Metro State Roadrunners Softball News
Metro State Roadrunners Softball News www.GoMetroState.com For immediate release: August 24, 2010
Metropolitan State College of Denver • Department of Athletics • Fax: 303-556-2720 Mail: Campus Box 9 • P.O. Box 173362 • Denver, CO 80217 • Ship: 1201 5th St. • Denver, CO 80217 Sports Info. Director: Andy Schlichting, O: 303-556-3431, C: 612-964-1281, [email protected]
Becerra Named Interim Head Coach DENVER - Metro State Athletic Director Joan McDermott announced on Tuesday that Vanessa Becerra has been named interim head softball coach. Becerra replaces Jen Fisher, who stepped down on Friday to accept the head coaching position at Colorado State University. “We really feel that Vanessa is the best fit for our program,” McDermott said. “She has done an excellent job as an assistant under Jen and it should be an easy transition for the student-athletes as she shares the same philosophies as Jen. We’re excited for Vanessa to be able to continue the success of Metro State softball on and off the field.” “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to lead these young ladies,” Becerra said. “I’ve had the privilege of coaching under one of the best coaches around and am excited to continue the great tradition Coach Fisher has started. I expect an easy transition as Coach has really prepared our staff and our student-athletes well. I would also like to thank Joan McDermott for this opportunity. She has shown a great knack for finding successful coaches and I look forward to continuing that trend.” Becerra has spent the past three seasons as the top assistant at Metro State, helping the Roadrunners to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010. Becerra and the rest of the coaching staff were named National Fastpitch Coaches Association Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year for NCAA Division II following the 2010 season, in which Metro State posted a 53-6 record. Included in that win total was a conference record 37 wins with just two losses. The Roadrunners also shattered the national home run record, totaling 112 to top the previous record of 98. They also broke the RMAC records for ERA, runs scored (tied the previous record) and home runs in conference games. Metro State also set the school record by winning 17 consecutive games from April 10 to May 6. As a result of the team’s success 2010, Head Coach Jen Fisher earned the highest honor for a college coach, garnering CaptainU National Coach of the Year honors. Becerra played the 2006-07 season at Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah, Ga., where she was the 2007 Peach Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year as the team’s catcher. Prior to her time at Armstrong Atlantic, Becerra played for two seasons under Fisher at Otero Junior College. While at Otero, she earned AllAmerica and Region IX Player of the Year honors in 2005, and also helped the Rattlers to two Region IX championships. Becerra graduated from Metro State in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in sport industry operations.
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Metropolitan State College of Denver • Department of Athletics • Fax: 303-556-2720 Mail: Campus Box 9 • P.O. Box 173362 • Denver, CO 80217 • Ship: 1201 5th St. • Denver, CO 80217 Sports Info. Director: Andy Schlichting, O: 303-556-3431, C: 612-964-1281, [email protected]
Becerra Named Interim Head Coach DENVER - Metro State Athletic Director Joan McDermott announced on Tuesday that Vanessa Becerra has been named interim head softball coach. Becerra replaces Jen Fisher, who stepped down on Friday to accept the head coaching position at Colorado State University. “We really feel that Vanessa is the best fit for our program,” McDermott said. “She has done an excellent job as an assistant under Jen and it should be an easy transition for the student-athletes as she shares the same philosophies as Jen. We’re excited for Vanessa to be able to continue the success of Metro State softball on and off the field.” “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to lead these young ladies,” Becerra said. “I’ve had the privilege of coaching under one of the best coaches around and am excited to continue the great tradition Coach Fisher has started. I expect an easy transition as Coach has really prepared our staff and our student-athletes well. I would also like to thank Joan McDermott for this opportunity. She has shown a great knack for finding successful coaches and I look forward to continuing that trend.” Becerra has spent the past three seasons as the top assistant at Metro State, helping the Roadrunners to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010. Becerra and the rest of the coaching staff were named National Fastpitch Coaches Association Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year for NCAA Division II following the 2010 season, in which Metro State posted a 53-6 record. Included in that win total was a conference record 37 wins with just two losses. The Roadrunners also shattered the national home run record, totaling 112 to top the previous record of 98. They also broke the RMAC records for ERA, runs scored (tied the previous record) and home runs in conference games. Metro State also set the school record by winning 17 consecutive games from April 10 to May 6. As a result of the team’s success 2010, Head Coach Jen Fisher earned the highest honor for a college coach, garnering CaptainU National Coach of the Year honors. Becerra played the 2006-07 season at Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah, Ga., where she was the 2007 Peach Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year as the team’s catcher. Prior to her time at Armstrong Atlantic, Becerra played for two seasons under Fisher at Otero Junior College. While at Otero, she earned AllAmerica and Region IX Player of the Year honors in 2005, and also helped the Rattlers to two Region IX championships. Becerra graduated from Metro State in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in sport industry operations.
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