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Apr 14, 2007

Wheaton's Loudenburg Becomes 15th Division III Softball Coach To Reach 500 Win Plateau

NORTON, Mass.- Wheaton College head softball coach Gina Loudenburg became the 15th softball coach in Division III history with 500 career wins after her Lyons won the second game of a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader last Saturday against Clark University on Wheaton's Clark Field. Her career record is now 500-184-3 in 18 years, having pushed the Blue and White to a 20-12 overall mark this spring. In league play, the second-place Lyons are 10-4 as the lone team to already clinch a postseason berth.

In 1990, Loudenburg kicked off her Wheaton coaching career by taking over a program that had won the last two New England Women's Eight (NEW 8) regular season titles and the 1988 tournament championship. In the 17 full seasons since, Loudenburg's squads won 12 regular season conference crowns and 10 tournament titles, as the NEW 8 evolved into the NEWMAC in 1999. The Lyons have qualified for the NCAA Tournament on seven occasions under Loudenburg's guidance, advancing to the NCAA College World Series in 1997, 2001 and 2004. The first two of those teams each finished third nationally, while the 2004 squad tied for fifth.

Under Loudenburg, the Lyons have posted a winning record every year, recording 20-plus wins in each of the last 14 seasons. Wheaton has finished at least tied for third in the regular season conference standings every spring since 1991 and had advanced to the semifinal round of the league tournament every year of Loudenburg's tenure until last season. The 2006 campaign also marked the first time the Lyons did not win or finish as the runner up in the league tournament since 1991. Wheaton is 184-42 in regular season league play since 1990.

The winningest coach in Wheaton athletics history with 744 triumphs - she also coached volleyball for 11 years from 1990-2000, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1997 - is just the 11th coach in Division III softball history to win 500 games at the same institution. She entered the spring ninth in Division III annals for all-time winning percentage (.735). As the coach of 14 All-America softball selections during her career, Loudenburg has also racked up numerous accolades. She has been the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) New England Regional Coach of the Year four times, most recently in 2004, and has drawn six league coach-of-the-year honors.