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Paige Smith

with gold medal

DAILY TRAINING PAYS OFF. Senior Paige Smith is serious about conditioning. She does it by running three miles every day at a seven-minute mile pace. Paige also is a standout starting softball catcher for the Saint Francis University (SFU) Red Flash (Loretto, PA ).

So, Paige was welcomed to enter the 2012 Autism Frostbite 5K (3.2 miles) run in Pittsburgh and roundly applauded when she finished first among women, winning the gold medal! She completed the 5K in 19 minutes and 51 seconds— averaging about 6:24 minutes per mile. Full story at http://www.sfuathletics.com/news/2012/1/30/SB_0130121522.aspx

NEW HEAD COACH HAS BEEN NAMED by the SUNY Canton Roos (Kangaroos), NY. It is Bryan Ingalls, who, as assistant coach last year for Herkimer County Community College, helped that team finish 35-9 to rank nationally in the top 10. He also was an assistant coach last fall for the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons, who are currently ranked sixth in the NFCA preseason DIII poll. Full story at http://www.rooathletics.com/news/2012/2/8/SB_0208123216.aspx

JENNIE FINCH IS RECOGNIZED THIS WEEK for charitable contributions and serving as an inspiration to others at the International Olympic Committee’s 5th World Conference on Women and Sport in Los Angeles. Jennie won a gold at the 2004 Olympics and silver in 2008. Fellow Olympian, outfielder Jessica Mendoza, also will attend the event. “This is great news for our sport and certainly for Jennie Finch,” said ISF President Don Porter. “She has accomplished so much through softball both on and off the field that it’s fitting she be recognized in this way.” Full story in IFS newsletter at http://www.isfsoftball.org/english/communication/15_02_12.htm

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DIII powerhouse preview
Linfield Wildcats ready to roar

The Linfield College Wildcats (McMinnville, Oregon) are favored once again to repeat again this year as DIII national champions.

Karleigh Prestianni,

33 HRs in first two seasons

The team that set an NCAA-record of 51 victories in 2011, this year received all eight first-place votes and are again ranked No. 1 in the 2012 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III preseason poll.

Three NFCA All-Americans return for the Wildcats. Senior Catcher Emilee Lepp, senior first baseman Staci Doucette, and junior third baseman Karleigh Prestianni combined last year to hit 64 of Linfield’s NCAA-record 103 home runs.

Emilee Lepp

Emilee Lepp led the nation last spring with 29 home runs (a DIII record), 94 RBI, 74 runs and a 1.089 slugging percentage to earn first-team All-America and NFCA/Diamond Sports Division III Catcher-of-the-Year honors. She had one one error in 54 games.

In the past nine seasons as head coach, Jackson Vaughan has amassed a career record of 368-86-1, including a 234-34 mark in the Northwest Conference. He has led Linfield to the 2007 and 2011 NCAA Division III national championships

The Wildcats' season begins next Wednesday, February 22, at home against NAIA affiliate Concordia-Portland. Full story at http://www.linfield.edu/sports/review.php?sport=sb

Linfield College Wildcats (McMinnville, Oregon)