Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

2006 Preview: Unprecedented

As the reigning MWC Co-Pitcher of the Year, Ashley Closson will look to continue her excellence on the mound and guide the Foresters to a 5th straight league title.
LAKE FOREST, IL - Since joining the Midwest Conference in 1974, Lake Forest College teams have captured 56 conference championships in 11 sports. Five different programs have enjoyed as many as three consecutive titles and the 2005 softball team matched the 1994-98 women’s swimming & diving squads with four in a row. Now the goal for Head Coach Tina Johnson’s Foresters is to make Lake Forest history with five straight crowns. “There are several teams in our league that are determined to take the title away from us so our focus is on doing everything we can to keep it,” she states. “Making school history in the process would just be icing on the cake.”

The 2005 team included four seniors who combined to earn six all-conference distinctions, claim a pair of MWC Player of the Year honors, and lead the team to a 112-43-1 record in their careers. Those players returning, however, have proven to be more than capable of extending the program’s winning ways. “It’s always difficult to replace seniors, especially such successful ones,” begins Johnson, “However, we have a lot of talented players coming back and some individuals ready to take on a much greater role.”

Topping the list of key returners are Erin Watts and Ashley Closson, the 2005 MWC South Division Position Player and Co-Pitcher of the Year, respectively. Watts batted .400 and led the league with 50 base hits, 13 doubles, and a school record 35 runs batted in. Closson was 6-1 with a 2.17 earned run average during league play and batted .333 on the year. Joining Watts and Closson on the South Division’s First Team was Melissa Wegner, who batted .339, ranked among the league leaders in various categories, and was one of its top defensive shortstops.

Lisa Jeziorny (.338), Christy Condon (.333), Jessica Kirincich (.320), and Jenny Riddle (.308) also recorded batting averages over .300 on the year and Riddle belted a team-high five home runs. Lake Forest batted .306 and set school records for base hits, runs scored and driven in, doubles, total bases, and stolen bases. Kendra Grant led the pitchers with an 11-4 record and posted a 2.68 earned run average as a freshman. “Everyone on the team contributed to last year’s championship and the records we set,” recalls Johnson. “Each player will have to improve for us to reach our goals this season.”

 

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