Softball Release - (2005) - All-ODAC Awards - Guilford College

  • FRANKLIN, COOKE AND DUNNIGAN TAKE ALL-ODAC SOFTBALL HONORS

 

      Greensboro, NC (4/29/05) -- Guilford senior Jennifer Franklin became the first player in school history to earn First Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) laurels, the league announced Friday. Franklin's classmate, catcher Ashley Cooke, and freshman pitcher Christi Dunnigan were second team picks. Junior Carla Cain garnered honorable mention plaudits. The four All-ODAC selections establish a school record for the Quakers, who also set school standards for overall (16) and ODAC wins (8) in a season.

 

Jennifer Franklin Ashley Cooke Christi Dunnigan Carla Cain

 

      Franklin, a 5-5 center fielder, held a share of the team lead in every offensive category save stolen bases, where she ranked second, and RBIs, where she finished third. She hit .393 with 15 doubles, four homers and 17 RBIs. The three-year starter placed among the ODAC's toughest hitters to strike out, fanning only five times, the lowest figure among Guilford regulars. Franklin paced the conference in total bases (86) and doubles (15) while ranking second in hits (55).

 

      Cooke, a Second Team All-ODAC pick for the third straight year, ranked second on the team in various categories, including batting average (.361) and RBIs (21). She led the league's catchers by throwing out 10 would-be base stealers. Cooke ranked sixth in the league in hits (46) and total bases (66). She and Franklin shared second placed among the ODAC's home runs leaders with four.


      The 5-6 Dunnigan was a workhorse for the Quakers on the mound this season, as she led the circuit in innings pitched (144.2) and pitching appearances (30). She placed ninth in ERA (2.61), fourth in victories (10) and fourth in strikeouts (99). Also an infielder, Dunnigan helped out at the plate, where she ranked fourth on the squad with a .308 batting average and .363 on-base percentage.

 

      Cain, a 5-6 middle infielder, led the Quakers in RBIs (22) and stolen bases (9). She finished second on the team with nine doubles and 20 runs scored. Among ODAC leaders, she ranked sixth in stolen bases, ninth in hits (44) and ninth in total bases. Cain's situational hitting was fantastic throughout the year, as she hit at a .378 clip (14-37) with two outs and had a .391 average (18-46) with runners in scoring position; she led the team in both categories.

 

      Head coach Ty Cook's Quakers finished the season with a 16-24 record overall, 8-8 in the ODAC. Guilford was eliminated in the six-team, double-elimination ODAC Tournament in Salem, VA. Guilford fell to fourth-seeded Bridgewater, 4-3 in eight innings, and third-seeded Virginia Wesleyan, 6-4. The Quakers expect 10 letter winners back next season, including Dunnigan and Cain.