Published: June 6, 2007 Last Modified: June 6, 2007 at 04:28 AM
Chugiak catcher named softball Gatorade Player of the Year
Chugiak High softball player Joanna Schultz "Wog"earned Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year honors on Tuesday, making her eligible for the national award. Schultz, a 5-foot-9 senior, was instrumental in helping the 14-1 Mustangs win the Cook Inlet Conference regular-season title.
She batted .526 with six doubles, four triples and three home runs in 15 games. She drove in 17 runs and scored 23. More impressive was her lofty 1.132 slugging percentage. "She's lit a fire with the hitting, and the slugging percentage has gone through the roof," Chugiak coach Jim Iagulli said in a press release. In addition to her offensive prowess, Schultz is one of the top defensive catchers in the state. "No one runs on her," Iagulli added. "She controls runners as soon as they get on. They don't move." Schultz, who graduated with a B average, will attend Humboldt State in Arcata, Calif., next fall. She plans to walk on the softball team. Catch Schultz in action Friday and Saturday at the high school softball state championships at Cartee Fields. Chugiak's opener is noon Friday against Lathrop.
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6/01/07: The Cugiak Lady Mustangs completed the season 18-1 this Friday. Now it's off to the State Tourney in Anchorage where they will face stiff competition from East, Bartlett, Juneau, and North Pole. Morg's team is pretty tough and I personally think we are in a good position to bring home a state championship.
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ALASKA SOFTBALL TEAMS
COOK INLET CONFERENCE
Chugiak 6, Dimond 2
Published: May 20, 2007 Last Modified: May 20, 2007 at 07:07 AM
HiGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL -- Morgan Payovich knocked out two doubles with an RBI and Chugiak downed Dimond at Albrecht Softball Complex.
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School Conference Season as of 5/22/07
Morg's HS Team is Chugiak
**Chugiak 10-1 13-1**
Bartlett 9-3 10-3**
East Anchorage 8-3 10-3**
Eagle River 5-6 6-6**
Service 4-8 4-8**
Dimond 4-7 6-13**
West Anchorage 3-8 3-8**
South Anchorage 2-9 6-11**
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05/19/07: It's good to have 'Wog' on your side !
CHUGIAK'S ROCK: Mustangs softball team leans on catcher Schultz.
Mustangs are the top team in the Cook Inlet Conference due in part to their senior catcher. Joanna Schultz, who goes by her childhood nickname, "Wog," is a four-year varsity player who many consider the best all-around catcher in the league, Iagulli said. In 11 games, the right-hander is hitting .528 with 12 RBIs, four doubles two triples and three home runs -- two of which cleared the fence. "She's getting better every year," Iagulli said.
Schultz continued her hitting tear Friday as the first-place Mustangs faced their rivals and the defending state champion Eagle River Wolves at Lions Park in Eagle River.
Chugiak is in a excellent position to win its first state championship since 2003.
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Chugiak High School's Morgan Payovich, slides under the intended tag of Eagle River High School second baseman Nicole Galligan during the Mustangs' 8-1 win over the Wolves Saturday on the Delaney Fields on the Anchorage Park Strip. Chugiak is unbeaten through the fist four games of the season, while the defending state champions, Eagle River, is 2-2
PHOTO BY DAN SHEPARD
