Softball's Melanie Alkire, Jennifer Sharron Earn Second-Team All-America Honors
Pair are first softball All-Americans since 1996.
May 25, 2000
NOTRE DAME, Ind. -
Notre Dame juniors Melanie Alkire (Union City, Calif.) and Jennifer Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.) have been named second-team All-Americans Wednesday by Louisville Slugger and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The two are the school's first softball players to earn All-America honors since 1996.
"We are absolutely thrilled for both Jen and Mel and the team and the program as well," Irish head coach Liz Miller said. "As we always tell the team, individual awards are team awards and one doesn't happen without the other.
"It definitely shows that this program is moving upward and forward and in the direction of our goals. I'm sure that these two will be very strong leaders in our program again next year."
Alkire led the Irish in almost every offensive category, including batting average (.376), hits (73), doubles (15), RBI (school record - 64) and home runs (school-record 13). The team's starting shortstop earned the BIG EAST Player-of-the-Year award for the second straight season and was one of two unanimous selections to the all-BIG EAST first team. Alkire, who went 7-1 in the pitching circle, also was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Mideast Region First Team for the second consecutive season, while picking up BIG EAST Tournament MVP honors in 2000.
"I'm both surprised and exited," Alkire said. "It's an award that I've been working toward on a personal-level, but it also is good recognition for the softball program."
Sharron became only the second pitcher in Notre Dame history to record back-to-back 20-win seasons and tally two, 20-win seasons in her career. The program's first southpaw pitcher finished the season with a 26-7 overall record and a 0.88 earned-run average, while setting single-season records for most wins (26), games started (32), complete games (27) and innings pitched (229.2).
Sharron earned her place in BIG EAST softball history after becoming just the second pitcher to earn the BIG EAST Pitcher-of-the-Year award three times (1998-2000). She also was named to the all-BIG EAST first team for the third straight season, was tabbed for Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Mideast Region First Team honors and earned a spot on the NCAA all-region squad for the second straight season in 2000.
"I think it's a honor for the team and the coaches, and not just for Mel and I," Sharron said. "It's a step to getting the recognition that the program needs."
Alkire and Sharron led the 2000 Irish to back-to-back BIG EAST championships, finishing the season with a #17 national ranking and a 47-14 record, the best record in school history. The Irish advanced to the NCAA regionals for the second straight season, going 1-2 with a win over Illinois-Chicago.
