Jan. 22, 2008
Redbird All-Access members, watch Nicholson talk about her rise to success and what it means to her to pitch professionally.
NORMAL, Ill. -
For the sixth time in program history, and the second time in as many years, a former Illinois State softball player has signed to play professionally, as 2007 Redbird alumna Shannon Nicholson signed to pitch the 2008 season for the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league Monday. A 2007 Easton All-American Second-Team selection, Nicholson will join former ISU pitcher and teammate Stacy Birk in the NPF, as Birk is currently a member of the Philadelphia Force.
Nicholson's professional career is set to begin Friday, June 6 in Chicago, when Akron opens its season against the Chicago Bandits. The Chatham, Ill., native is continuing her association with Illinois State softball this season as a student assistant coach, while she pursues a master's degree in sport management.
Nicholson is looking forward to playing against some of the top softball competition in the nation once she joins Akron.
"I am excited for the challenge to play day-in and day-out against the best softball players in the nation," said Nicholson.
"I am also excited to be among other great Redbirds who have played professionally."
One of the most prolific pitchers to emerge from the Illinois State softball program, Nicholson recorded at least 15 wins in the circle for ISU in each of her final three seasons. She finished her ISU career ranked third all-time in opponent batting average (.244) and career appearances (135), fourth in career wins (62) and tied for fifth in career strikeouts (362).
In 2007, her final season in the circle for the Redbirds, Nicholson had the lowest earned-run average (ERA) among ISU pitchers (1.53), and also posted the most victories (21) on the team, en route to earning an All-Missouri Valley Conference First-Team selection. Her courageous comeback from a near career-ending tear of her right Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) midway through the 2007 season, coupled with her consistent performance, both in-and-out of the classroom, helped her earn both the Illinois State Female Scholar-Athlete and Female Athlete of the Year awards in 2007.
Nicholson is also appreciative of the reputation and challenging schedule that Redbird head softball coach Melinda Fischer and her staff built during each of her four seasons in the ISU softball program.
"The coaches put together one of the toughest schedules in the nation," said Nicholson. "Many of the teams that I talked to were very interested in the fact that we played against the best teams in the country and beat several of them. Melinda's (Fischer) expectations drove me to go the extra mile, whether it was on the field, in the weight room or in the classroom."
"I'm really excited that I was able to get Shannon to come play for us this summer," said Joey Arrietta, president/general manager of the Akron Racers. "She's the right kind of young lady that we like to have in our program. I really believe that her best days are ahead of her."
Nicholson joins slugger Emily Kruger, as well as the aforementioned Birk, as former Redbirds who have played in the NPF. Kruger played the 2004 season with the New England Riptide.
The NPF league is comprised of six teams that play a 48-game schedule from late-May to mid-August. The top-four teams at the end of the league schedule earn the right to play in the NPF Championship Series, which is comprised of a double-elimination tournament in Kimberly, Wis.
