July 11, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University head softball coach Leslie Phelan has secured a third recruit for the 2004 season, receiving a National Letter-of-Intent from junior-college transfer Ashley Schwartz. A native of Makanda, Ill., Schwartz comes to the Hill having spent two seasons at John A. Logan College, where she earned two all-region selections and was named the Great Rivers Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.
"Ashley brings collegiate pitching experience to our staff, having had a good career at John Logan College," said Phelan. "She is expected to impact our starting rotation right away."
Schwartz pitched two years for the Lady Vols under head coach Bruce Jilek, earning all-conference, all-region and all-tournament honors in her first season en route to her Freshman-of-the-Year award. She followed that up with selections to the all-region and all-tournament teams as a sophomore.
Born in Carbondale, Ill., Schwartz played her prep ball at Carbondale Community High School, where she was twice named the Terriers' most valuable player. Schwartz, who graduated as the school's all-time strikeout leader, averaged 14 strikeouts per game in both her junior and senior years, the last of which saw her named to the all-conference and all-South region teams.
The 2003 Hilltoppers posted a 30-32 record and finished third at the Sun Belt Tournament. Schwartz will join a pitching rotation led by senior all-conference selection Allison Silver and sophomore Adrienne Lathrop.
- WKU -
