cal. State Fullerton at 10:00 p.m. E.S.T.

Allison Twarowski Story #2

Bronx, N.Y. - (May 3, 2007) -
The 73rd annual Block F Awards dinner was held last night at the Villa Barone Manor, honoring Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments in the 2006-07 academic year.

Among those honored was Allison Twarowski (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) who was named Most Valuable Player of the softball squad.

Twarowski, a junior, leads team in hitting with a .386 average (64-166) with 11 doubles, three triples seven home runs and 24 RBI along with 18 stolen bases. She also leads the Atlantic 10 in runs scored (53) and ranks second in hits, third in on base percentage, fourth in doubles and fifth in batting average, stolen bases and slugging percentage. Over her career, Twarowski ranks second all-time at Fordham in home runs (23), runs (130) and RBI (103).

Earning Second Team honors were Ayres and Twarowski along with sophomore outfielder Melissa Andrews (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista) and senior outfielder Krystle Henry (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy). Twarowski, who was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10 last spring, is batting at a .381 clip (69-181) with 14 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 25 RBI while swiping 16 bases. She leads the squad in average, hits, runs (57), doubles and triples and is second in home runs and third in stolen bases. Twarowski leads the Atlantic 10 in runs scored and total bases and is tied for the lead in hits while ranking second in doubles and third in average. Twarowski, a Mathematics major who makes her first appearance on the All-Academic team, also spent some time on the mound for the Rams, compiling a 6-3 record in 18 appearances with a 1.52 ERA, fanning 32 batters in 60 innings. She was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week once in 2007. The Rams are currently 36-16 on the year, 14-2 in the Atlantic 10.

KING'S SOFTBALL PLACES KELSEY SHREAVES
ON EAST REGIONAL TEAM

WILKES-BARRE --
A trio of King's College softball players were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association East Regional All-American Team, the NFCA announced. Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Shreaves Absecon, NJ/Holy Spirit) was a second-team choice.

Shreaves concluded her first season as King's number-one starter, standing at 14-3 with a 1.92 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 102 innings and pitched a no-hitter April 18 against Keystone. She also hits .305 (18-59) with three doubles, two home runs, and 14 RBI.

King's will compete in the NCAA Division III National Tournament Thursday through Sunday at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ.
King's College
133 North River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
1 (888) KINGS PA

Julie Saporito
St Peters College selected MAAC Player of the Year

#26 Julie Saporito Is a team captain for the second straight season... was the starting third baseman... team leader on and off the field.

Career: Has played and started in 128 games... has a .317 average, with 24 doubles, a triple and three home runs... has knocked in 55 runs in three seasons.

2006: Played and started in every game... hit .355 with 20 runs scored and 33 RBI...was second on the team in hitting and led the team in RBI... had 15 multi-hit games and had five games with three hits.

2005: Played and started in every game... led the team with a .313 average, 50 hits and nine doubles... was second on the team in runs with 21... was third on the team with 17 RBI... had 14 two hit games.

Julie
I've followed you over the last few years. You gave me many memorable moments from 10&U until today. Most of all I remember when you pitched the ASA GOLD National semi-final game for the Shamrocks and won. What a career you have had.
Thanks

Randi Cifelli
Camden County College

Randi & CCC paired up very well. She finished the season with a 1.56 ERA, and a record of 19 wins / 6 losses. Randi had 9 shutouts, 3 no-hitters and 2 one-hitters. She pitched 151.6 innings, with 170 strikeouts, surpassing Camden County's 16 year record of 144 strikeouts on a season. Her batting average was .353 with 2 home-runs, 10 RBIs and 24 hits. In addition to being named to the All-American team, Randi was selected First Team All Garden State Conference, and First Team All-Region XIX. Randi was a Highland HS student and the first student Elite Fastpitch had in its current Deptford location over 10 years ago.

Monday, April 3, 2006

MORAVIAN'S MEAGAN HENNESSY NAMED COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK

ANNVILLE, PA --- Senior pitcher Meagan Hennessy (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township HS) of the Moravian College softball team has been named the Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Week for the third consecutive week for her performance last week.

Hennessy, who has been named the Commonwealth Conference's Pitcher of the Week four times this season, had a 4-0 record and she added a save in a 6-0 record last week for Moravian including a 2-0 mark in Commonwealth Conference action.

Hennessy began the week with 4-2 victory versus Wilkes University. She allowed two runs; just one earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out 11 batters, her 24th career game with double digit strikeouts. In the first game of a doubleheader at rival Muhlenberg College, Hennessy tossed a two-hit shutout with no walks and eight strikeouts 2-0 victory. In the second game at Muhlenberg, Hennessy came in with one-out and the tying run at second base. She struck out both batters she faced for her second save of the season. Hennessy opened up a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader with a 1-0, nine-inning shutout of Susquehanna University. She allowed three hits and four walks while tying her school record with 15 strikeouts in the win. Hennessy also tossed the second game of the twinbill with a 2-0 shutout. She allowed five hits and a walk in the second game while striking out another nine batters.

Adelfio- Selected as the Elite College Pitcher of the Month.

Jackie Adelfio, now a senior at Columbia University is on her way to a tremendous senior year and the finish of a great college and high school career. Please take a second to review what a great student athlete looks like. 2005: Made 29 appearances in the circle, throwing 24 complete games ... finished the year at 14-11 and led team with a 2.20 ERA ... earned second team All-Ivy honors ... third in the league in strikeouts (132) and saves (three) ... named Ivy Pitcher of the Week on May 3 after throwing three complete games, including a shutout of Cornell ... named to the Purple & Gold All-Tournament Team at LSU after throwing a complete-game one-hitter in the 1-0 season-opening win over Ohio ... pitched a complete game to earn the victory in the 3-2 win over Maryland. 2004: Made 28 appearances for the Lions ... voted All-Ivy honorable mention ... finished the season 12-11, 3-3 Ivy ... led the team in every pitching category for the 2004 season ... broke the Columbia record for number of games started in a season with 26 ... had 148 strikeouts, the second-most in a season in the program's history ... holds the second slot in every other career pitching category ... had a season-high 12 strikeouts against Monmouth ... pitched shutouts vs. Army, Rider, Harvard, Penn and Fordham ... threw one-hitters vs. Harvard, Penn and Princeton. 2003: Named Ivy League Pitcher of the Year ... garnered first team All-Ivy honors ... voted second team All-Mid-Atlantic ... posted a 10-4 overall record, 6-1 in conference play ... had 92 strikeouts in 115 innings ... ended the year with a 1.64 ERA ... had a career-high 13 strikeouts in the win over Princeton ... pitched four extra inning games, winning all but one ... only conference team to beat her was Yale in an eleven inning-contest. Pre-Columbia: First-team all-state, first-team all-state parochial twice ... first-team All-Monmouth County twice ... first-team all-conference ... N.J. State Softball Player of the Year (Newark Star-Ledger) ... 20-6 as a sophomore with 156 strikeouts in 189 innings, 0.85 ERA; 17-6 as a junior, 184 strikeouts in 159 innings, 0.75 ERA ... 23-3 as senior, with 263 strikeouts in 167 innings with a 0.33 ERA ... threw five no-hitters, including first three of the season ... career record of 60-15, 603 strikeouts in 518 innings with a 0.64 ERA ... won second-straight Parochial "A" crown with one-hit shutout of undefeated Immaculate Heart, driving in the only run; it was the afternoon following graduation ... struck out 11 in the game ... tied St. John Vianney's season win record ... won championship games of Lady Buc, Parochial A South and Shore Conference tournaments ... batted .360, playing first base ... first Shore team to take division, county, conference, section & state in same season (28-3) ... team voted No. 1 in the state ... played club for the U-18 N.J. Charmers ... ASA Mid-Atlantic Regional champs, Colo. Personal: Daughter of Stephen and Patricia Adelfio ... b. June 24, 1984 ... likes to ski ... majoring in civil engineering.

Jackie was an Elite student (twice per week) from the time she was 10 until she went to Columbia. Jackie is another piece of the NJ landscape that reinforces what I've known for years. If you need a top quality pitcher, NJ is the place to look for pitching.

Thomas B Besser
Elite Fastpitch Inc.

Shyella Mayk, Living the Dream. Last Friday afternoon I received a call from a former student, Shyella Mayk. Shyella came into Elite in her freshman year of HS. This was a very hard working and focused kid. By her junior year, as a pitcher, she was fairly unstoppable in HS and even took her travel team (the old NJ STARS) to a 2nd place finish at the Pony Nationals in 1996. Shyella was a graduate of Shore Regional HS. She was recruited to Quinnipiac where she played for 4 years. In her HS days she had the dream of playing in the Olympics. That's a dream that obviously was deep and lasted through the years. Shy is not only a U.S. citizen but she is also an Israeli citizen where she spends her summers. She kept her Olympic dream live by becoming the Israeli National Pitcher. Each year I talk to each of my students about goal setting, the importance of setting high goals, the plan to reach that high goal. Well I've attached an interview that Bradley Soul of the Organic Athlete Organization did with Shy in 2004. This article was also published in Living Nutrition Magazine. As read this article you may start to feel the power of one young girl's dream as it has evolved into a woman's life. Beyond this point I must warn you that she is direct and does not shrink away from tough questions.

http://www.organicathlete.org/vegetarian-athletes/interviews/fastpitch-shyella-mayk-2.html

Fastpitch: Shyella Mayk
Written by Organic Athlete
Monday, 12 April 2004

Organic Athlete: First of all, tell us about your current job in organizing a women's softball league for Israel. What's your role in the administration?

Shyella: One of the reasons I moved to Israel was to introduce Fastpitch softball to the women athletes of Israel. Since high school, my dream has been to combine my love of softball with my love for Israel. I moved to Israel in August 2000, and as soon as I found an apartment and a job, I made the connection with softball in Israel. I played Fastpitch softball for all four years of high school and all four years of college. My position is pitcher and my pitches have been clocked at a speed of 63 miles per hour. When I came to Israel I found a women's league and a men's league which are governed by the Israel Softball Association (ISA). However, the men were playing Fastpitch and the women were playing slow-pitch. I was used to playing very competitive Fastpitch softball and when I saw the level of the women's softball league 3 years ago; I understood that the transition from slow-pitch softball to Fastpitch softball would take time. The level of play in the men's league was pretty good. Each team had a pitcher and I was hoping I could be on one of the men's teams. Even though several of the men's teams wanted me on their team, I was not allowed to play due to the international softball rules of Europe which Israel abides by. After my first season of playing I decided to become much more involved in the decision making of the Israel Softball Association, and I was one of two of the first women elected to the Board of Directors. The main reason I wanted to be on the board was to make sure that the women's league wasn't second priority to the men, especially since women's softball is an Olympic sport, which may mean funding in the future. I was a member of the league committee and the publicity committee. My responsibilities included making sure everything in both the men's and women's leagues were running smoothly. For example, I was in constant touch with the team captains to make sure fees were paid, team medicals completed and that there were two umpires for every game. My role in the publicity committee was as the co-editor of the Israel Softball Association publication "Grand Slam", which is all about what happened in the men's and women's leagues throughout the season.

In October 2002, I organized the first women's fall ball Fastpitch season. Now there is no turning back as the women have really fallen in love with the game! My dream of Fastpitch for women in Israel has become a reality. Since the women were excited about Fastpitch, the board of the ISA decided it was time to form the Israel Women's National Team, especially since Fastpitch softball is an Olympic sport for women. So I am the pitcher around whom the Israel Women's National Softball Team has been created.

Our players are diverse in backgrounds, ages and playing ability, but all are dedicated and excited about seeing Fastpitch softball grow in Israel. The team is comprised of high school students, soldiers, single moms, university students, religious women, moms with large families, and 2 recruits of Israeli women from the US. The creation of the Women's National Team has changed slow-pitch softball into the internationally played game of Fastpitch, where the pitcher throws the ball at a high speed in a whipping windmill fashion, the batters can bunt, the runners can steal bases and the game is fast paced.

Our new National Team went to Croatia and Slovenia in June of 2002 to compete in our first tournament with these two other countries. In July 2003, the Israel Women's National Team participated in our first European Championship tournament. We played against much more experienced teams like France, Ukraine, Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Greece. We actually accomplished our goal of winning one game when we beat Bulgaria 12-5. It was a very exciting win. We also played a very good game against Switzerland where we had the lead until they finally beat us 5-3. We had a great time representing Israel in Italy and being diplomats for the women athletes of Israel.  Cleck here to continue this story...

The year 2003 marks the 10^th year Elite Fastpitch has offered the pitcher / catcher / pitch caller strategy course. The first five years the course was normally canceled for lack of interest. This year however, NJ is starting to get the idea that there is more to the game than a good hard throwing pitcher going out and throwing fastballs in the strike zone. There is a "BEST PITCH" for each batter, count, umpire's strike zone, hitter's strength & weakness, base-runner situation, defensive alignment and pitchers ability. There is even a best pitch for wind in your face or at your back, wet ball or dry hard fields. You make the batter do pretty much what you want if you have a pitcher that has the three key elements of pitching VELOCITY, LOCATION & MOVEMENT.

Pitch selection is best done by catchers because of their proximity to the batter. Even at the college level most coaches will opt to control the game and I normally support that. Making the correct decision every 15 to 20 seconds is an enormous and intense task that is normally beyond most catchers and even if not, I like to see them free to just execute. If it is my team, I'll give them situations where they have the option to change my call if they see an opportunity for a pick-off or if the batter squares to bunt. In those types of situations I'll give both pitcher and catcher several options.

Organizing the strike zone and signs are the first task. At the school we keep it simple- box 1 is down and in, box 2 is down and away, box 3 is up and in and box 4 is up and away. I set a big circle right in the middle of the zone and call it the 5 zone. The pitches we just number 1= fastball, 2= change-up, 3= drop, 4= curve, 5= screwball, thumb is riseball and fist is pitch-out. Now we have a concise method to communicate from catcher to defense. Catchers can flash location first then pitch or vise versa.

Over the next few weeks I'll give you the data that we generate in our pitch-calling lab. We use all levels of hitters but we keep the ages of pitcher on hitter the same. Note- They are all RH on RH and above average class "A" travel players. This week's data deals with Fastball. In the following weeks we'll do chnge-up, drop, curve, screwball & riseball. There were 22 possible categories of occurrence that could have happened to the ball, I have only listed the top three. This top three should help you to make a sound decision when selecting the right pitch. Remember nothing is a lock, anything can happen. I'll list what happens most of the time.

FASTBALL ANALYSIS- There are some points of interest to consider. Fastballs create a lot of strikes. Between swing/miss, no swing and foul balls the following boxes generated these %s. One box- 55.6 %, two box- 52.1 %, there box- 54.1 % and 62.1 % in the four box. Although the four box has the high % it is also my "impression" (no data to support it), that umpires have a bias against the four box and don't give pitchers the benefit of doubt up there. There is no doubt that fastballs create a high % of strikes but when hit they are hit harder than any other pitch. Fastball pitchers always look good against fair to weak teams (and or batters) but against good teams with quicker bats are usually hit hard. Fastball pitchers can improve their game by training in two primary areas. Use location- using both sides of the plate to the extreme will help. Moving batters off the plate with fastballs in, then going outside helps. Keep in mind, the larger the batter the less that helps. Use the extremes as much as possible, up & in then down & away. The area to work on immediately is learn to change speeds (hard in / soft away).

BASIC PITCH CALLING CONCEPTS- There are a few basic concepts that I try to keep in mind when calling a game. *You can't strike out every batter. AND *If the batter hits this ball, is it where I want her to hit the ball". I think most people are thinking, I want to strike this batter out and here's the pitch. I think pitch callers should approach each pitch with "this is the pitch to strike her out, and if hit, it will support our situation". A good example- runners on 1^st and 2^nd, no outs, 2 strikes on the batter. Check the graph above and find a pitch. More to the point ask yourself what is the best thing that could happen. A strike out is the best. The next best thing is probably a ground ball to 3^rd for a force out or maybe a ground ball to short to get the 6….4….3 double play and wind up with a runner on 3^rd and 2 outs. Well, a down and in fastball has a high percentage of swinging and looking strikes and….. when hit, gives you a left side ground ball. Bingo, that will satisfy both questions. There is nothing that is 100% proof positive but you can play the best percentages. Example #2- No runners on, no outs, let's work the outside part of the plate to try to get the ball hit at 2B or 1B (even RF). That keeps the throw short and the play safer.

East Coast Fastpitch has been serving the Fastpitch community since 1994. Now that we are on-line, we can do a better job for you. Our mission has always been to "further girls Fastpitch softball through information, education and network communication". That communication means two way. We need your feedback, we need your up-dates, and we all need to know what's happening in each state. I am always looking for editors in each state. Currently we focus on NJ, PA, NY, CT, DE, MD & VA. This softball community is growing quickly but cycles quickly. We lose a lot of institutional knowledge out the top end when kids go to college. We are providing that central point to keep it all together and keep plowing back in that knowledge to the new coaches. Help us out and stay involved.
  ...Thomas B. Besser

Shyella Mayk, Living the Dream (Cont'd.). OA: Interestingly, the number of women in coaching and administration has significantly decreased since the passage of the Title IX law in 1972, which declared that no one will be discriminated against or excluded from educational programs or activities receiving federal funding on the basis of sex. While the number of women's programs has increased, the percentage of women softball coaches, for example, fell from 83.5% in 1977 to 65.4% in 2000. Do you have an explanation for this? What do you think this means for the future of women's sports?

Shy: I am not familiar with this statistic but I should mention that most of my coaches throughout high school in softball, field hockey, and basketball, and my pitching coaches throughout college have been female coaches. In fact the coach that I admire and respect the most was my high school coach, Nancy Williams, my field hockey and softball coach at Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch, NJ. She has just recently surpassed her 600th career field hockey win making her the first coach ever to record 600 wins. She is the all-time winningest high school field hockey coach in the nation. She is constantly fighting to make sure the high school is complying with the Title IX law. She was the toughest coach I ever played for and sure enough she always succeeded in coaching her players to play to their maximum potential. She has made big impacts on the lives of hundreds of players who will always remember the valuable life lessons she taught through sports.

OA: What's the current state of women's sports in Israel? Are women respected as athletes?

Shy: Women play sports here, but no one ever hears about it. Colleges and universities in Israel do not sponsor athletic teams for women. The Israeli government does not fund them. Only a few businesses are wealthy enough to sponsor a team or the partial needs of a team and I know that in Israel there is no radio or television coverage of our softball games or results whether we play nationally or internationally. However, on Friday, November 14, a photo of me in the windup of a pitch was on the front cover of a popular magazine section of one of the major newspapers in Israel called Ha'aretz (which comes with the Herald Tribune International Edition) and hopefully the article within the paper will bring some attention to softball and women athletes here.

OA: You played softball in college. Do feel that women have the same opportunities as men to play sports?

Shy: I went to Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, where I received both an athletic and academic scholarship. Because Quinnipiac does not have a football team, I really felt that the attention given to the men's and women's teams was equal for the most part. According to Title IX, colleges are supposed to have an equal number of men and women's teams; therefore, in college I felt that I had the same opportunity to excel in my sport as anyone else. The difference is what happens after college, where the professional teams that pay the highest salary and have the highest popular demand are the men's professional teams.

OA: What are some of the challenges women face as athletes?

Shy: I think the biggest challenge is the lack of funding. If there were money in professional women's sports, and if women could actually think of pursuing an athletic career, I think there would be a lot more women's teams which would mean more women athletes serving as role models to other aspiring female athletes. All the other challenges, such as recruiting, publicity, proper facilities, equipment and career opportunities, are all tied to the fact that there are little or no funds made available and sponsorship is at rock bottom.

OA: This leads to bigger questions of women in society and gender equity. Quoting from the book Sport in Society by Jay Croakley, "Those who use critical and feminist theories to study sports in society have argued that real gender equity can never be achieved in sport activities and organizations shaped exclusively by the values and experiences of men interested in control and domination. They say that real equity requires the development of new models of sport participation, and new organizations shaped by the values and experiences of women and of men who do not see themselves in terms of dominant definitions of masculinity." Would you care to comment on this?

Shy: Where freedom exists, women will lobby, demonstrate, and fight for their legal rights to equality, whether it be in suffrage or in softball. As each generation matures and "gives back" to those who supported them, stronger and stronger women role models are appearing.

OA: I'm a language guy. I'm always interested in the origin of our words and how they shape our cultural ideologies. Successful male athletes "kill," "annihilate," or "punish" opponents. A winner is "the man." Sports language frames losers in terms of the "weaker" sex. Those who can't dominate and win are called "sissies," "wimps," and host of other not-so-nice words generally referring to female genitalia. Jay Croakley writes, "the maculinized culture of sports takes on serious political implications, because it celebrates values that privilege men and marginalize women." Do you agree with his view? Why?

Shy: I believe that women who are totally into their sport, pumped up by adrenalin and the desire to win and who are therefore playing aggressively also think in extreme terms. It has been proven that women who play sports have more self-confidence and are more successful with their careers and are much less likely to get into an abusive relationship.

OA: I found this comment both disturbing and comical: "What if (hypothetically) WNBA player Cynthia Cooper were to brag about how she had 'accommodated' over 2,000 men during the past few years (as Magic Johnson did in the early 1990s)?" What are the double standards for men and women athletes? Have you ever personally been a victim of these double standards?

Shy: I think this question really applies to any person who holds power over others, not just popular athletes. Unfortunately, some people who hold power are stupid and those people tend to abuse it whether they are athletes, politicians, actors/actresses, or just your everyday "little person with a little power". Many people with power abuse it but famous people have their lives scrutinized by the media. It has always been expected that women would hold to a higher moral standard than men, and sometimes they do.

OA: Now let's turn our attention to societal and political relations in Israel and how sport relates. Eight Palestinian terrorists kidnapped and killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Clearly, the media attention of sport can be captured to send political messages. Do you think sport does help tear down cultural and political fences, or does sport build reinforced walls of hate? How about a "sport not war" initiative?

Shy: Since I am living in a country whose greatest budgeted expenses go to security and the military, the amount of money from the government that goes to sports and extra curricular activities for kids is much smaller here than in other countries. I think that when we can finally live in peace without our neighbors trying to murder us all the time, and when the government can afford to put more money into the educational and cultural departments, the economy and other aspects of living in this country will improve. In Italy, 16 softball teams from all over the world participated in the European Softball Championships 2003 and the athletes and their supporters all found it a place of peace and education and tolerance. Unfortunately, Islam is both a politic and a religion and its policies of subjugation of their women and hate of Western culture and Israel are well documented. In Italy at the opening ceremonies of the tournament, Arab Moslems lined up freely with the other onlookers and heckled and spat at my Israeli team as we walked with the others in the opening parade. Given the fact that the women of Arab nations are still waiting for the right to walk in public with their faces uncovered, it is not likely that we will have the opportunity in my lifetime to use sports as a message of peace.

OA: What's it like to live near the strife and conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis? Is there a level of tension, danger, or cautiousness that's different than living in, say, New York?

Shy: It is very scary knowing that at anywhere and any time there could be a suicide bomber. However, here, there is high security everywhere. You cannot enter any public place without having your bag checked and being asked if you carry a weapon. Still, I feel so much safer walking around the city of Tel Aviv as opposed to NYC because when I walk during the day or at night in Tel Aviv I don't feel in danger of being mugged, stabbed, or raped. Moslem extremism has extended its hatred toward anything "Western" as we saw so well when the World Trade Center came down. How can anyone think they are safe when there is such hatred in the world? In Israel, I know that if at any time I felt frightened, in trouble, or just lost, I could go to any Jewish home to ask for help and I would receive it. I truly believe that living here is like being a part of one extended family.

OA: I recently heard activist and folk singer Holly Near tells a story about cellist in Bosnia. When U.S. planes began bombing his village, this cellist walked out into the middle of his town square and began playing. A reporter approached the cellist and asked, "Why are you playing your cello, while they're dropping bombs all around you?" The cellist replied, "Why are they dropping bombs, while I'm playing my cello?" I think we need more of that attitude in this world. Do you ever feel the same way on some level while you're playing softball? Does the political and military strife distract you from your sport?

Shy: Golda Meir once said, "When our Arab neighbors love their own children more than they hate us, this fighting will come to an end." In Israel we are always vigilant, always on guard for "unusual" circumstances or "suspicious looking" people. But on my softball fields I feel very safe. I know that if Israel did not have to spend so much money on security, life here would really be blossoming culturally. Personally, I am not distracted from my sport due to the situation here; however, the situation does affect everyone on some level. For example, the coach of our national team is the head of detectives for the Shomron Yehuda area. Whenever there is a "situation" along Israel's borders, my coach is called away leaving me in charge of running the practice. Also, three of the women on my team are soldiers who were given the status of "outstanding athlete soldiers", and although this enables them to participate on our team, there are times when even they can't come due to their military obligations.

OA: Do you have any Palestinians on your team? Are there efforts to make peace through sports in Israel?

Shy: No, there are no Palestinians on my team. As far as I know, Palestinians and other Arabs have no idea what softball is, and have no interest in learning this American game. If a young Moslem woman decided to join my Tel Aviv team, her family would probably kill her for humiliating them on three or four different levels of their observance. However, I do know that last year, the Peres Center for Peace and other organizations brought together 80 Jewish and Arab Israeli sixth-grade boys to teach them baseball.

OA: Your uncle, Dr. Doug Graham, has been a tremendous influence and inspiration in my life and a believer in the Organic Athlete mission from the get-go. How have Doug and his partner Roz Gruben inspired you?

Shy: My Uncle Doug has always been a great teacher and role model for me. He was my first catcher when I began learning how to pitch and has encouraged and supported me in all the sports I've participated. I have learned so much from him and Roz about nutrition and exercise over the years and I keep trying little by little to implement their teachings in my daily life. I have read just about all of Doug's publications and I truly believe that his methods lead to the ultimate level of human health, and when you have good health, the quality of your life is better. By spending five minutes with him or even just by looking at him you know that his lifestyle works extraordinarily. It must be due to Doug's influence that right now in my kitchen I have 47 bananas, 4 containers full of kiwis, 11 plums, 2 papayas, 9 apples, 21 clementines, 3 anonas, a head of celery, 5 cucumbers, and 2 avocados. My roommate thinks we're all fruited out. Also, my day is never complete until I go on my hour run and then drink my huge banana & celery shake. In September 2003, I was finally able to attend the Raw Fitness Camp in Silverthorne, Colorado run by Doug and Roz and it was the first time for me to be 100% raw for more than one day. I didn't miss cooked food at all during the week-long camp; I learned so much in the lectures about nutrition and exercise. Most of all I had so much fun with hours of varied physical activities. I lost five lbs and really felt great about the whole experience. Doug is an exemplary role model, someone who actually practices what he preaches and has the scientific proof that it works. He has helped so many people get on the healthy track lifestyle. I truly admire him-and I am glad he's my uncle.

For more information about Shyella and Israel's Fastpitch softball team, visit www.isafastpitch.homestead.com