Softball Team to Receive SEC Championship Rings on Saturday
9/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA ?? The University of Alabama softball team will receive their Southeastern Conference Championship rings on Saturday during halftime of the Crimson Tide’s football game against Louisiana Monroe.
“It is going to be a special night for everyone involved in our program, including all our alumni and parents,” head coach Patrick Murphy, the 2006 SEC Coach of the Year said. “Those who played on the first nine teams paved the way for a championship in the 10th anniversary of the program. Having finished second six times will make this occasion even sweeter. To be presented our rings in front of 92,000 Alabama fans in Bryant-Denny Stadium will be the icing on the cake.”
All 18 members of the 2006 team will be back in Tuscaloosa for the ceremony on Saturday, including: seniors Dominique Accetturo, Staci Ramsey and Stephanie VanBrakle, juniors Mandy Burford, Kellie Deska, Michelle Menningmann, Mallory Benak and Blair Potter, sophomores Katie Johnson, Chrissy Owens, Jordan Praytor and Dani Woods and freshman Kellie Eubanks, Ashley Holcombe, Kelley Montalvo, Allison Moore, Brittany Rogers and Jessica Smith.
The softball team won its first regular season championship by going 25-4 in conference play. Alabama added the regular season championship to its three SEC Tournament titles in 1998, 2003 and 2005. The Crimson Tide finished its season with its fourth College World Series appearance in seven years and second straight. Alabama compiled a record of 54-11, including a 30-4 home mark.
Helping lead the way to the SEC Championship were VanBrakle and Rogers. VanBrakle posted a record of 28-6 on the mound with a 1.19 ERA, eight shutouts and 345 strikeouts to earn SEC Pitcher of the Year. Rogers was named SEC Freshman of the Year after leading the Crimson Tide with a .427 batting average, 60 runs scored and 88 hits.
The football game will begin at 6:07 p.m. (CST) and will be televised on a pay-per-view basis by Crimson Tide Sports Marketing.
