Championship Preview as Alma Travels to Raleigh, N.C.
Alma in the NCAA Championships
For the fifth time in school history and the second-straight season,
the Alma Scots advance to the Division III Softball NCAA Championships.
The Scots’ first trip came in 1994 when Alma played in the longest-ever
D-III NCAA Tournament softball game, a 4-3, 16-inning loss to Central
(Iowa). The Scots lost in the ensuing game to Rowan (N.J.), 6-1. Alma
returned to the national championship in 1999, finishing third to
eventual runner-up Chapman (Calif.) with a 3-1 loss as Simpson took the
championship. In 2000, the Maroon and Cream made the trip again with a
finish mirroring 1999 as Alma lost to Chapman 3-1 as that team went on
to finish second to St. Mary’s (Minn.). Last year, Alma lost its first
game to Salisbury, 3-2, in 10 innings before falling again to Chapman,
7-6 in 15 innings.
Salem’s Witch Hunt
In four seasons in which Alma has advanced to the NCAA
Championships, the finals have been held in Salem, Va. This year, the
Scots travel to Raleigh, N.C., in search of NCAA triumph. This is the
first time in NCAA D-III Championship history that the finals will be
held in Raleigh. Salem has hosted the championship most often since the
inception of the championship at the NCAA level in 1982 - on six
different occasions.
Alma in the Championship Record Books
As Alma has played in multiple extra-inning NCAA Tournament contests,
the Scots appear in the championship record books in several different
categories. Alma’s Julie Hoffman (1992-95) holds the innings pitched
record with 16 against Central (Iowa) on May 19, 1994. In NCAA DIII
softball history, there have been 10 no-hit games in NCAA Tournament
games. Alma’s Becky Pierce was the last pitcher to do so with a 4-0 win
against Tufts on May 19, 2000. After last season’s 15-inning game
against Chapman, the two teams combined for the highest number of
at-bats with 114 (Alma - 59; Chapman - 55).
Earning Her Keep
Leigh Ann LaFave continues to cruise in her career with the Scots. She
was selected as the MIAA MVP for the second year in a row and named to
the All-MIAA first team for the fourth year in a row, making her an
MIAA Athlete of Distinction. Her MIAA career ERA stands at 0.39 In her
four year career, an MIAA record. Her overall ERA ranks among the top
five pitching performances in Division III history heading to NCAA
Championship play.
The NFCA Polls
The Scots enter the weekend ranked 19th in the latest NFCA Top 25
Coaches Poll. Alma ended the 2004 season ranked sixth in the nation
while they Scots were ranked 12th at the end of 2003.
Directed By The Best
Alma head coach Denny Griffin became one of just seven softball coaches
in Division III history to record 500 wins with a 7-2 victory against
Ohio Wesleyan on Mar. 17. Griffin’s 526-165 record in 17 years coaching
the Scots is one of the country’s finest coaching records by
percentage, across all divisions.
No Hitters Piling Up
This season, Leigh Ann LaFave and Melissa Tavidian have each thrown two
no-hitters this season, making up four staff no-hitters. The Scot staff
accomplished the same feat in 2003 with four no-hitters on the year.
That season Tavidian threw two no-hitters, LaFave carded another and
Jamie Stahl posted the fourth.
For their respective careers, LaFave has thrown four no-hitters,
including two perfect games while Tavidian has thrown four career
no-hitters.
In school history, no other pitchers have thrown more no-hitters than
LaFave or Tavidian. Becky Pierce had three career no-hitters inher
career from 1997-2000. Jamie Stahl (2001-03) is the only other Alma
pitcher to record more than one no-hitter with two.
Most Valuable
Leigh Ann LaFave became Alma’s first two-time MIAA MVP and the first
repeat MIAA MVP since Calvin’s Sharon Boeve in 1983 and 1984. In MIAA
softball history, LaFave is the seventh different Alma College MIAA MVP
honoree.
Home Sweet Home
Alma went through the entire 2005 season without a loss on its home
turf at Scots Park, going 18-0 in games played on the Alma College
campus.
Posted: Tue, May 17th, 2005 at 11:42AM
