Softball

July 30, 2009

Incoming Softball Standout Stephanie Frank Named VSSA Female Co-Athlete Of The Month


COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College incoming first-year Stephanie Frank (Essex, Vt./Essex), one of the top high school softball players in the state this past spring, was named the state's female co-athlete of the month for June by the Vermont Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association (VSSA), it was recently announced.

Frank is now eligible for the Vermont Athlete of the Year, the state's top sports award, which will be announced next spring.

Frank capped off a remarkable high school career by taking undefeated and top-ranked Essex to its third straight Division I softball title. She pitched in all four tournament victories, with three of the wins shutouts. Frank had eight strikeouts in four innings of one-hit ball in a 14-0 win versus South Burlington in a playoff game on June 5. She recorded 16 strikeouts in a 3-0 win against Brattleboro, while also going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. It was the sixth straight playoff complete game shutout pitched by Frank (who ended 8-0 in postseason play).

Frank beat Missisquoi Valley 2-1 in 12 innings in the semifinals while allowing no hits in the final seven innings. She polished off her high school career with a one-hitter in a 6-0 win versus Mount Anthony in the championship as the Hornets finished 20-0.

She was named the Vermont Softball Player of the Year by Gatorade for the second straight year last month, as Frank was 13-0 with a 0.74 ERA in 94 innings, with 131 strikeouts, nine walks and no hit batters. Opponents batted only .121 against her this year. At the plate this spring, Frank had a .365 batting average (27-for-74) while tallying 37 runs and 11 Runs batted in (with a .593 on-base percentage and a .527 slugging percentage).

Mary Krug, Frank's high school classmate at Essex, is the other VSSA Female Co-Athlete of the Month for June.

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