PCSC Finishes Among the Nation's Best in Final Rankings

Posted: Jul 15, 2003

July 15, 2003

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Following its inaugural season of play, the Pacific Coast Softball Conference saw four of its six teams and several of its players finish among the nation's best in the final rankings released by the NCAA.

Santa Clara's Jaime Forman-Lau, the PCSC Pitcher of the Year, finished the season ranked 46th among the nation's pitchers in earned run average with a 1.32 ERA.

Loyola Marymount, which led the PCSC in hitting en route to claiming the conference title, finished the season ranked in seven categories. The Lions ranked 30th in batting average with the team hitting .286. Third baseman Danielle Kaminaka's 13 home runs ranked her 30th in home runs per game, and helped LMU finish 20th in the same team category. LMU led the nation in doubles per game with 1.77, with utility player Sami Strinz finishing 23rd in the individual ranking with 0.30 doubles per game. Catcher Trisha Gomes's 33 walks earned her a ranking of 21st. As a team, LMU also finished the season ranked 14th in slugging percentage.

Lindy Winkler's seven triples gave her an average of 0.13 triples per game, good for the 12th place ranking. The Sacramento State All-Conference outfielder was also ranked as the 48th toughest player to strikeout. Winkler's triples per game average led the Hornets to a ranking of 17th in team triples per game.

Saint Mary's was also ranked as a team in triples per game averaging 0.29, good for a ranking of 21st.

LMU claimed the inaugural PCSC title on May 6. The Lions ended regular season play with a conference record of 14-5 and an overall record of 33-20. The battle for the first league title could not have been better scripted, as five of the six conference teams were in the running through the final weekend of play. Loyola Marymount was determined the conference champion after sweeping a tripleheader against Saint Mary's and watching Santa Clara (30-26, 12-6 PCSC) drop a doubleheader to Saint Mary's (25-27, 7-12 PCSC).

Marcy Crouch, the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coach of the Year, led the Broncos to a second-place finish in the inaugural year of the PCSC. In her fourth year at the helm of the SCU program, Crouch guided the team through a milestone season, posting a record 30 victories, more than any other Bronco squad in the 25-year history of the program, and setting numerous season marks in the process.