For Immediate Release- April 29, 2001 Contact – Scott Dietz 508-286-3768

Wheaton Sports Information Director

2001 NEWMAC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Wheaton Gains NCAA Berth with 1-0 Victory

NORTON, MA- Back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the fifth inning by freshmen Brianna Shawah (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township H.S.) and Amanda Dow-Allen (Greenfield, MA/Stoneleigh-Burnham H.S.) propelled host Wheaton over Springfield, 1-0 in this afternoon’s New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) title game at Clark Field. With the win, the Lyons advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for their fourth trip over the last five years.

A pitcher’s duel between Springfield’s Nan Duga (Ilion, NY/Ilion H.S.) and Wheaton’s Jackie Demling (Norwood, MA/Norwood H.S.) ensued from the game’s outset, as each turned in stellar performances, allowing two hits apiece in the contest. Duga, who struck nine batters in the outing, gave up her only hits at the expense of Shawah and Dow-Allen in the fifth.

Demling gave up a mere two singles in the win, including one in the first to sophomore Jill Roach (S. Hadley, MA/S. Hadley H.S.) and one in the fourth at the bat of sophomore Danielle LaChance (Rochester, NH/Spaulding H.S.). Picking up her 20th victory of the season, Demling struck out five Pride batters. Springfield’s best scoring opportunity came in the opening inning, as the Pride placed runners at first and second with one out. However, Demling came back strong and retired the side by fanning the next two batters.

2001 NEWMAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Game 6: Wheaton 1, Springfield 0

SCORING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

Springfield (34-10) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

Wheaton (34-6) 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 1 2 0

Springfield: Nan Duga (28-8) and Carey Fleck

Wheaton: Jackie Demling (20-3) and Lori Hill

2B: Wheaton - Brianna Shawah, Amanda Dow-Allen