Eastern Oklahoma State College, Press Release, Mountaineer Softball Team Sets School Record

The Eastern Oklahoma State College Softball team has completed their regular season, setting a school record for wins with a 47-14 record. The Lady Mountaineers will be the No. 1 seed in the Region II Tournament May 7, 8 and 9 at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, playing their first game at 12:00 noon against Rose State College.

After beginning the season 4-6 after tournaments in Midland, TX and the Cowtown Classic at Ft. Worth Eastern has won 43 of their last 51 games including 17 in a row at one point this season.

Coach Andy Mace has blended a mix of returning sophomores with a group of talented freshmen to return Eastern to the top of the Bi-State Conference. Eastern has been led by outstanding pitching, solid defense and power hitting.

Eastern began the season ranked #13 in the preseason polls and had moved as high as #6, they are ranked #11 in the latest poll. The team is ranked #10 in team winning percentage with only four teams in the nation reporting more wins: Chattanooga State Technical Community College (TN), 56 wins; Pima Community College (AZ), 59 wins; Blinn College (TX), 48 wins and North Central Texas (TX), 48 wins.

The pitching corp is dominated by Sarah Seagraves and India Williamson. Seagraves, an Edmond sophomore, leads the nation in total strikeouts with 335, is second in the nation in strikeouts per inning, averaging 1.45 K’s per inning, and is No. 10 in the latest NJCAA statistical report with an ERA of .638.

Skiatook freshman India Williamson is currently No. 5 in total strikeouts with 188 and No. 6 with 1.205 strikeouts per inning.

On April 4 Eastern’s pitching prowess was on display against Paris JC at a game in Paris, TX. Seagraves struck out 21 batters in a seven inning win. Demoralized, Paris tried to rebound in the second game against Williamson. There was no relief in sight as Williamson struck out 18 batters to complete the sweep. Eastern’s pitchers combined to record 39 strikeouts of the possible 42 outs in the doubleheader. Seagraves performance that day along with 42 strikeouts in 25 innings in four other games that week led to her being named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Pitcher of the Week.

The offense is not without standouts either. Rachael Christian, Broken Arrow freshman, is leading the team and second in the conference with a .430 batting average. Christian is 38th in the Nation in batting average with only four other hitters have more at bats, Christian has 187 this season.

Sophomore Josie Fraser, a Coweta product, lit up Connors State College April 19th for four home runs in a double header. She collected two in each game earning her NJCAA Co-Player of the Week honors. Fraser is currently tied with teammates Staci Kiker, Seminole, and Mallory Palmer of Lakeside, CA for 24th in the nation in home runs.

Eastern’s defense is anchored in the infield with: Bridgette Stewart, Owasso freshman, at 1st base; Staci Kiker, Seminole sophomore, 2nd base; Christian at shortstop; Haley Johnston, Norman sophomore, 3rd base; Somer Dykes, Owasso freshman, catcher and Palmer, switching between catcher and designated player after an injury to Jennifer Masterson, Tulsa sophomore.

Masterson was selected as the Larry Stone Award winner at Eastern this spring. The Larry Stone Award winner is selected from the schools athletic teams who exhibit outstanding athleticism, citizenship, integrity on and off the field and superior academic achievement.

The outfield is led in right field by Fraser. Rebecca Buirrea, Glenpool freshman, patrols leftfield and Utah freshmen, Cari Hamilton, Layton, and Jackie Roberts, Ogden, split time in centerfield.

Adding depth to the team, Jessica Darling, Healdton sophomore, has started at all outfield positions, third base, catcher and pitcher during her two years at the Wilburton school. Marlow sophomore Lindsi Hupp serves primarily as a pinch runner after suffering an arm injury her freshman year. Hupp defeated the University of Oklahoma in a fall scrimmage in October 2002, the only loss that fall as OU advanced to the NCAA Softball World Series the following spring.

Crystal Burkett, Beggs freshman, Kelley Johnson, Woodward freshman and Jennifer VanHoozer, Lawton sophomore round out the roster, adding depth in the outfield and utility play in the infield, as well as pinch hitting and running.