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2012 Statistics
All-OAC Release
OAC Softball Home Page
The Capital University softball team recently completed the 2012 campaign with yet another fine season, finishing 21-17 overall with six wins in Ohio Athletic Conference play.
The Crusaders found themselves in contention for a spot in the OAC Tournament entering the final weekend of the year, but fell just short of a postseason berth, finishing seventh in the conference standings.
Capital posted its 14th consecutive season with at least 20 wins, all coming under head coach Nan Payne. Since Payne began at the helm in 1999, the Crusaders have finished with no less than 20 wins and have been above .500 in each season.
As of May 6, Capital's 37 home runs, or 0.97 per game, ranked sixth in all of NCAA Division III. Freshman infielder Nicole George (Clyde, Ohio) led the team and tied for second in the conference with nine homers, while junior Devan Boggs (West Jefferson, Ohio) totaled seven home runs. Junior Lexi Majoy (Huron, Ohio) and freshman catcher Maura Rose (Williamsport, Pa.) registered six apiece.
The team said goodbye to a pair of seniors in four-year starting outfielder Jessica Stoltz (Englewood, Ohio) and reserve infielder Nikki Franz (Vandalia, Ohio). Stoltz plans to work for one year before beginning graduate studies in the fall of 2013, while Franz seeks an elementary teaching job in the Dayton area.
Following the season, Boggs was named first team All-OAC at shortstop for the second consecutive year after leading the team and ranking among conference leaders in batting average (.459), slugging percentage (.789), total bases (105), on-base percentage (.500), hits (61), doubles (15) and triples (4). Boggs' 15 doubles tied a program record for doubles in one season and gave her the lead in career doubles with 43.
Boggs was selected to the Capital One Academic All-District VII first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and was named OAC Hitter of the Week on April 2.
Freshman Kelsey Swain (Pickerington, Ohio) garnered second team All-OAC accolades. The outfielder recorded a .387 batting average to go along with 41 hits, 14 RBIs and four stolen bases.
Majoy received honorable mention All-OAC, batting .352 and tying Boggs for the team lead with 31 RBIs. She fielded .985 playing primarily at first base.
Other offensive leaders included sophomore outfielder Courtney Dingess (Johnstown, Ohio), who led the team with 11 stolen bases and hit .326 with a pair of triples. George contributed with 32 runs scored and a team-best 23 walks, while Rose added 17 RBIs and a rock-solid .994 fielding percentage as the team's regular catcher.
Junior Katie Neely (Sugar Grove, Ohio), freshmen LeAnna Cotton (Okeechobee, Fla.) and Kayla Meehan (Hudson, Ohio) each appeared in at least 25 games. Neely scored 11 runs and knocked in seven, while Cotton hit three home runs as both played primarily as designated players. Meehan hit two homers and knocked in six in a limited number of at-bats as a pinch hitter.
Freshman Alyssa Patznick (Newark, Ohio) emerged as the ace of the pitching staff, leading the team in wins (13), innings pitched (122 2/3), earned run average (2.85) and strikeouts (94). The right-hander also batted .333 at the plate and earned OAC Hitter of the Week honors on April 9 following a big week at the plate.
Sophomore Jessica Montgomery (Newark, Ohio) was solid as the team's other primary starter, posting a 6-8 record with 35 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings. Freshman Brooke Billings (Clyde, Ohio) started 37 of 38 games, mostly at second base, but did make 11 appearances, including five starts, on the mound.
Despite the loss of Stoltz and Franz, the Crusaders look to return a deep, talented roster in 2013 and hope to make a run to the OAC Tournament and beyond.
