April 18, 2007

HAMPTON, VA - North Carolina Central University freshman utility player Michelle Ishida was voted CIAA Softball Rookie of the Year, as chosen by the league's head coaches on Wednesday night.

Ishida, who was also picked to the CIAA All-Conference and All-Rookie Teams, led the conference with 50 runs batted in and 17 doubles. She boasts a batting average of .419 with 44 runs scored, four triples and five home runs.

A native of San Gabriel, Calif., Ishida played in and started all 38 games the Lady Eagles played this season and appeared in seven games as a starter and relief pitcher. In those games, Ishida accumulated a 2-2 record in 23.1 innings pitched, including three complete games with a 4.80 earned run average.

Ishida and NCCU (29-9, 20-0) will begin defense of their 2006 CIAA Championship on Apr. 18 at 12:00 p.m. in Petersburg, Va., against Shaw University at the CIAA Softball Tournament.