Date: Monday, May 21, 2001

SOFTBALL PLAYERS CORRAL NATIONAL HONORS AND MORE

MEDFORD – The Tufts University softball team continues to achieve on a national level. After a 29-11-1 season that included their fifth straight NCAA Tournament berth, the Jumbos placed two players on the 2001 Louisville Slugger Division III All-American teams.

Sophomore C Lis Drake (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford) was named to the second team and senior CF Randee McArdle (East Nassau, NY/New Lebanon) was picked for the third team. The pair was also named to the New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-New England first teams.

This spring, head coach Kris Talon's Jumbos placed third at the NCAA New England Regionals. McArdle, junior 2B Emily Ferrazza (Westminster, MA/Oakmont) and junior SS Jen Mackey (Swampscott, MA/Bishop Fenwick) were named to the all-tournament team. Others named NFCA New England all-stars were junior P Jodie Moreau (Clarksburg, MA/Hoosac Valley) to the first team, junior 1B Tiffany Trahan (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford) to the second team, and Mackey and Ferrazza to the third team.

McArdle, named Player of the Year in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) earlier this month, hit .372 and led Tufts with 33 runs scored, 37 runs batted in, 12 doubles and five triples. Drake, a third team All-American last season, hit .333 with a team-high eight home runs and 33 RBI. Moreau finished with a 17-5 record, 1.33 earned run average and 129 strike outs in 153 innings.

Mackey, who hit .400 at the NCAA regionals, led Tufts in hitting with a .377 mark while scoring 33 runs. Trahan's 46 hits led the team and produced a .362 batting average to go with six home runs, 12 doubles and 33 RBI. Ferrazza scored a team-high six runs while hitting .368 at the NCAA regionals and finished at .289 with 27 runs scored and nine stolen bases.

The Jumbos welcome back every all-star except McArdle for next season.

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