University of Massachusets Athletics
Softball Team To Be Honored By BoSox Club
September 13, 2005 | Softball
Sept. 13, 2005
AMHERST, Mass. -- The UMass Softball team will be honored by the BoSox Club at a luncheon on Sept. 29 at the Newton Marriott. The BoSox Club is the oldest official fan club in Major League Baseball and promotes the game at all levels while assisting the Boston Red Sox in community and charitable endeavors. The Minutewomen are being honored for their 2005 season in which they went 37-16-1 and won their 17th Atlantic 10 Championship.
"We are very proud of their accomplishments," said UMass Athletic Director John McCutcheon. "It is very special for an organization like the BoSox club to recognize them. Last year was a great season and I know a lot of people enjoyed watching them play."
In1967, Red Sox officials and fans organized the BoSox Club. Today, with over 800 members, it is the largest and oldest official fan club of its type in all of major league baseball. Former Red Sox player Dom DiMaggio was the Club's first president, while former broadcaster Ken Coleman is a charter member. The BoSox Club promotes baseball at all levels and assists the Boston Red Sox in community and charitable endeavors. They raise funds to support worthy causes, such as the Jimmy Fund. Recently the BoSox Board of Directors voted to donate $20,000 to the Red Sox Charitable Foundation. In addition, the BoSox Club provides financial assistance to 12 deserving athletes to attend a private baseball camp every summer.
"I am very honored that the BoSox Club is recognizing us," said UMass Softball Head Coach Elaine Sortino. "This is a very special day for the UMass Softball Program. A lot of people have worked very hard through the years at establishing UMass' tradition and continuing the high standard that has been set."
Other activities the Club sponsors include 10 luncheons a year at the Newton Marriott Hotel (guest speakers include Red Sox and visiting teams players and staff), three brunches at Fenway Park (Red Sox guest speakers interact with the membership before the games), Family Night (the park is opened up before the game for members and their children while Red Sox players conduct a clinic) and the annual BoSox Club Spring Training trip (100 BoSox Club members join the Red Sox in Fort Myers during Spring Training). In addition, the BoSox Challenger Fund purchases game tickets for underprivileged children.
Every September, the BoSox Club honors championship teams from various leagues at a luncheon. Winners receive trophies. Leagues being recognized include the Massachusetts American Legion, Massachusetts 13-15 year old Babe Ruth League, Cape Cod League, Division I College Baseball, Division 1 High School Baseball, Intercity League, Massachusetts Little League, Boston Park League and the Yawkey League. Starting this year, the Club will present awards to the winners of the Division I College Women's Softball and Division I High School Girls' Softball teams. Membership in the BoSox Club is $75 a year.
2005 UMass Softball Accomplishments
• Advanced to their 11th straight and 15th overall NCAA Tournament. The 11 straight NCAA Tournament appearances is tied for the sixth-best streak in the nation.
• Captured their 17th Atlantic 10 Conference championship.
• UMass breezed through the A-10 Tournament outscoring the opposition, 25-3, and out-hitting them, .373-.222.
• In the A-10 Tournament, UMass set or tied 11 records including the home record. UMass hit eight in the three games, shattering the previous mark of three.
• UMass finished the regular season with three consecutive no-hitters. Jenna Busa (Lexington, Mass.) had two of them. In addition to the two no-hitters in one week, Busa batted .714 at the plate with three home runs and seven RBI.
• Busa was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Player of Week.
• UMass set school records in home runs (56), doubles (85; tied), runs batted in (260), slugging percentage (.507) and on-base percentage (.389).
• KJ Kelley (Rainier, Ore.) set the school's individual home run record for a season (14) and career (35).
• Head Coach Elaine Sortino ranks 10th among active coaches in wins (895) and is 12th with a .697 winning percentage. Last December, she was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame.
• Hilary Puglia (Stoneham, Mass.) reached base safely in 47 of the 52 games that she played in.
• Barb LaFogg (Williamsburg, Mass.) led the Atlantic 10 with 212 strikeouts, the fourth-most in a UMass single-season.
• UMass ranked in the top 20 nationally in batting average, home runs per game and slugging percentage.
• Candice Molinari (Glendora, Calif..) was a perfect 31-31 in stolen base attempts. It was the second-best single-season total in UMass history and also ranked seventh in the nation. It was also the ninth-best all-time mark among players who were not thrown out all season.
• LaFogg was named the A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year.
• LaFogg, Denise Denis (Middle Grove, N.Y.), Kelley and Puglia were named to the All-Conference team.
• Busa was named the A-10 Tournament Most Valuable Player. She picked up a win in all three games while compiling a 0.37 ERA.
• Busa as well as Stacy Cullington (Encinitas, Calif.), Denis, Kelley, Amanda Morin (Worcester, Mass.) and Puglia were named to the All-Tournament team.
• Denis and Kelley each won the A-10 Player of the Week award twice during the regular season.
• LaFogg was named the A-10 Pitcher of the Week three times, while Busa was selected twice.
• Cullington was a three-time A-10 Rookie of the Week winner.
• Kelley and Denis were selected to the NFCA All-Region first-team while LaFogg was a second-team pick.
• Kelley and Denis were also ECAC first-team All-Stars.
• Kelley was an Easton Sports first-team All-American.
• Busa was a Jewish Sports Review first-team All-American.
• Puglia was named the UMass Female Senior Athlete of the Year.