SFU women win NAIA title

SFU women win NAIA softball championships
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 28, 2003

Burnaby's own Erin Thomas was named the Most Valuable Player as Simon Fraser University won the NAIA national women's softball championships in Decatur, Alabama last weekend.
Thomas, who had previously been named an All-American, gave an outstanding performance on the mound in the final game of the double knockout tournament championship as SFU downed the hometown favourite University of Mobile by a 3-1 score.
"I just wanted to stay focused and take it one pitch at a time and not worry about what this game meant until it was over," said Thomas, who has two Canadian minor softball championships under her belt as a long-time member of Burnaby Oakeys minor softball club.
Thomas gave up only four hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out nine batters over seven innings. She also hit 2-for-3 over the game.
"Our team did really well," Thomas said Monday afternoon. "We're all just really excited and proud of each other. It was a really good experience."
After leading the Clan to a 8-0 mercy rule victory over Brescia University of Kentucky in the first game, Thomas watched as her team downed the three-time defending national champion Oklahoma City University 2-0 in the second game of the tournament.
The Clan then advanced into the championship final thanks to its 31st consecutive victory of the year, a 5-0 win over eight-seeded Olivet Nazarene University of Illinois.
But winning was no cakewalk. After advancing into the final, SFU lost its opening game against Mobile by a 2-1 score. SFU was then forced to play its second game of the day, and Thomas got the call.
Among the many stars on the team are the four graduating seniors, pitcher Auburn Sigurdson, catcher Erin Cumpstone, third base Shannon Rossiter and first base Danica Payette.
While SFU and Mobile traded the NAIA number one ranking back and forth several times during the season, it was Mobile that carried the top rank into the championship tournament.
"Our whole field played really well together and we had experience behind us," Thomas said. "We have a really strong core of players that have been together for a while. For most of us, this was the third time we'd been to the nationals together."
Thomas also had high praise for coach Mike Renney, who she described as one of the top technical coaches in the country with solid contacts, a good work ethic and the ability to recruit the best young Canadian players.
And while Thomas admitted to feeling an extra tinge of Canadian pride after her team accepted the U.S.-based national championship trophy, she said that was not a motivating factor behind her play.
"We are the only Canadian team in the NAIA, so of course there is some division between the Canadian and the Americans. So for sure, you go in there being a Canadian team and there is pride. And knowing we finished on top is always awesome. That's a part that makes it all the more special."
Thomas also said she looks forward to returning to the team next year.