Beth Iwamoto
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Sport:
Softball |
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Year
Graduated: 1997, '99 |
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Year
Inducted: 2003 |
Deb Solfaro could not have asked for a more complete person
on her Terrier softball team than Beth Iwamoto. She was smart,
a hard worker, and could she hit the ball.
"She was a great person," said Solfaro, who had
the pleasure of coaching Beth during her final three undergraduate
years. "She was quiet, diligent, and did everything you
asked of her. She was a real leader, always polite."
The outward appearance hid the strong inward competitiveness
that she had on the softball field.
"She never missed a game," said Solfaro. "She
was our starting first baseman and was quick on defense and
a real clutch hitter."
She hit for power, she hit for average, and she could run.
Her name still rests atop the Terrier career records in four
major categories, while she is second in a fifth. Her .360
career batting average, 201 hits, 24 triples, and .547 career
slugging percentage remain school records six years after
she swung the bat the last time. In addition, her 106 RBI
rank second only to Michelle White's 117.
As a freshman during the 1994 season, she led the nation
in triples with 13, while her .655 slugging percentage and
triple total were school single-season records. In 1995, she
had a team-leading .348 batting average. In 1996, she had
139 at bats and struck out just twice, as she was the fifth
hardest player to strike out in the nation. Finally, in 1997,
she hit .404, which ranked as the second-highest single-season
average in school history. The team captain that season, she
was also the America East Player of the Year and First Team
Northeast Region All-American.
During her four-year career, Beth played on teams that compiled
an overall record of 133-47 and won three conference tournaments.
The best season was 1996 when the Terriers finished 36-10
and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in
program history. They also won the ECAC Conference title in
1994 and the America East Tournament championship in 1997.
We still haven't mentioned her success in the classroom.
She graduated with a 3.33 GPA while majoring in physical
therapy in Sargent College. She was a four-time America East
All-Academic Team selection, and her senior year, she was
the America East Scholar Athlete of the Year. She was also
named GTE/College Sports Information Directors of America
(CoSIDA) Academic All-American.
