National News

 May 19, 2012

2012 NJCAA Division I Softball Championship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2012
Contact: Tyler Roberts
tyler.roberts@sgcity.org

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD, STATS/RESULTS -- http://www.sgcity.org/recreation/njcaa

Watch the two national championship games via video archive on NJCAA TV

Pictures can be viewed on the NJCAA Facebook Page

Click here for Day 1 Game Recaps

Click here for Day 2 Game Recaps

Click here for Day 3 Game Recaps

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National Championship Game 31 -- #1 Chattanooga State Community College 4, #2 Salt Lake Community College 1

(ST. GEORGE, Utah -- May 19, 2012) The Lady Tigers of Chattanooga State Community College (Tenn.) did the unimaginable, coming through the consolation bracket and defeating Salt Lake Community College (Utah) twice to capture the NJCAA Division I Softball National Championship.

The Lady Bruins of SLCC could not figure out tournament MVP and Outstanding Pitcher of the Tournament, Ashley Czechner. Czechner went all seven innings, only giving up one run on four hits and struck out seven. She had a 3.31 ERA in the tournament going 5-1, throwing 32 2/3 innings and struck out 37 batters.

The Tigers were able to figure out Bruin starter Ariel Zimmerman, getting to her for three runs on five hits in just 2 1/3 innings of work. The short outing by Zimmerman forced SLCC to bring in Kylee Colvin to make her first appearance in the tournament and she promptly shut down the Tigers, giving up only one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Shelby Johnson provided all the offense the Tigers would need, going two for four with two RBIs in the game. For SLCC it was a heartbreaking loss as they were only one out away from winning the title in the previous game with Chattanooga before Zimmerman was shook up by a line shot to the hip and was never the same. The Lady Bruins are the runner-ups for the second straight year, having lost the title last year to Yavapai College (Ariz.).

For Chattanooga State, this is their first softball national championship in their first trip to St. George, Utah for the tournament.

Game 1 Box Score -- Game 2 Box Score

2012 NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S SOFTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
INFIELD – Lacye Walker, Chattanooga State Community College; Michal Robertson, Wallace State Community College; Alicia Eger, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; Brooke Budge, Salt Lake Community College; OUTFIELD – Tanisha Anderson, Salt Lake Community College; Whitney Brown, Wallace State Community College; Andrea Dalton, Chattanooga State Community College; BATTERY – Ariel Zimmerman, Salt Lake Community College; Heather Parker, Wallace State Community College; Paige Mathews, State College of Florida; Paige Rowland, Wallace State Community College; UTILITY/DP – Beth Breeden, Chattanooga State Community College

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
Savanah Webster, Salt Lake Community College 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
Thomasina Garza, Blinn College 

OUTSTANDING PITCHER OF THE TOURNAMENT
Ashlety Czechner, Chattanooga State Community College 

KAREN L. SYKES OUTSTANDING COACH OF THE 2012 NJCAA TOURNAMENT
Beth Keylon-Randolph, Chattanooga State Community College

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF THE 2012 NJCAA TOURNAMENT
Ashley Czechner, Chattanooga State Community College (5-1, 3.31 ERA, 37 K in 32.2 IP)