May 12, 2004

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University sophomore outfielder Ashley Purcell (Herndon, Va.) was named to the 2004 All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team, while junior shortstop Stacy James (Leesburg, Va.) earned second team all-conference honors as announced Wednesday evening at Hofstra University on the eve of the 2004 CAA Softball Championship.

Purcell played and started 59 games in 2004 and finished the season first among teammates in batting average with .398. She ended her first year with the Patriots with a school record 58 stolen bases from 63 attempts, which set a new standard in the conference record books for a single season. In addition, Purcell ended the regular season atop the CAA in hits with 86 and runs scored with 45. On four different occasions, Purcell was perfect at the plate, including a 4-for-4 showing against UNC Wilmington in the second game of a doubleheader (May 8). In the same contest, Purcell matched season-bests with three RBI, three runs and three stolen bases against the Seahawks.

James started every game at shortstop for Mason and garnered a team third-best batting average of .346 for the 2004 campaign. She collected a season-best four RBI versus St. Bonaventure (Mar. 11) and scored a season-high three runs in the second game of a doubleheader at Norfolk State on Mar. 25. James connected on 12 triples--a Patriot single-season record--and was also first in the CAA at the close of the regular season. The Pennsylvania native finished the year leading the conference in RBI and total bases with 41 and 105, respectively. James was named CAA Player of the Year in 2003 and was named conference rookie of the year her freshman season, along with being named to the All-CAA First Team.

The Patriots closed out the 2004 season with an overall record of 28-32, with a conference mark of 8-10 to finish fifth among CAA schools.

2004 ALL-CAA SOFTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM
Player, Pos., School
Meaghan Almon, C, Hofstra
Katie Jaworski, 1B, James Madison
Lisa Wambold, 2B, Hofstra
Katie Mumbauer, SS, Towson
Laura Streets, 3B, Delaware
Jeanne Bosch, OF, Towson
Ashley Lane, OF, Hofstra
Ashley Purcell, OF, George Mason
Hailey Clark, UT, Hofstra
Adrienne Clark, DP, Hofstra
Carolynn Sloat, P, Delaware
Callie Osborne, P, Hofstra

SECOND TEAM
Player, Pos., School
Laurie Erickson, C, Delaware
Stefanie Kenney, 1B, Hofstra
Liz Winslow, 1B, Delaware
Kelly Berkemeier, 2B, James Madison
Stacy James, SS, George Mason
Katie George, SS, James Madison
Tara Ulrich, 3B, Hofstra
Liz George, OF, James Madison
Sara Foster, OF, Towson
Christina Elmore, OF, UNC Wilmington
Briana Carrera, UT, James Madison
Randi Isaacs, DP, Delaware
Liz George, P, James Madison
Alexis Alcantara, P, Hofstra

CAA Player of the Year:  Laura Streets, Delaware
CAA Pitcher of the Year:  Callie Osborne, Hofstra
CAA Rookie of the Year:  Ashley Lane, Hofstra
CAA Coach of the Year:  Katie Flynn, James Madison