Kats' Amy Brown ties Southland all-time put out record
5/16/2010 9:08:00 AM | Softball
That's the question Southland Conference record-keepers are asking about two of the most successful first basemen in the league's softball history.
From 1996 to 1999, Shante Jones totaled 1,734 career put outs in 211 games as a Northwestern State Lady Demon.
Eleven years later, Amy Brown comes to Sam Houston State and totals 1,734 put outs in 223 games.
The pair now are tied not only for the Southland Conference record for career put outs but now stand knotted at 10th in the NCAA Division I record book.
Brown and Jones collected 361 more put outs than their nearest competitor in Southland annals. Heather Moreaux of McNeese State totaled 1,433 career put outs in 220 games in 1999 to 2002.
Kenya Peters of Southern Mississippi holds the NCAA record for career put outs with 2,221 in 253 games from 1999 to 2002.
"Amy has been a fixture at first base for us the past four years and a standout leader for us both offensively and defensively," SHSU head coach Bob Brock said. "It's exciting to have her equal a Southland Conference record and incredible that two players from the same league could play all those games and end up with the same total."
What makes Brown's accomplishment even more amazing is her efficiency. In four years and 1,837 fielding chances, the senior from Cypress Fairbanks High School made only 18 errors. That works out to a Sam Houston school record .990 fielding average.
Jones also produced an amazing error-free career at Northwestern State, producing a .980 fielding average. The NCAA record book does not include career fielding average statistics but both women would be near the top if the organization did.
"Shante was one of the most delightful student-athletes we've had here at Northwestern State," Demon sports information director Doug Ireland said. "To have these two all-time leaders tied in the NCAA records is indeed a feat."
Brown completed her career ranked in several other Sam Houston all-time categories. She stands second in total games played (223) and at bats (223), fifth in career hits (191) and 18th in career batting average (.286).
The first baseman was not the only Bearkat to end her career this season with her name all over the Sam Houston softball record book.
Senior designated player/pitcher Morgan Mikulin of Huntsville completed her career ranked first in games pitched (152) and career saves (13), second in innings pitched (742), third in strike outs (427) and RBIs (80), fourth in career pitching victories (60) and home runs (15), fifth in shut-outs (20) and 15th in career batting average (.295).
The NCAA Division I All-Time Putout Leaders
| Kenya Peters, So. Mississippi | 1999-02 | 253 | 2,221 |
| Callista Balko, Arizona | 2005-08 | 238 | 2,173 |
| Shannon Doepking, Tennessee | 2005-08 | 266 | 2,166 |
| Heidi Foster, Purdue | 2000-03 | 235 | 2,047 |
| Carmela Linag, South Florida | 2002-05 | 266 | 1,872 |
| Mackenzie Vandergeest, Arizona | 2001-04 | 255 | 1,812 |
| Ali Gardiner, Florida | 2006-09 | 276 | 1,794 |
| Kelsey Hoffman, Virginia Tech | 2005-08 | 222 | 1,779 |
| Kristin Brust, Stony Brook | 2002-05 | 231 | 1,765 |
| Shante Jones, Northwestern St. | 1996-99 | 211 | 1,734 |
| Amy Brown, Sam Houston St. | 2007-10 | 223 | 1,734 |
