May 27, 2004
Junior centerfielder Megan Ciolli (Terre Haute, Ind.) was named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America third team on Wednesday, becoming the ninth individual to earn All-America recognition for the Notre Dame softball program.
The 2004 BIG EAST Player of the Year, Ciolli led the Irish with a .397 batting average, 81 hits and 20 stolen bases. Those 20 thefts place her second all-time on the Notre Dame single season list.
A unanimous selection to the all-BIG EAST first team (earning her third first-team honor), Ciolli led the conference in batting average (.491) – the seventh-best in BIG EAST Conference history. She also led the league in overall hits (81) and on base percentage (.446).
Ciolli’s .397 batting average in 2004 is the fifth-best all-time and she spent a large portion of the season above the .400 mark. Her career average is now .367, which is tied for the second-best in school history.
A left-handed batter at the plate, Ciolli has the ability to bunt, slap and hit away. She drove in 23 runs this season, posted nine sacrifice hits and made five assists from her outfield position. Ciolli also has hit 10 home runs in her career (among the top-10 all-time), stolen 43 bases (tied for fourth all-time) and posted 71 RBI.
Ciolli is the ninth individual softball All-American in school history and earns the school’s 14th All-American certificate. Andrea Loman (2002, ’03), Jarrah Myers (2001, ’02) Jennifer Sharron (2000, ’01) and Terri Kobata (1994, ’95) all were named to the All-America teams twice in their careers. Ciolli will hope to join that elite company with another stellar season in 2005.
Go to www.nfca.org to see the complete list of NFCA All-Americans.