Women'Sports Wire

(March 1, 2001)

Simpson Poised for NFCA Leadoff Classic

INDIANOLA, IA. (March 1, 2001)The NFCA Leadoff Classic is in its first year. 24 teams are entered with an invitation going to the top 25 teams ranked by NFCA in the past year. Eight pools comprise the tournament with the single-elimination portion of the tournament getting underway Saturday afternoon. Pool play will determine which portion (Gold, Silver, Bronze) where the Storm will play.

THE COACH: Henry Christowski finished his fifth season the head softball coach at Simpson with a 201-33-1 record (an .857 winning percentage). Christowski has posted the most victories by a Division III coach in his first five years on the job. The old record of 191 was set by Chapman's Janet Lloyd in 2000. He is the only coach to win 200 games in his first five seasons in any division of NCAA softball.

Since taking over the squad in 1996, he has led the Storm to five NCAA Division III national tournament appearances (1996-2000), four Division III regional titles (1996-99), four Iowa Conference championships (1997-00), and two NCAA Division III National Championships (1997, 1999).

Christowski and his coaching staff were named 1999 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) "Coaching Staff of the Year." The Simpson coaching staff earned NFCA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year award in 1998 and 1999. Christowski was named 1997 NFCA National Coach of the Year. Christowski is a member of both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Iowa ASA Softball Hall of Fames. His 1,000th career victory came Mar. 11, 1999 against Ithaca College (8-0). Christowski is in his 31st season on the diamond and has a 1080-512-1 (a .678 winning percentage).

THE SERIES: Simpson has defeated UW-Oshkosh all five times that the two teams have met. The Storm has never played Springfield or Alma prior to this season.

SCHADE'S NUMBER TO BE RETIRED: Former Simpson All-American Kelly Schade will have her #11 retired Apr. 7 in a ceremony prior to the doubleheader against Buena Vista. Schade's number will be only the second in school history to be retired, joining the #23 of former Simpson football All-American, Ricky Gales.

Schade earned numerous honors during her career including the 1999-00 NCAA Top VIII award, the 1999 Honda Award as Division III's Female Athlete of the Year, 1999 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic Player of the Year. She was a three-time All-American on the field and two-time first team Academic All-American.

2001 PREVIEW: Simpson will begin its "drive for five", five Iowa Conference championships in a row in 2001. The Storm will be led by returning NFCA third team All-American Sara Brookhart. Brookhart, a centerfielder, was also selected first team NFCA All-Region and first team All-Conference. She hit .385 with three home runs and 28 RBI's. Brookhart also led the team in stolen bases with 31.

Senior Karen Smith will flank Brookhart in either left or right field. Smith set school records for most doubles (16), runs scored (46), and total bases (91) last season. She hit .385 with three home runs and drove in 25 runs. Over a dozen offensive school records were set with Smith batting leadoff. "Two returning junior varsity players, Jo Kelly and Shana Abel could make a run at the final starting outfielders' position. Kelly appeared in 17 varsity games, serving primarily as a pinch-runner and scored five runs. She led the JV in hitting with a .538 batting average. Abel appeared in five varsity games scoring two runs. She hit .235 with four RBI's and scored 11 runs in 16 junior varsity games.

Simpson has been know for its pitching, leading Division III in team ERA in three of the past four years. 2001 should be no different as the entire 2000 pitching staff, seniors Anna Sims and Kari Bahrke and sophomores Amy Kulisky and Jackie Brittain all return this season. Sims ran her undefeated varsity record to 31-0 before dropping a decision to Central late in the 2000 season. Sims ended the season with a 16-2 record and struck out a career high 79 batters. Bahrke posted a 6-3 record with a 1.32 ERA. Kulisky led the Storm in wins 18 (18-3), saves (3), and strikeouts (139). A second-team All-Conference selection, Kulisky joined Kelly Schade as the only Simpson pitchers to toss perfect games. In fact, Kulisky did Schade one better, posting back-to-back perfect games against Cornell and Upper Iowa. Brittain, a lefty, posted a 2-0 record and 1.43 in four varsity outings.

The coaching staff expects three freshmen, Krista Schuur, Michelle Montgomery, and Meghan Kelso, to push for some time on the varsity. Both Schurr (Muscatine H.S.) and Montgomery (Newton H.S.) were named first team All-State as seniors. Kelso was chosen fifth team All-State and second team All-Conference as a senior for Des Moines Hoover High School. Montgomery (1B) and Kelso (SS) may also play some in the field.

A major concern for Christowski and his staff is his infield. As he has to replace first baseman Lisa Welch and his double combination of Amber Ridnour (2B) and Jenny Young (SS). All three were among the team leaders in several offensive categories last season. Senior Angie Strain is the only returning starter from a year ago. Strain, a third team All-Region selection, hit .406 with three home runs and 30 RBI's.

Returning letterwinners Kim Cullen, Mindy Michel, and Laura Halbrook along with sophomore Mary Woiwood will vie for the vacancies. Cullen hit .356 and had six RBI's in 26 appearances last season. She could move to another slot in the infield or be used as a designated player. Michel hit .325 and drove in six runs in 24 varsity games. Michel has played second base, third base, and the outfield for the Storm. Halbrook registered a .314 batting average and drove in two runs in 24 varsity appearances. She was used as a second baseman last season, but she could move to either short or third base. Woiwood saw time with both the JV and the varsity last season. Woiwood could have the most power of the bunch. She hit three home runs in one game for the JV against Southeastern C.C. She hit .421 for the JV and had 13 RBI's. Woiwood played in 10 varsity games and had two hits in 12 at-bats.

The coaching staff is high on four freshman, Jill Carson, Jen Dooley, Megan Stout, and Kari Wallerich, and their chances for making the varsity squad. Carson was a three-time All-State selection for Saydel High School. Dooley, a third baseman, was chosen first team All-State softball player for Martensdale-St. Mary's High School as a senior. Stout was selected as a first team All-Conference shortstop for Coon Rapids-Bayard High School. Wallerich was an Academic All-State first baseman for Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., as a senior.

Christowski expects a trio of players to see time at catcher for Simpson. Junior Sarah Eggleston posted a .230 batting average with 12 RBI's last season. Sophomore Bridgette Davis hit .200 with one RBI in 13 varsity games. Iowa Central transfer Amanda Pilcher is an excellent athlete who lettered in three sports during her junior college career. All three may see time in the infield or in the outfield as the coaching staff settles in on a starting lineup.

Simpson usually plays one of the toughest schedules in Division III. In 2001, the schedule gets harder, as the Storm open the season at the first annual NFCA Leadoff Classic in LaGrange, Ga. 24 teams are entered in three pools and in order to get a bid into the tournament, the program had to be rated in the top six in their respective region. The following weekend sees Simpson entered in the NCAA Division II Emporia State Tournament where the Storm will play defending NAIA National Champion Oklahoma City University. Simpson comes home to host its annual classic where the Storm will play defending NCAA Division III National Champion St. Mary's (Minn.). Simpson rounds out the non-conference schedule with the Washington (Mo.) Regional Tournament, a meet designed to increase the performance of the schools that comprise the NCAA's Midwest Region. Simpson plays a 20-game IIAC schedule which begins Apr. 3 at Luther.

"I like the strong competition," Simpson head coach Henry Christowski commented. "But, with the number of new people including a whole new infield, it is a concern. If we play like we are capable, we may have better season than we all have anticipated."

Game Times: Friday, Mar. 9, Simpson (0-0) vs. UW-Oshkosh (0-0), first annual NFCA Leadoff Classic, LaGrange, Ga., 5 p.m. (EST). Friday, Mar. 9, Simpson vs. Springfield, Mass.(0-0), first annual NFCA Leadoff Classic, LaGrange, Ga., 7:30 p.m. (EST). Saturday, Mar. 10, Simpson vs Alma (0-0) first annual NFCA Leadoff Classic, LaGrange, Ga.,12:30 p.m. (EST).

[Source: Matthew F. Turk, turk@storm.simpson.edu, Sports Information Director]