Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

2005 Preview: Four-Peat's Sake
  

 Alissa Mildebrath is closing in on several career records and has a chance to lead the Foresters to a fourth-consecutive MWC title.
LAKE FOREST, IL - With Midwest Conference Championship trophies from each of the last three seasons and just one player lost to graduation, four Forester seniors have a chance to accomplish in 2005 what only one other group of Lake Forest College student-athletes (women’s swimming & diving’s class of ’98) has ever done – claim conference titles in each of their four years on campus.

Second baseman Alissa Mildebrath, third baseman/outfielder Kristen Feeney, outfielder Hannah Starck, and catcher Justeen Streich have helped the team to an 87-36 record over the last three seasons and have combined for nearly 300 base hits and crossed home plate almost 200 times. Mildebrath, the MWC South Division’s Player of the Year as a freshman and an All-American as a sophomore, will likely finish her career atop the program’s all-time list in base hits, home runs, total bases, and runs scored. Feeney, the 2004 MWC South Co-Player of the Year, set a school record last season with 15 doubles. Starck batted a career-high .323 in 2004 and Streich has caught a pitching staff with a combined earned run average of 1.49 since she took over as the starter her sophomore season.

“Our four seniors possess each of the qualities a coach looks for in veteran players,” comments Head Coach Tina Johnson. “They work hard and take on leadership roles, both vocally and by example. In addition, they are talented and energetic, which helps each of the players around them succeed as well.”

Johnson’s arsenal does not end with the senior class. Junior pitcher/first baseman Ashley Closson and sophomore utility player Erin Watts earned All-MWC South Division honors last season. Closson posted a team-best 1.25 ERA and batted .263 while Watts led the squad with six home runs and 28 RBI. Junior Melissa Wegner has a .281 career batting average and led the team with 10 stolen bases in 2004. Sophomore designated player/first baseman Jenny Riddle belted three home runs last season and was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. Classmate Mackenzie Knowling batted .250 and was 4-1 as a pitcher.

“This team is 21-7 in MWC and NCAA Tournament games over the last three years,” touts Johnson. “The players expect to win every time they take the field and that approach creates both a successful and enjoyable environment.”