2002 MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY EAGLE SOFTB L™ OF 5.7 3L t.L Erin Force 3B/P 5-5 TR R-R Goshen, Ky./Bellarmine College Jacque Jackson p 5-6 FR HS R-R Orion, Ill./Orion IO Natalee Owens C 5-9 JR TR R-R Stockton, CaliUSan Joaquin Delta CC 11 Melissa Rice OF 5-7 so HS R-R Louisville, Ky./Jeffersontown 12 Brenna Read UT 5-4 so lL R-R Florence, Ky./Boonc County 14 Alison Queen lB/3B 5-8 JR IL R-R Culloden, WVa./Cabell-Midland 15 Toni Orr OF 5-10 JR TR L-L Ft. Madison, Iowa/Indian Hi1ls CC 16 Stephanie Hernandez p 5-8 FR HS R-R Bakersfield, Calif./Foothill 18 Michelle McCrady 3B 5-8 FR HS R-R Parkersburg, W.Ya./Parkersburg South 20 Jessie Chin 2B/SS 5-6 FR HS R-R Morehead, Ky./Rowan Counry 21 Pam Crawford P/3B 5-10 JR 2L R-R Newell , WVa./Oak Glen 22 Kacy Walker C 5-8 FR HS R-R Columbia, Tenn./Columbia Central 23 Stephanie Swanger OF 5-3 SR 3L L-R Hebron, Ky./Conner 24 Nikki Brock SS/2B 5-5 JR 2L R-R St. Joseph, Ill./Poca (W.Va.) 25 Molly Cope p 6-0 JR TR R-R Carlisle, Iowa/Indian Hills CC 2002 Eagle Softbal~M QUICK FACTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Location: Morehead, KY 40351 Academic Success ................................................................. 34 Mailing Address: UPO 1023 Administration/Athletic Department Staff ........................ 30-31 Founded: 1887 All-nme Fastpitch Letterwinners ............................................. 15 Enrollment: 8,600 Athlete Profiles ...................................... .............................. 5-14 Nickname: Eagles Athletic Facilities ..................................................................... 35 Colors: Blue and Gold Affiliation: NCAA Division I Coaching Staff/MSU Coaching History ................................ 2-3 Conference: Ohio Valley Eagles of Distinction/Contributors ........ .................................. 33 Field: University Softball Field (5001 Letter to Boosters/Mission Statement ..................................... 32 Dimensions:205' (leftl, 195' (centerl, 205' (rightl Media Information/Sports Information Staff ............................ 36 Morehead State Records ...................................... ............ 26-28 Morehead State University ..................................................... 29 ADMINISTRATION Ohio Valley Conference ...................................................... 18-19 President: Dr. Ronald G. Eaglin Opponents .......................................................................... 20-21 VP for Student Life/Director of Athletics: Mike Mincey Associate Athletic Director: Brian Hutchinson Roster ..................................................... .................................. ifc Asst. Athletic Director for Marketing/Promotions: Jason Lerner Schedule ...................... .............................................. back cover Senior Woman Administrator: Leslie Faber Season Outlook ......................................................................... 4 Faculty Representative: Dr. W. Michael Brown 2001 Season In Review ...................................... ..................... 25 2001Sta ts and Results ................. .......... ............................. 16-17 Year-By-Year Results/Series Records .... ........................... 22-24 COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Jennifer Vansickle Alma Mater: Union College '87 BRAD LAUX RecordatMSU: 144-223-1 (8 yearsl Assistant Sports Information Career Record: Same Director Best Time to Reach: M-F mornings ::;; Assistant Coaches: Heidi Freitager Brad Laux is in his fourth year as MSU's = Jill Karwoski assistant sports information director and Athletic Trainer: Courtney Ormerod 11th overall in the field. He will serve as the 4 Softball Office: (6061 783-5283 contact for several sports, including - Email: [email protected] women's volleyball, soccer, basketball and u.i TEAM INFORMATION so~~~~·to arriving at MSU, Laux, a native of ! 2001 Record: 13-29 Springfield, Va., spent three years as a graduate assistant at Ten­ 2001 OVC Record: 6-14 (7th) nessee and three years as an intern at George Mason. He re­ Letterwinners Returning/lost: 6/12 ceived his master's from UT in sports administration in 1998. He Starters Returning/Lost: 217 al so worked at UNC Greensboro, where he graduated in 1992 Pitchers Returning/Lost: 1/2 with a bachelor's degree in public relations, and for the U.S. Newcomers: 12 Taekwondo Union at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. SPORTS INFORMATION His experiences include serving in SID capacities at the 1994 SID: Randy Stacy World Cup and the 1996 Olympic Games. He and his wife, Ginny, Asst. SID/Softball Contact: Brad Laux reside in Clearfield, Ky. Email: [email protected] SID Office: (6061783-2500 ON THE COVER (606) 783-2550 SID Fax: MSU's two seniors, Amy Fox and Stephanie Swanger, will look at home: (606) 784-2922 Stacy to mold six returnees and 12 newcomers into a cohesive group, Laux at home: (6061 780-9lll and lead the Eagles to success in their final season in the Blue and Gold. ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT Athletic Department: (606) 783-2088 CREDITS (606) 783-2089 The 2002 Morehead State softball media guide was written, Athletic Dept. Fax: (606) 783-5035 edited and designed by Assistant Sports Information Director Brad Compliance/Academics: (606) 783-5136 Laux, with assistance from Sports Information Director Randy Stacy, Facilities/Events: (606) 783-2588 Secretary Specialist Brenda Kissinger and head coach Jennifer Marketing/Promotions: (606) 783-2560 Development/Tkkets: (606) 783-2593 Vansickle. Special writing was provided by MSU's University Athletic Training: (606) 783-2883 Communications. Cover design by MSU Graphic Designer Trevor Athletic Website: www.msueagles.com Griffith. Photography by MSU staff photographers nm Holbrook .,___,...a;a ...,a..;;111 UniYefsity Website; www.moreheadstate.edu and Guy Huffman. Pri nting by MSU Printing Services . Morehead State University Head Coach Jennifer Vansickle **.,999 OVC Coach of the Year*** With almost a completely new Her career started roster, ninth-year head coach Jennifer when she began the VanSickle's Vansickle looks to return the Eagles to program as the head among the top teams in the Ohio softball coach, and Volley Conference. Although coming assistant girl's varsity Record at MSU off a disappointing 13-29 campaign, and head junior varsity Vansickle owns a 144-244-1 career basketball coach, at her Year Overall record, but is the winningest and alma mater, Lawrence Pct. ovc longest-tenured coach in MSU's fast­ County High School in 1994 14-23 .378 8-16 pitch history. Louisa, Ky. Vansickle 1995 18-33 .353 11-15 In addition, she is the only Eagle then left to direct the 1996 17-38 .309 12-14 mentor to earn OVC Cooch of the Year softball program, while 1997 20-35-1 .364 11-19 honors, claiming the honor in 1999. also piloting the girl's That season, VonSickle guided the basketball team, at 1998 15-33 .313 7-TI Eagles to a 27-18 overall record, their Nicholls High School in 1999 27-18 .600 16-5 third-best ever, and a third-place OVC Nicholls, Go., from 1988- 2000 20-35 .364 10-13 finish with a 16-5 mark. 90. She returned to LCHS 2001 13-29 .310 6-14 She become the only MSU softball for her second stint as Totals 144-244-1 .370 81-107 coach to win 100 games, when she head softball coach from reached that milestone on April 11. 1999, with a 9-1 pounding ofTennessee­ 1990-93. Mortin. For her career, Vansickle owns on 81-107 conference mark. During her time in the dugout at Lawrence County, the Bulldogs compiled The only coach the school hos ever known since it joined the Ohio a 49-35 overall record and posted its best-ever mark in 1993. She was at Volley Conference, Vansickle hos been a pioneer for the program. In her the helm when the team won the district title and finished as the region seven previous campaigns, VonSickle hos seen the change from slow­ runner-up, both firsts for the program. One of her student-athletes pitch softball to fast pitch in Kentucky high schools and its rapid growth on advanced onward with her career and ployed in college. all youth levels. With a foundation set for continued development of all Although she attended Union College on a basketball scholarship, _J high school and youth-league softball, VonSickle is now seeing the direct Vansickle mode her mark as a two-sport athlete. A three-year starter in - effects on the talent which hos infused her program. the outfield on the softball team, Vansickle was selected all-conference in Helping to ploy on active role in the development of the sport in the her final year. She also helped the Bulldogs win the conference tournament state, Vansickle hos been actively involved in many facets and levels of that some season. promoting softball, through clinics, comps and workshops. Her dedication As a basketball player, VonSickle started four years and was chosen and determination hos helped pave the way for the sport's growth in the team's Freshman of the Year. It was one of many team awards she "' Eastern Kentucky. won for both sports. Union won the conference tournament her sophomore As the first full-time softball coach at Morehead State, VonSickle joined year. 2~ the Eagle program in 1994. MSU ployed its first fast-pitch campaign in After completing her college career, she toured two summers ploying 1989, but when Vansickle signed on, she helped usher in the era of Ohio basketball with Athletes In Action and traveled to such destinations as Fiji, Volley Conference competition, which also began in 1994. Brazil, the Philippines and Peru. Vansickle hos been associated with many firsts of the program. She Aside from her coaching duties, Vansickle is a member of the Notional was at the helm when the Eagles hod their first player named to the Fostpitch Coaches Association and hos been the faculty sponsor for the inaugural AII-OVC first team, Jodi McMockin, in 1994. Sixteen players in University's Fellowship of Christion Athletes chapter for the post eight years. VonSickle's reign hove been named 24 times either to the first, second or In 1995, she was named FCA College Cooch of the Year, having earned honorable mention all-conference teams. the award for High School Cooch of the Year in 1993.