Teams: Softball: Press Releases

Friday, May 18, 2007

CASEY SULLIVAN EARNS THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICAN STATUS IN SOFTBALL
Four Jumbos also named to NEISCA All-New England Teams

MEDFORD -- The 2007 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-Americans were announced at the national championship banquet in Salem, Virginia on Thursday night, and Tufts first-year infield Casey Sullivan (Berlin, CT/Suffield Academy) is on the Third Team. She is one of just four players from the New England region named an All-American, joining Rhode Island College pitcher Nicole Riley, Wellesley College pitcher Jenna Harvey and Wheaton College 1B Jessica DePolito.

Third Team All-American Casey Sullivan

Also announced on Thursday were the New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association Teams. Sullivan and sophomore teammate Samantha Kuhles (Somerville, NJ/Rutgers Prep) are on the First Team, and sophomore pitcher Lauren Gelmetti (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and junior P/1B/DH Erica Bailey (Scottsdale, AZ/Chaparral) are on the Second Team.

The All-American award caps an outstanding first season for Sullivan. She was also named to the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) First Team and to the NFCA All-New England First Team, and she was voted the NESCAC Rookie of the Year. She led Tufts regulars in sluggiing percentage (.655), runs scored (43), runs batted in (43), home runs (9), total bases (97) and starts (44).

Kuhles, who played in 43 of 44 games, led Jumbo regulars in hitting (.407), hits (66) doubles (14) and fielding assists (82).

Gelmetti was one of the best pitchers in New England, finishing with a 9-2 record and a 1.95 earned run average. On a strong Tufts staff that went four-deep and finished with a 2.58 team era, Gelmetti led the group in wins, era, innings pitched (86), strike outs (73) and appearances (17). She showed her toughness in the NCAA Tournament Regional when she stayed in the game after getting hit in the head with a line drive in the championship round against Rhode Island College. Bailey is another talented member of the pitching staff who also contributed with her bat. She posted an 8-5 record with a staff-high eight complete games, and was a .406 hitter with 22 RBIs.

With one of the most talented rosters ever to play at Tufts, the 2007 Jumbos tied the 1995 team's record for victories in a season with 31 this spring. Head coach Cheryl Milligan's team played in the NCAA regional championship game for the second time.

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