November 20, 2009

SOFTBALL NAMES CAPTAINS FOR 2010

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Bryant University softball coach Lisa-Ann Wallace is pleased to announce the naming of the 2010 team captains for the upcoming season following a vote by the team.  This year's captains representing the team as they prepare for the program's second year of Division I competition this spring are: Ashley Coon (Leavittown, Pa.), Ali Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.) and Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.).

(L-R) Samantha Houseal 11', Ashley Coon 10', Ali Chouinard10') sign " The Captains code of Ethics."

"All three of these young women have performed at a high level on the field, and more importantly have demonstrated a commitment to leadership and excellence off the field and in the classroom," said Wallace.  

"They will be entrusted with a great deal of responsibility and I am confident they will handle it with the team's best interest in mind.  They each bring different intangibles to the team and on the field and complement one another very well.  We are confident their decision making and leadership will provide great direction for our squad in the upcoming year."

For Coon, this will be her third season serving as captain.  The senior started all 42 games last year hitting .220 with 14 RBIs and 2 home runs.  As the team's catcher, she posted a .953 fielding percentage with 208 putouts and 37 assists on the season.

This will be the second-straight year serving as captain for Chouinard who also started in all 42 games at shortstop last season hitting .215 with 12 RBIs and four stolen bases.  She enters her senior season No. 2 on the school's all-time home run leaderboard with 12.

Making her debut as team captain in 2010 is Houseal.  As a sophomore, Houseal set the record for most strikeouts and innings pitch in a season with 180 strikeouts and 249.2 innings in Bryant's first season of Division I.  She posted 11 wins and an ERA of 3.03 while throwing 29 complete games and four shutouts.