Bucknell University Athletics
Four Bucknell Softball Players Named to 2001 All-Patriot League Team
5/4/2001 8:00:00 AM | Softball
May 4, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Junior centerfielder Jenna Demetriades (Nesquehoning, Pa./Tamaqua) earned First Team All-Patriot League honors for the third-straight year, senior third baseman Charity Ford (Cogan Station, Pa./Williamsport) made an appearance on the second team for the second time in her career, and sophomores Meredith Gill (Hampstead, Md./North Carroll) and Brandi Porter (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro) earned the first all-conference honors of their young careers, landing on the All-Patriot League second-team in 2001. The teams were announced at a banquet on Friday, May 4, in conjunction with the 2001 Patriot League Championship.
Demetriades is making her third-straight appearance on the all-league first-team. The starting centerfielder in all of Bucknell's 47 contests this season, she finished the year as the team-leader with 23 runs batted in. A tri-captain as a junior, Demetriades has started every game she's played in over her three years at BU. She batted .273 this season with 38 hits in 139 trips to the plate. The outfielder recorded five doubles, five triples and two doubles on the year for a .424 slugging percentage. Her five triples were second best on the squad.
Appearing on the All-Patriot League team for the second time in her career, Ford was a second-team selection as a rookie in 1998. The senior turned it on over the final month of the season, raising her batting average .126 points to finish the year hitting a career- and team-high .322. The tri-captain was hot in league play, batting a team-best .397 and tying for the squad lead in doubles (5), homeruns (2) and RBI (14). Her .655 slugging percentage and .446 on base percentage were also best on the team.
Making her first appearance on the all-league squad is Gill. Gill was Bucknell's starter at shortstop in every game this season, batting .309 with a team-high 51 hits. The sophomore clubbed eight doubles and led the team with eight triples, which also ties a school record for three-baggers in a season. At the time of this release, Gill's triples per game average (0.17) was ranked fifth in the nation. In addition to leading the team in hits and triples, Gill also finished second on the squad in slugging percentage at .455.
Bucknell's final representative on the All-Patriot League team is Porter. BU's ace on the mound, the right-hander pitched her way to a 10-9 record with one save. Porter finished the year with the second lowest earned run average in the league, posting a 1.68 ERA through 150.1 innings pitched. In the final game of her sophomore campaign, Porter struck out the second and third batters she faced, giving her 101 for the season and setting a new school single-season mark. The old record of 99 strikeouts in a season stood for over 10 years. Porter came on late in the season, winning seven of her last nine decisions. Of Bucknell's eight Patriot League victories, six belonged to Porter.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Janelle Breneman, the Orange and Blue finished the 2001 season with a 19-26-2 overall record and narrowly missed the Patriot League Championship Tournament with an 8-12 mark in conference play.
Following is a complete listing of the 2001 All-Patriot League teams:
2001 All-Patriot League Softball Team First Team Pos. Name School Class Hometown/Secondary School P/DP Jenny Bender * Lehigh So. Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central P Stephanie Howell ! Lehigh Jr. Wilmette, Ill./New Trier P Nicole Vitti Holy Cross Fr. Stamford, Conn./Stamford C Chris Duncan * Lehigh Jr. Philadelphia, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie 1B Melissa Rawson * Colgate So. Palmdale, Calif./Highland 2B Amanda Brickell * Colgate So. Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley North 2B Jamie Olenoski ~ Holy Cross Sr. Shelton, Conn./Shelton SS Stephanie Digneo ^ Lehigh So. Philadelphia, Pa./St. Maria Goretti 3B Sarah Thornton > Army Sr. El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge OF J. Demetriades % Bucknell Jr. Nesquehoning, Pa./Tamaqua OF Bonnie Hoffman # Lehigh Sr. Elmwood Park, Ill./Fenwick OF Nicki Robbins % Army So. Seminole, Fla./SeminoleSecond Team Pos. Name School Class Hometown/Secondary School P Brandi Porter Bucknell So. Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro C Liz Curll ^ Holy Cross Jr. Worcester, Mass./Notre Dame 1B Elizabeth Gripp Lehigh Fr. Columbus, N.J./Northern Burlington SS Meredith Gill Bucknell So. Hampstead, Md./North Carroll SS Shelly Richard Holy Cross Sr. Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg 3B Charity Ford @ Bucknell Sr. Cogan Station, Pa./Williamsport OF Alyssa Hayden Holy Cross So. Monsey, N.Y./Albertus Magnus OF Melissa Parrish Army Jr. Kaneohe, Hawaii/Moanalua OF Laura Schrager Lafayette Fr. Montclair, N.J./Montclair-Kimberly Acad. OF Emily Wright Colgate Fr. Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro DP Jen Knowlden $ Army Sr. Fremont, Calif./Mission San Jose
Player of the Year: Nicki Robbins, Jr., OF, Army Pitcher of the Year: Stephanie Howell, Jr., Lehigh Coach of the Year: Bob Neville, Holy Cross
* First Team All-League in 2000 ! Second Team All-League in 1999 & 2000 ~ First Team All-League in 1998 ^ Second Team All-League in 2000 > First Team All-League in 1999 % First Team All-League in 1999 & 2000 # First Team All-League in 1998, 1999 & 2000 @ Second Team All-League in 1998 $ Second Team All-League in 1998 & 2000
