The Mount Vernon Nazarene College women's fastpitch softball team recently added a transfer to its roster to join the Lady Cougars for the 2002 season.
Angie Smith, a shortstop/third baseman from West Liberty, Ohio, has decided to transfer to MVNC after spending a year at the University of Toledo. The former West Liberty-Salem High School standout posted a .420 batting average with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 19 runs scored, 20 runs batted in, and six stolen bases in 22 games as a senior in 2000. She wrapped up her high school career by going 5-for-5 in her final game as she hit for the cycle.
For her efforts in 2000, she was named to the All-Conference First Team and the Southwest District All-Star Team. She was named the Champaign County Player of the Year, and she became the first softball player in school history to earn All-Ohio honors when she was chosen to the All-State Second Team in Division III.
"I am really excited to have Angie joining our program," said MVNC head coach Jeana Howald. "She is a very good player who had a great high school career. She is also a good person, and she will be a good fit at our school."
In addition to playing softball for four years, Smith also played volleyball and basketball for four years and served as the captain for all three sports as a senior. She was a four-year member of Student Council and served as the president her senior year. She was also named to the fall homecoming court and chosen as the queen of the winter homecoming royalty during her senior year.
"After having attended Toledo during my freshman year of college, the idea of being part of MVNC's family, vision, and tradition drew me in," said Smith of her decision to transfer. "The faculty and small setting that is very united appealed to me. Being a new Christian, I wanted to be surrounded with the beliefs and values that are represented foremost at MVNC. The combination of Christianity and higher education will aid me in achieving my goals with softball and academically."
The Lady Cougars are coming of a 20-18 season in which they posted a 12-11 record in the highly competitive American Mideast Conference. MVNC will be losing 10 of the 16 players from this year's team due to various reasons ranging from graduation, getting married, attending nursing school, and student teaching.
