5/20/03
Martin Named to All-Academic Team
Shaw softball player LaToya Martin was named to the 2003 CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic first team.  Martin graduated with a 3.909 GPA in Business Administration.

Martin, a senior from Nassau, Grand Bahamas, finished the 2003 softball season with a 27-10 record, the best in school history, helping to lead the Lady Bears to a 30-14 record, a CIAA Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals.

5/19/03
Ford-Kee Named Coach of the Year
Shaw head softball coach Dianthia Ford-Kee was named 2003 CIAA Softball Coach of the Year.  Ford-Kee led the Lady Bears to their best season ever with a 30-14 overall record and a first ever appearance in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.

This is the fourth time in her career that Ford-Kee has been named CIAA Coach of the Year, the last coming in 1996.  She led the Bears to 2003 CIAA Softball Tournament Championship, as the Lady Bears won six-straight games after losing the first game of the tournament.  

This was the first year since 1996 that the Bears had won the CIAA Tournament Championship. 

5/16/03
Shaw Softball, Players Ranked in the Nation
The Shaw softball team finished its best season in school history with a 30-14 record.  Shaw is ranked in a few statistical categories, including 6th in the nation in batting average (.357) and 8th in runs scored (8.8).

Individual players are also ranked in the country.  LaToya Martin is ranked 7th in victories (27); Felicia Sprattley, is ranked 13th in RBI (1.4) and 17th in batting average (.479); Shonda Welch, is ranked 18th in stolen bases (0.8); Branda Best is ranked 25th in doubles per game (0.4), 26th runs batted in (1.1) and 28th in stolen bases (0.7) and Andrea Blake is ranked 29th in stolen bases (0.7).

5/9/03
Lady Bears Lose in NCAA's
The Shaw softball team lost 12-3 to California yesterday and 11-1 to Kutztown today and were eliminated from the Mid-Atlantic Regionals.

Shaw had its best fast pitch softball season ever, finishing 30-14.  There were many accolades during the Lady Bears CIAA Tournament run.  Eight of Shaw's softball player were named to the 2003 All-CIAA team.  Shonda Welch was named CIAA Player of the Year, while Felicia Sprattley was named CIAA Rookie of the Year.  Catcher Branda Best, leftfielder Tanesha Haynes, rightfielder Dishondra Goree, and pitcher LaToya Martin were named to the first team.  Second baseman Tatiana Falligan was named to the second team.  Utility player Syreeta Mason was named to the All-Rookie team.

5/6/03
Lady Bears In Mid-Atlantic Regionals
For the first time in school history, the Shaw softball team will play in the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Softball Tournament, May 8-11 in Shippensburg, PA.  Shaw is one of six teams in the tournament and the winner of the tournament will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship Series in Salem, Oregon, May 15-19.

The Lady Bears are the #6 seed in the tournament and the only team not from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).  Shaw's first game will be against California (Pa.) on Thursday at noon in the double-elimination tournament.  If the Lady Bears win they will face #2 Bloomsburg on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.  If the Lady Bears lose they will face the loser of #1 Shippensburg vs. #4 Kutztown/#5 Indiana (Pa.) on Friday May 9 at noon.

Shaw was an automatic selection by winning the CIAA Tournament Championship on April 30, 8-1 over Virginia State.  Shaw is 30-12 on the season and is led by CIAA and CIAA Tournament MVP Shonda Welch, who is batting .354, has driven in 29 runs and leads the team in stolen bases (32).  As a pitcher, she also has two wins on the season.  The Lady Bears are also led by All-CIAA selections pitcher LaToya Martin (27-8), Branda Best (.410, 5 HR, 48 RBI) and CIAA Rookie of the Year Felicia Sprattley (.512, 6 HR, 58 RBI, .819 slugging percentage).  

2003 NCAA DIVISION II MID-ATLANTIC REGION CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, MAY 8

Game #1, 10:00 a.m.       Kutztown (#4) vs. Indiana (Pa.) (#5)
Game #2, Noon  California (Pa.) (#3) vs. Shaw University (#6)
Game #3, 2:00 p.m.         Shippensburg (#1) vs. Winner of Game 1
Game #4, 4:00 p.m.         Bloomsburg (#2) vs. Winner of Game 2

 FRIDAY, MAY 9

Game #5, 10:00  a.m.      Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4
Game #6, Noon  Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 2
Game #7, 2:00 p.m.         Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Game #8, 4:00 p.m.         Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

 SATURDAY, MAY 10

Game #9, 11:00 a.m.       Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8
Game #10, 1:00 p.m.       Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9
Game #11, 3:00 p.m.       Necessary only if Winner Game 9 defeats Winner Game 7 in Game 10

4/30/03
We Are The Champions, Too
DURHAM - A journey that began last Thursday with the Lady Bears losing to North Carolina Central in the first round of the 2003 CIAA Softball Tournament, ended with Shaw winning two games today 8-5 and 8-1 over Virginia State at Valley Springs Park.  Shaw scathed off elimination and win its first CIAA Softball Tournament Championship since 1996.  Just like the women's cross country team and the women's basketball team, the Shaw women's softball team has done it as well.  The Lady Bears will receive an automatic bid to the South Atlantic Regionals.  

Lady Bear Shonda Welch does not have the highest batting average on the team.  She does not have the most runs batted in.  She does not have the best slugging percentage.  She does not have the most strikeouts.  She is just simply the best.  

Welch a junior from Halifax, VA and the CIAA's Most Valuable Player in 2003 earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.  She went 3-for-9 with 3 RBI today.  In game two, she pitched seven innings giving up two hits, one run, while striking out 12.

In game one, Shaw scored first as CIAA Rookie of the Year Felicia Sprattley's sacrifice fly drove in Tanesha Haynes and Shaw led 1-0.  But the Trojanettes would score three runs on starter LaToya Martin in their half of the first to take a 3-1 lead.  The Lady Bears would cut their deficit to 3-2 in the second as Welch drove in Haynes.  In the top of the fourth, Welch drove in what turned out to be the game-winning runs as her two-run double scored Haynes and Dishondra Goree and gave the Lady Bears a 4-3 lead.  That double capped off a five-run inning in which the Lady Bears took a 7-2 lead.

From that point Martin was in control of the game.  She went seven innings, striking out five to pick up her 27th win of the season (27-8), a school record.  She was 5-1 during the tournament.

In game two, the story again was Welch.  Shaw would score first as Branda Best's double drove in Sprattley.  Welch pitched brilliantly, overpowering most of the Trojanette hitters, carrying a no hitter in to the top of the sixth.  With one out in the inning, Tia Hines, who was also pitching a brilliant game, homered to tie the score at 1-1.  In the Lady Bear half of the sixth they broke the game wide open, sending 10 batters to the plate.  Syreeta Mason's two-run double scored Natasha Bain and Andrea Blake and gave the Lady Bears a 3-1 lead.  The Lady Bears would score four more runs as they recorded five hits and the Trojanettes had five errors in the inning. 

Welch, Martin and Best were named to the all-tournament team.

4/29/03
Site set for Championship
The site for the 2003 CIAA Tournament Softball Championship has been determined.  The championship, to be played between Shaw and Virginia State will be played at Valley Springs Park in Durham.  Game times are 1:00 and 3:00.  

The Lady Bears (28-11) must beat the Trojanettes twice to claim the championship, as the the Trojanettes have not lost a game in the double elimination tournament, while the Lady Bears lost one game.

Directions to Ballpark: Take 40 West and get on Durham Freeway
Take Hillsborough Road exit - turn left at light
Turn right onto Cole Mill Rd.
Turn right onto Rose of Sharon Rd.
Park will be on left approximately 1/2 - 2 miles down this road

4/27/03
Lady Bears to play for Championship
After losing its first round game to North Carolina Central Thursday, the Shaw softball team as scathed off elimination by winning four-straight games, including defeating North Carolina Central 9-1 in five innings and defeating Fayetteville State in its last game Sunday 10-0 also in five innings, to earn a berth in the 2003 CIAA Softball Championship game.  Because of weather conditions during the weekend in Charlotte, the championship game, originally to be played on Saturday, will be played Wednesday in Durham.  The location will be determined at a later time.  The Lady Bears will play Virginia State, who has yet to lose a game in the double elimination tournament.  That means Shaw has to win two games against the Trojanettes to claim the championship.  The games will be played at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.  

The Lady Bears last won the CIAA Tournament Championship in 1996.

4/26/03
Softball Play to Resume Sunday
The Shaw softball team will try to resume its run to the 2003 CIAA Tournament Championship on Sunday, as all games were rained out Saturday.  The Lady Bears will have to win three games today in order to have a chance at playing in the championship game, either Monday or Tuesday. 

4/25/03
Eight Named All-CIAA; Welch and Sprattley, Player of the Year Honors
Eight of Shaw's softball player were named to the 2003 All-CIAA team.  Shonda Welch was named CIAA Player of the Year, while Felicia Sprattley was named CIAA Rookie of the Year.  Catcher Branda Best, leftfielder Tanesha Haynes, rightfielder Dishondra Goree, and pitcher LaToya Martin were named to the first team.  Second baseman Tatiana Falligan was named to the second team.  Utility player Syreeta Mason was named to the All-Rookie team.

Welch (Jr., Halifax, Va.) was named to the All-CIAA team for the second-straight season.  Shaw batted .360 during the regular season, with 2 HR, 24 RBI and 43 runs scored.  She led the team with 30 stolen bases.  Best (So., Alton, Va.) batted .400, had 5 HR and 41 RBI.  Haynes (Jr., Summerville, S.C.) batted .326 and had an on base percentage of .400 and a fielding percentage of .900.  Dishondra Goree (Jr., Ft. Wayne, Ind.) started all 35 games and led the team with 7 HR.  She batted .333 and drove in 36 runs.  Martin (Sr., Nassau, Grand Bahamas) was named as the designated hitter, not as a pitcher, although she led the CIAA in almost every pitching category.  she was 22-7 with a 2.47 ERA.  She pitched 176.0 innings and struck out 102 batters.  

Falligan (Sr., Plainfield, N.J.) bated .343, scored 37 runs and drove in 24.

Sprattley was one of the top players in the CIAA.  She led the CIAA in hitting (.530) and runs batted in (56).  She was CIAA Player of the Week twice and had a slugging percentage .870 and hit six homeruns.  Syreeta Mason (Fr., San Diego, Calif.) batted .297 and had an on base percentage of .400.

4/25/03
Friday's Games Postponed due to rain; Resume play Saturday
Friday's CIAA softball games were postponed due to rain in Charlotte and will resume Saturday beginning at noon.  With its loss to North Carolina Central 4-2 on Thursday, the Lady Bears are now in the losers bracket and will play on Saturday versus North Carolina Central at noon.  If they win that game they will play the winner of Winston-Salem State/Elizabeth City State.  If they win that game then they will play the loser of Fayetteville State/Virginia State.  The CIAA Softball Championship game will be played at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

4/22/03
Lady Bears Prepare for Tournament
The Shaw softball team is preparing for the CIAA Tournament, being held in Charlotte, NC April 24-26.  The Lady Bears had their bid for going undefeated in the CIAA nullified with a 6-5 loss to Fayetteville State in the last game of the regular season last Thursday.  Shaw has however won 18 of its last 19 games.  The Lady Bears, the number one seed in the eastern division, will take on the the fourth seed out of the west, the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central Thursday at noon.  If the Lady Bears win they will take on the winner of St. Augustine's/Virginia Union.  This is a double elimination tournament.

The Lady Bears are led by 20-game winner LaToya Martin (22-7, 2.47 ERA), Rookie of the Year candidate centerfielder Felicia Sprattley (.530, 6 HR, 56 RBI) catcher Branda Best (.400, 41 RBI, 38 R) and Shonda Welch (.360 43 R, 30 SB, 24 RBI).  

4/16/03
Lady Bears Sweep Cross-Town Rival
It was a perfect day for softball as Shaw and St. Augustine's met for the first time this season.  It was senior day for three Lady Bears, Natasha Bain, Tatianna Falligan and Latoya Martin.  Those seniors went out with a bang as the Lady Bears beat the Lady Falcons 10-2 and 10-4 before a nice sized crowd at Sanderford Road Park.

With the score tied 1-1 at the end of the first inning, the Lady Bears scored four runs in the second as Shonda Welch's 3 RBI double capped of the inning and gave the Lady Bears a 4-1 lead.  The Lady Bears blew the game open with five runs in the third to take a 9-1 lead. 

Latoya Martin, the CIAA's Player of the Week cruised to the victory, her 20th of the season, scattering eight hits and giving up only one earned run.  Martin continues to be undefeated against CIAA opponents this season.  Falligan and Felicia Sprattley each had three hits a-piece, with 2 and 3 RBI, respectively.  Welch, Branda Best and Andrea Blake had two hits a-piece.  Welch drove in four runs.  

The game was called after five inning because of the eight-run rule.

In game two St. Augustine's (11-5, 9-5) scored two runs in the top of the first inning as Dana Atkins' triple down the right field line scored Tekeshia McMinns and Jennifer Lewis.  The Lady Bears (23-10, 20-0) would come back to tie the game on Blake's two-run single.  Then. on an 0-1 pitch, Dishondra Goree hit a smoker over the centerfield fence with the bases loaded to give the Lady Bears the 6-2 lead.

Atkins would hit a two-run shot in the third to cut the Lady Bear lead to 6-4 and that would be as close as the Lady Falcons would come.

Martin was brilliant again giving up only two earned runs on four hits, while striking out four.

The Lady Bears will try to go undefeated in the conference as they travel to Fayetteville State for their last game of the season tomorrow.

4/16/03
Martin Named Player, Ford-Kee Coach of the Week
Shaw softball pitcher Latoya Martin was named CIAA Player of the Week this week.  The senior from Nassau, Grand Bahamas went 4-0 on the week, giving up only one earned run and striking out 24.  She had a ERA of 0.32, while opponents hit just .158 against her.  Martin is on the verge of a 20-win season and currently has a record of 19-6.

Shaw head softball coach Dianthia Ford-Kee was named CIAA Coach of the Week as the Lady Bears went 4-0 during the week and remain undefeated in the CIAA.

4/15/03
Lady Bears Looking to go Undefeated in CIAA
The Shaw softball, currently on a 16-game-winning streak and ranked 4th in the South Atlantic Region, will host cross-town rival St. Augustine's (11-3, 9-3) tomorrow at Sanderford Road Park (lower field) at 2:00 p.m.  The Lady Bears are 21-10, 18-0 in the CIAA.  The Lady Bears have wrapped up the CIAA eastern division crown by virtue of a double-header sweep of St. Paul's yesterday. 

Shaw is led by Rookie of the Year candidate Felicia Sprattley (Fr., Halifax, VA), who is batting .509 with 5 HR, 43 RBI and a slugging percentage of .802,  Branda Best, who is batting .427 with 5 HR and 37 RBI, Shonda Welch, who is batting .368 and has stolen 28-of-30 bases and pitcher LaToya Martin, who is on the verge of a 20-win season with a 19-6 record.

4/14/03
Shaw to Play Last Home Game Versus St. Aug's
The Shaw softball team will play its last home game of the season on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at Sanderford Road Park versus St. Augustine's.  The Lady Bear seniors will be honored.  Shaw is 21-10 on the season and will look to go undefeated in CIAA play against the Lady Falcons.  

The Lady Bears are coming off four-straight wins the last two days, including two wins over St. Paul's today and two wins over Bowie State yesterday.

4/5/03
Lady Bears Sweep North Carolina Central
DURHAM, NC --  Shaw rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to pull out a 9-5 extra inning victory over North Carolina Central in the first game, then pounded out 20 hits in a 19-4 win in the nightcap at Campus Hills Park in Durham, NC to remain undefeated in CIAA play.
    
In game one, Shaw's LaToya Martin inherited a 4-1 disadvantage when she replaced starting pitcher Felicia Sprattley in the bottom of the third inning. In her eight innings of work, Martin scattered seven hits, allowed just one run and struck out eight to earn the victory. Martin also went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.
    
Lady Bear catcher Branda Best hit 4-for-5 with a solo home run,
while Sprattley's two-run, 10th inning blast put the finishing touches
on the victory.
    
Shaw (17-10, 14-0 CIAA) exploded for 19 runs on 20 hits. Sprattley led the way with four hits, including a home run and a triple, to go along with four RBI and three runs scored. Martin allowed just three earned runs on six hits to collect the win, the 12th in a row for the Lady Bears.

3/20/03
Sprattley Named Player of the Week
Shaw centerfielder Felicia Sprattley was named CIAA Softball Player of the Week.  The freshman from Halifax, VA had seven hits in five at bats and 3 RBI in two victories over Elizabeth City State last week.  Her two-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning tied the second game against ECSU at 5-5 and propelled the Lady Bears to victory.  She had a slugging percentage of 1.142 for the week.

Lady Bear head Coach Dianthia Ford-Kee was named Coach of the Week as the Lady Bears evened its record to 4-4 last week.

3/12/03
Goree's RBI Single Completes two-game Sweep
Dishondra Goree’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Branda Best and completed a two-game sweep of CIAA-rival Elizabeth City State at Sanderford Road Park.  The Lady Bears won the first game 12-0 in five innings and won game two 6-5.

Shaw (4-4, 2-0) found itself down 3-1 in the bottom of the third but an RBI sacrifice fly by Best and an RBI single by Syreeta Mason tied the score at 3-3.  Elizabeth City (0-2, 0-2) would go ahead in its half of the fourth as a Lady Bear error and Angel Spencer’s steal of home gave the Lady Vikings a 5-3 lead.  In the bottom of the seventh Felicia Sprattley’ two-run homer tied the game at 5-5.  Best singled and stole second, then moved over two third base on a groundout setting up Goree’s game-winning single.

In game one, Latoya Martin pitched a two-hit shutout as the game was completed in the fifth inning because of the eight-run mercy rule.    Sprattley was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Shonda Welch homered and drove in two runs.

3/4/03
Lady Bears Split With Benedict
In its first games of the season the Shaw softball team split with Benedict, losing the first game 9-8, then rebounding to win the second game 5-4 at Sanderson Road Park.

In game one, with the Lady Bears down 2-0, Branda Best's RBI double scored Shonda Welch as the Lady Bears trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning.  The Tigerettes would explode for six runs in the top of the sixth as they batted around, taking a 9-2 lead. 

But Shaw would rally scoring six runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning, capped of by Dishondra Goree's three-run homer which cut the Tigerette lead to 9-6.  Shonda Welch then pitched a 1-2-3 seventh striking out two batters as the Lady Bears came to bat in the bottom of the seventh.  With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Syreeta Mason singled and Goree hit her second homerun of the game, this time a two-run shot to cut the Lady Bear deficit to 9-8.

Goree finished 3-for-4 with 5 RBI.  Best was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI.

In game 2, the Tigerettes jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead.  But Shaw would tie the game at 2-2 in its bottom half of the first as a single by Felicia Sprattley scored Tanesha Haynes and a single by Mason scored Welch.  The Tigerettes scored two more runs in the third giving them a 4-2 lead.  The Lady Bears would score a run in the third on a Mason single and a Best homer in the fifth tied the score at 4-4.  In the bottom of the seventh, Haynes singled.  Welch then singled moving Haynes to second.  Haynes and Welch then pulled of a double-steal.  With a runner on third and second Best came to the plate.  With the count 2-2, Best swung at the third strike.  The Tigerette catcher dropped the ball and Haynes stole home, scoring the game-winning run.

Best had another outstanding performance going 2-for-3, driving in two runs.