Midwest Conference Softball

Tina Johnson Hired as Foresters’ Head Softball Coach

LAKE FOREST, IL – Lake Forest College Athletic Director Jackie Slaats has announced that Tina Johnson will assume the position of head softball coach, effective August 1. The hiring fills the vacancy created when former head coach Diane Kanney resigned following the 2003 season.

Johnson comes to Lake Forest from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she directed the Scots’ softball program for five years. She also served a number of other roles at Macalester, including assistant volleyball coach, instructor, chair of the Physical Education Department, and liaison for the college’s athletic alumni association.

Prior to her time at Macalester, Johnson was an assistant coach at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, where she worked directly with the team’s pitchers and catchers. Coach Johnson was also a teacher and head softball coach at Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri from 1991-98. She led Lafayette to the 1997 Missouri 4A State Championship and was chosen as the state’s Coach of the Year. Johnson was also selected as the Suburban West Softball Coach of the Year three times (1995-97).

Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and completed her graduate studies in educational administration at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.

Lake Forest's Mildebrath tabbed First-Team All-America; Seven MWC student-athletes named all-region

Led by Lake Forest All-American Alissa Mildebrath at second base, seven MWC softball players were recently named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region Team. Mildebrath was also named a First-Team All-American by the NFCA.

Joining Mildebrath on the all-region first team was shortstop Jenny Burris of Lawrence. Second Team selections included pitcher Leigh Anne Furgerson and third baseman Robyn Slater of Lake Forest along with outfielder Becca Reason of Lawrence and utility player Gina Collar of St. Norbert.

Round out the seven league honorees was Shanon Joselane of Lake Forest at first base. For more on the All-American and All-Region teams click here.

Click here for: 2003 All-MWC Teams

Lake Forest fell to regional host Wartburg 6-1 and 1-0 in the regional championship

Lake Forest defeats Gustavus Adolphus 2-1 on Friday

Lake Forest defeats Wartburg in the first round of the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament 6-1 and will play the winner of the #1 Gustavus Adolphus College vs. #4 Clarke College game on May 10.

Lake Forest wins second straight MWC softball championship

APPLETON, Wis. -– Lake Forest College rallied from three runs down in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday to beat Monmouth College 9-8 and win its second consecutive Midwest Conference Softball Tournament at Whiting Field. With the conference championship, the Foresters (23-11) earned a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. It looked like it might be Monmouth's day, as the Fighting Scots (22-14-1) came from the loser's bracket and won the first championship game 5-2. With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the seventh in the first title contest, Monmouth's Rachel Webster belted a three-run homer to give the Scots the win. Monmouth was also in control of the second, and deciding, championship game. The Scots led 5-0 heading into the bottom of the third when Shannon Clerkin belted a grand slam for Lake Forest to trim tfirst round of the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament he lead to 5-4. Monmouth came right back and scored three times in the top of the fourth to grab an 8-4 edge and led 8-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Monmouth pitcher Shelly Orwig allowed two walks and a single to load the bases. Shanon Joselane walked to force in a run and the lead was cut to 8-6. Heather Burrows, who had started the game for Monmouth, re-entered the game to pitch for Orwig. She immediately gave up a run-scoring single, and the lead was down to 8-7. After a strikeout, Jen Thomason belted a two-run double to give Lake Forest the 9-8 win. Monmouth reached the title game by beating St. Norbert College 3-1 in an elimination game to start the day. (Lawrence Sports Information)

2003 MWC Championship	Hosted by Lawrence University
Friday, May 2
Game #1	Monmouth 7, St. Norbert 6
Game #2	Lake Forest 13, Lawrence 7
Game #3 - 2 p.m.	St. Norbert 17, Lawrence 0
Game #4 - 4 p.m.	Lake Forest 1, Monmouth 0

Saturday, May 3
Game #5	Monmouth 3, St. Norbert 1
Game #6	Monmouth 5, Lake Forest 2
Game #7	Lake Forest 9, Monmouth 8

*Winner receives automatic bid to NCAA Tournament.

OVERALL AND MWC STATS NOW ON-LINE

2003 MWC Classic Results