Amanda Scott Joins Juggernaut as Pitching Coach

March 4, 2005 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
New York/New Jersey Juggernaut News Release


New York, NY— March 4th, 2005 - The New York Juggernaut of National Pro Fastpitch have added another stellar addition to their coaching staff, former four-time first team All-America, Amanda Scott. Scott, hailing from Clovis California, now joins General Manager/Head Coach, Julie Smith, in the quest to keep the Cowles Cup in New York for 2005.

Scott was the ace on the inaugural Juggernaut pitching staff in 2004, leading the Nauts to the first-ever NPF Championship. She finished the regular season with 15 wins and a .88 ERA, second best in the league. Scott, a 2004 NPF East All-Star, was also awarded the Most Valuable Player Award in the playoffs. Amanda was the #1 draft pick in the 2000 WPSL collegiate draft and also served as an alternate for the 2000 USA National Team that won the Gold Medal at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Scott is one of the most decorated athletes in Fresno State history, and was named Fresno State's No. 2 greatest athlete of the 20th century by Fresno fans. Scott, who led Fresno State to the 1998 NCAA Championship, had a career record of 106-18 (.855) with 68 shutouts, 851 strikeouts and a 0.55 earned run average in 871.0 innings pitched. In addition to being a four-time first team All-American, Scott was also an NCAA Top VIII award winner as a senior, receiving an honor that singles out the top eight student-athletes in NCAA Division I, II or III who were outstanding senior student-athletes and demonstrated achievements in athletics, academics, character, leadership and activities. Scott was a two-time GTE Academic All-American, a two-time Fresno State Female Athlete of the Year and a two-time recipient of the Joe Kearney Award for the Western Athletic Conference Female Athlete of the Year. She was also twice named to the College World Series All-Tournament team, and was the MVP in 1998. Scott led the nation in ERA twice, posting a 0.41 ERA as a senior when she was 33-5, and an amazing 0.24 ERA as a junior when she owned a 29-4 record. Scott, a three-time team MVP and three-time WAC Pitcher of the Year, was also adept at the plate, boasting a career .303 batting average, while blasting 31 home runs and driving in 212 runs during her four seasons. She graduated in 2000 with a degree in Communication.

Scott, arguably the best pitcher in the NPF last year, says that her true love for the game comes with coaching now. "Last summer was a great experience and it was both challenging and fun to come back and play. I've just reached a point where I would rather be coaching than playing. I am excited for the opportunity to represent the Juggernaut again in 2005."

Amanda was the pitching coach at Michigan State University during the 2003 and 2004 season. She mentored the Spartan pitching staff that included Jessica Beech, an All-American selection in those two years. In 2003, the coaching staff was honored with the Regional Coaching Staff of the Year Award. In 2004, the Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament Title for the first time in school's history. The team made NCAA Regional appearances in both years with Amanda was pitching coach.

Amanda is currently finishing graduate school and will be graduating with her Masters in Communication from Michigan State University in May 2005. After graduation, she plans on returning to the Division I Collegiate level as a coach, and feels that this opportunity is the start of a great comeback.

Scott of the Nauts pitching staff: "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Jodie and Peaches. They are both great athletes and incredible competitors. They will be a good 1-2 because their pitching styles really complement each other. Working with athletes like Jodie and Peaches will help me become a better coach in the future." Cox currently serves as a pitching coach herself for Syracuse University, a member of the Big East, who currently defeated softball powerhouse UCLA.

Smith on Amanda: "Where do I even begin with Amanda Scott? She was the league MVP last year. I wanted her to come back and play, but she would rather come back and coach! Her experience and expertise on the mound will help us achieve our goals. Pitchers understand pitchers! She has collegiate coaching experience and years of teaching pitching to others. I am confident she is going to do a great job. I spoke with our pitchers and they are all excited she will be a part of the coaching staff."

The Juggernaut are still in negotiations with various facilities and will officially announce a home field in the next two weeks. For more information on the NY/NJ franchise of NPF, please call 212-907-6561 or visit the Juggernaut online at www.nynjjuggernaut.com.



National Pro Fastpitch Stories from March 4, 2005


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