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February 4, 2003

Bloomsburg Softball Ranked Third in Pre-Season Poll

BLOOMSBURG—The Bloomsburg University softball team is ranked third in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II pre-season rankings.

The Huskies, coming off a 44-8 season and a tie for third at the 2002 NCAA national championships, are expected to once again contend for a national title. Bloomsburg has finished tied for third twice and fourth once in the last three years at the NCAA championships.

Ranked number one in the pre-season poll is St. Mary's (TX), last year's NCAA Division II champs, while Barry (FL) is number. The Huskies are tied for third in the poll with Grand Valley (MI).

Leading the way for the Huskies this season is returning first team All-American Jess Shnyder (Milton/Milton). The junior led the Huskies in several offensive categories last season. She topped the team in batting average with a mark of .409; homers with 12; RBI with 42; hits with 72; runs scored with 56; triples with 5 and in walks with 12. In 12 post-season games Shnyder hit .447 with five homers and 12 RBI. In the post-season Shnyder's slugging percentage was 1.026. She was previously named first All-PSAC and All Mid-Atlantic Region. Shnyder was also named the NCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Tournament team and was MVP of the PSAC championships.

On the mound, the Huskies will look to junior Amber Cowher (Williamsport/Williamsport). Cowher posted a record of 15-4 a year ago with a 1.11 ERA. She had 12 complete games and seven shutouts during the year. Cowher was MVP of the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament and also tossed a six-hit shutout over Kennesaw State in the NCAA championship round.

Among others returning this season for the Huskies are Liza Pepper (Cumbola/Pottsville) who hit .365 last year with four homers and 28 RBI; Steph Levonick (Osceola Mills/Philipsburg-Osceola) a .365 hitter a year ago with a homer and 17 RBI and Sara Roba (Emmaus/Emmaus) who hit .327 with a homer and 17 RBI.

Joining Cowher pitching this season will be Jamie Wilson (Olyphant/Bishop O'Hara), 5-0 last year with a 1.72 ERA and Amanda Smith (Sandy Ridge/Philipsburg-Osceola) who was 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA.

Bloomsburg will open its season on Mar. 7th in Florence, SC against Gannon University.

Rank
Team
2002 Record
Points

Final 2002
Ranking
1. St. Mary's (TX) (8)
58-11
200
1
2 Barry (FL)
44-15
180
5
t-3. Grand Valley State (MI)
49-12-1
175
2
t-3. Bloomsburg (PA)
44-8
175
3
5. North Dakota State
44-10
159
7
6. North Florida
38-11
137
10
7. Chico State (CA)
36-27
135
4
8. California-Davis
36-27
135
13
9. Armstrong Atlantic State (GA)
39-5
119
16
10. Kennesaw State (GA)
49-12
118
8
11. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
51-12
113
9
12. California (PA)
34-7
105
11
13. St. Cloud State (MN)
44-13
103
14
14. Nebraska-Omaha
45-10
88
12
15. LeMoyne (NY)
35-11
86
6
16. Texas A&M-Kingsville
46-18
78
15
17. Western New Mexico
42-11-1
70
20
18. Ashland (OH)
27-16
50
18
19. West Florida
48-17
49
NR
20. Humboldt State (CA)
41-18
38
NR
21. Alabama-Huntsville
42-19
30
NR
t-22. Mesa State (CO)
49-13
29
NR
t-22. Tampa (FL)
35-14
29
t-21
24. Central Oklahoma
35-16
27
NR
t-25. Coker (SC)
41-11
25
23
t-25. Cal State- Bakersfield
38-25
25
17
t-25. Lock Haven (PA)
37-15
25
t-21

Others receiving votes: LIU-C.W. Post 18, Augustana 16, Georgia College 12, Shippensburg 11, Texas Woman’s 10, Merrimack 8, Valdosta State 7, American International 6, St. Leo 5, South Carolina-Spartanburg 3, Minnesota-Duluth 3, Washburn 2, Longwood 1.