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MDC ALL TIME LEADERS Pitching - Catching All Time Leaders Offensive - Defensive All time Leaders 2010 Softball Media Guide: Click here Athletes Playing at the Next Level: Click here   2010 NJCAA All Americans & NFCA All Region     The Miami Dade College Lady Sharks placed 4 athletes on the 2010 NJCAA All American Teams. Freshman, Kristen Exposito was named 1st Team All American, and Sophomores Erika Bennett, Geovanny Nunez, and Vivian Morimoto were named 3rd Team All American. Also, the National Fast Pitch Coaches has named 5 players to the All Region Teams. First Team All Region Erika Bennett, Vivian Morimoto, Kristen Exposito, and Veronika Fukunishi. Geovanny Nunez was named second Team NFCA All Region.     Kristen Exposito NJCAA 1st Team All American NFCA 1st Team All Region Erika Bennett NJCAA 3rd Team All American NFCA 1st Team All Region Vivian Morimoto NJCAA 3rd Team All American NFCA 1st Team All Region Geoanny Nunez NJCAA 3rd Team All American NFCA 2nd Team All Region Veronika Fukunishi NFCA 1st Team All Region Miami Dade Captures NJCAA DI Softball Title     HITTING, PITCHING, DEFENSE AND BASERUNNING COME TOGETHER FOR THE LADY SHARKS AS THEY CLAIM THE 2010 TITLE St. George, Utah The dream that started last September became a dream come true on Saturday when the Miami Dade College softball team defeated Wallace State CC 7-0 to claim the 2010 National Junior College Athletic Association championship title. A season full of broken records left in their tracks, the Lady Sharks rampaged through the NJCAA finale, winning all five game and outscoring opponents by a combined score of 46-11. The win vs. Wallace was a school record 51 wins for the program, against a lowest ever six losses, and was also the 203rd win for Head Coach Carlos Caro in just five seasons as coach. The Sharks chomped through the field with wins over Western Nebraska (7-0), Blinn College (5-3), Chipola College (16-7), and Yavapai College (11-1) before meeting the Lions of Wallace State, who would have to defeat the Miami Dade squad twice in the double elimination tournament. But, it wasn't just offensive numbers that carried the squad to the national title, as their pitching, running and fielding statistics were also evident of the well rounded game that the Sharks brought with them on the long journey from Miami to St. George. Consider the following statistics that the Sharks compiled en route to the title: 68 hits, an average of 13.6 hits per game 46 runs scored, an average of 9.2 per game 23 hits in one game vs. Chipola College, where they hit for a .511 average as a team 11 homeruns, average of 2.2 per game MDC pitchers recorded 41 strikeouts (8.2 avg), allowed only 21 hits (4.1 per game) allowed only 13 walks and 11 runs (2.2 per game) MDC stole 13 bases in 14 attempts MDC had only 3 errors in 105 fielding attempts, a .972 fielding percentage, but only one error to a position player, the other two errors were committed by the pitcher MDC Pitcher Erika Bennett was honored as the Tournament MVP, as she won four games in the tournament, striking out 32 in 26 innings pitched, and recording a 0.54 earned run average. She allowed a total of 10 hits and eight walks in the four games she appeared. She ended the season with a 26-2 record, the best record in the history of MDC softball, and was 47-8 in her outstanding two-year career. The native of Sierra Vista, Arizona has signed a Letter of Intent to attend Marshall University. “This is something that we have wanted since we began practice last September,:" Bennett said. "We have focused on winning the national championship and we were just fortunate enough to have everyone contribute and our dream came true." Five players were named to the NJCAA All Tournament Team. Infield: Simone Suetsugu, outfield: Veronika Fukunishi, battery: Vivian Morimoto and Erika Bennett, and utility/DP: Geovany Nunez. Head Coach Carlos Caro was also given the KAREN L. SYKES OUTSTANDING COACH OF THE 2010 NJCAA TOURNAMENT. The 2010 national title is the first ever for Miami Dade College in fast-pitch softball. However, the world's largest college (170,000 enrollment) has recorded 33 total NJCAA titles, including 13 in women's sports, led by women's volleyball with eight national titles. "Our players believed in themselves that this could be accomplished," Caro said. "I have always told them that it doesn't matter what I believe, it doesn't matter what their family believes, it only matters that they believed in themselves to get the goal that they set for themselves in September."     NJCAA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM Named to the 2010 NJCAA All-Tournament Team are pitcher Erika Bennett, catcher Vivian Morimoto, infielder Simone Suetsugu, utility/DP Geovanny Nunez, and outfielder Veronika Fukunishi. Joined by Outstanding Coach of the Tournament Carlos Caro. Lady Sharks Honored Pictured left to right: V. Fukunishi, E. Bennett, G. Nunez, A. Lara, S.Suetsugu     The Lady Sharks of Miami Dade College place five athletes on the Atlantic District All-Tournament Team. Infielders Simone Suetusug and Amanda Lara, outfielder Veronika Fukunishi, as well as pitchers Erika Bennett and Geovanny Nunez all honored to the Atlantic District All-Tournament Team. In addition, Lady Sharks Lara, Fukunishi, and Bennett were named to the FCCAA All-Tournament Team. Head Coach Carlos Caro was also named Atlantic District Coach of Year , leading the Sharks to a 46-7-1 season record.     Sharks Head Coach     The leader of the pack, Head Coach Carlos Caro, has been named Atlantic District Coach of the Year. He has lead the Lady Sharks to a 46-7-1 season record, Atlantic District Champions, State Runners-up, Southern Conference Championship, and now a berth to participate in the NJCAA National Tournament. Carlos was also named Southern Conference Coach of the Year this season. " We accomplished our goal to win the ATLANTIC DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP, our team showed tremendous courage playing tuff during the all tournament, I'm really proud of them. When we lost to Seminole they were not happy, I just told them, I believe in you and they did it like they did in the regular season, they came out to played hard and when they do that they have being unstoppable 46 times this year" I'm really excited to see them play at the national tournament, I know they will enjoy it and when they do good things could happen for us". Coach Caro     All Conference Team Selections     The Lady Sharks of Miami Dade have completed their conference play, and have been crowned the 2010 Southern Conference Champions! Freshman Kristen Exposito has been named Southern Conference Player of the Year, sophomore Erika Bennett named Conference Pitcher of the Year, and Head Coach Carlos Caro was named Conference Coach of the Year. The Sharks have also placed 8 players on 1st Team All Conference, and three on 2nd Team All Conference. Conference Player of the Year and Pitcher of the year, Exposito and Bennett, are also named to the FCCAA First Team All State.     First Team All Conference IF-Kristen Exposito First Team All State Conference Player of the Year First Team All Conference P-Erika Bennett First Team All State Conference Pitcher of the Year First Team All Conference IF-Amanda Lara First Team All Conference IF-Simone Suetsugu First Team All Conference OF-Veronika Fukunishi First Team All Conference C-Vivian Morimoto First Team All Conference AL-Geovany Nunez First Team All Conference AL-Simone Miyahira First Team All Conference Second Team All Conference OF-Rebecca Hall Second Team All Conference OF-Stephanie Buendia Second Team All Conference P-Tamara Hidalgo Second Team All Conference Puerto Rico Cup Champions     The Miami Dade College Softball team participated in the Puerto Rico Cup tournament and went undefeated, winning 6 games and toppling the Puerto Rico National Team 5-1 in the championship game on Sunday to win the first-ever Puerto Rico Cup. In Saturday night's semifinal game Geovany Nunez hit a grand slam as the Sharks defeated Roosevelt 10-0 with Erika Bennett on the mound. In the championship game the Sharks scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first inning on a single to left field by Nunez to score Vivian Morimoto, while Kristen Exposito and Simone Miyahira followed with back to back home runs. The Sharks fifth run crossed the plate in the bottom of the 5th inning when Miami native Stephanie Buendia, who hit 636 in the tournament, scored. MDC hitters hit 7 homeruns in the tournament and scored 51 times in the 6 games tournament. MDC Pitcher Erika Bennett was voted the tournament's outstanding PITCHER as well as the tournament MVP. Bennett won 5 games to raise her personal record to 15-0, striking out 32 batters in 23 innings of work to raise her total to 146 for the season. Also MDC's Amanda Lara was honored as the tournament's BEST HITTER, as she went 11 for 19, walked 3 times, scored 7 runs, stole 4 out 5 bases and had 4 RBI's as a lead off hitter for the SHARKS.     2010 Triple Crown Tournament Champions     Power hitting (12 Homeruns) and pitching (42 strikeouts) lead the Miami Dade College Women's Softball team to defend last years title by once again winning the Triple Crown Tournament in St. Augustine, FL with and impressive 5 and 0 undefeated tournament record. The team five victories games over the weekend by defeating the Florida State club team 9-5, State College of Florida 9-2, St. John's Community College 10-6, Hillsborough Community College 10-2 and Tallahassee Community College 4-2. The Sharks showed an amazing offensive talent with eight home runs in the first day. In the first game Kristen Exposito went two for three with one double, two runs scored and three RBIs. Simone Myahira went two for two with two back-back homeruns, three runs scored and three RBIs. During the second game against State College the Sharks once again were a defensive success. Veronika Fukunishi went three for four with a homerun, a double, two runs scored and three RBIs. Simone Suetsugu went two for four with a double, one run scored and one RBI. Kristen Exposito went two for four with a homerun and two RBIs. In the third game the Sharks continued their dominance with four homeruns in the game. Outstanding players included Veronika Fukunishi went one for two with a homerun, two runs scored and two RBIs; Simone Suetsugu went two for three, with a homerun, three runs scored and three RBIs; Tiffany Mullins-Diaz went two for four with a homerun, one run scored and one RBI and Ashley Silveira went two for three with a homerun, two runs scored and one RBI. On Sunday the Sharks first defeated Hillsborough Community College 10 - 2. Simone Miyahira and Veronika Fuknishi each hit a grand slam earning 4 RBIs a piece. In their second game the Sharks defeated Tallahassee Community College 4 - 2. Simone Miyahira once again stepped up to plate with a home run, while Kristen Exposito also hit a homerun to break a tie game in the bottom of the sixth. Erika Bennett earned the win with eleven strikeouts. The Sharks showed a tremendous offensive dominance with 12 homeruns, 44 hits, 8 doubles and scoring 42 runs in five games. Erika Bennet talso tied the school record for strike outs in one game (18) and earning 39 over the weekend taking her record to 6 - 0, 59 strikeouts and ERA of 0.85 for the season.     2010 Triple Crown Home Run Club Veronica Fukunishi - 3 HR, Simone Suetsugu - 1 HR, Tiffany Mullen-Diaz - 1 HR, Ashley Silveira - 1 HR, Simone Miyahira - 4 HR, Kristen Exposito - 2 HR FCCAA Pitcher of the WEEK 2/9/10     Miami Dade College’s Erika Bennett named FCCAA Softball Pitcher of the Week. Bennett, a sophomore from Sierra Vista, Arizona, has had a dominant start in the circle for the Sharks. She posted a record of 6-0, including four victories at last weekend’s Triple Crown Classic, in which the Sharks remained undefeated in tournament played, and were crowned Champions the second year in a row. Against the FSU Club Team, Bennett tied the MDC record with 18 strikeouts and has a total of 59 K’s in 41 innings pitched. She has allowed only 5 earned runs and has an ERA of 0.85.     Lady Sharks Sign During Early Period IF/OF-Amanda Lara P-Erika Bennett IF-Simone Suetsugu     Lady Sharks: Amanda Lara and Erika Bennett, have signed a letter of intent with Marshall University during the early signing period. Simone Suestugu, has also signed with University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.     MDC Softball Signs New Talent     The Miami Dade College Softball team signs new talent for next season. Pitcher/Infield, and power hitter Sarah Levern from South Ridge High School, Infield/utility and power hitter Karen Pedraza from Ferguson High School, and pitcher Rachel Maegly from Spokane Washington.     2008-2009 Softball Overview     Some of the most important accomplishment of the MDC Softball during 2009 were being Nationally ranked #6, Triple Crown Champions, three athletes signed scholarships to play NCAA- Annike Don, Jacksonville University, Jannete Falcon, St. Leo University and Jennifer Rioseco, Warner College. Also, for the first time in MDC history, the softball team finished 6th in the nation with a team G.P.A of 3.359 in the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association girls got game award.     CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2008-2009 SOFTBALL TEAM for your 6TH PLACE ranking in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Annual "GIRLS GOT GAME" academic achievement with a grade point average of 3.359.     This is the first time that the MDC Lady Sharks have escalated to the national ranks in the academic field which has placed us as a NATIONAL ACADEMIC POWER HOUSE. MDC Softball accomplished a lot last year on the field: Triple Crown Champions, MDC records were broken, participation in the state tournament for 6 consecutive years, 7th place in NJCAA National ranking-the highest ranking ever accomplished by the MDC Softball team, and All American nominations. Off the field, in 2008 MDC Softball received their fist ALL AMERICAN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT nominations in program history when Patricia Rivero and Elizabeth Houser were honored by the National Junior College Athletic Association. In 2009 Mariana Patraca, an international student from Mexico, was the recipient of this prestigious award. The 2008-2009 Softball team obtained the highest grade point average among all Florida Community College Athletic Association.     Rank School Head Coach GPA 1 Wallace State CC/Hanceville Jayne Clem 3.733 2 Sussex County CC Nick DeGennaco 3.476 3 Barton CC Heather Panning 3.455 3 Central CC Jack Gutierrez 3.455 5 Iowa Western CC Lana Ross 3.422 6 Miami Dade College Carlos Caro 3.359 7 Hutchinson CC Jaime Rose 3.320 8 Northwest Florida State College Jack Byerley 3.306 9 Daytona State College Sabrina Manhart 3.300 10 South Mountain CC Kristina Schmallen 3.267 11 Calhoun CC Nancy Keenum 3.250 12 Seminole CC Courtney Miller 3.240 13 Colby CC Ryan Sturdy 3.237 14 Indian Hills CC Jim Overturf 3.236 15 Walla Walla CC Mike Staudenmaier 3.234 16 Vernon College John Blair 3.200 17 Triton College Art Kasak 3.180 18 Dodge City CC Howie Smith 3.162 19 San Jose City College Debbie Hunter-Rooney 3.126 20 Hill College Leigh Ebner 3.110 FCCAA Scoreboard 2009 Softball