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Ali Viola

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Ali Viola (born January 1, 1976) is an American, former collegiate All-American, right-handed hitting softball player at shortstop and coach, originally from Novato, California. She played her career for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1995-1998. She owns various records for the school and is one of ten NCAA Division I hitters to accumulate a career .400 batting average with 200 RBIs and 50 home runs.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

For her freshman season, Viola was named to the then Big Eight Conference First Team, as well as garnering both the “Rookie of The Year” and “Player of The Year” honors. In addition, she was named a Second Team All-American.[1] Viola broke and set new school season records for RBIs, hits, home runs, and slugging percentage, both the RBI and hits still stand. Her average and doubles were and remain second best all-time at the university. She broke most of the same records for the Big 8 that season and they all remain in the top-10 for the Big 12, while leading in average, RBIs, home runs and hits, earning a conference Triple Crown that year.[2][3] Viola also achieved a career and then school best 19 consecutive game hit streak from April 10–29.

In the newly dubbed Big 12, Viola was named to the 1996 Second Team and designated a First Team All-American.[4] Viola broke her own home run and posted a new base on balls record. She led the Big 12 in RBIs and home runs while her 85 hits were the conference’s second best total, now sitting inside the top-10 all-time for a season. All her other season stats were and are top-5 school records.[2][5]

In 1997 Viola lasted just 21 games before injury forced her to retire for the season.[6] She responded the following year by being named all-conference, Big 12 “Player of The Year” and First Team All-American.[7] Viola broke the season home runs, walks and slugging percentage records (all career bests) for the Cornhuskers. Her average, RBIs and hits were and remain top-5 school season records.[2] That year she led the conference in all the latter categories, except hits and walks, to win a second conference Triple Crown.[8]

March 19-April 10, Viola matched her career best 19 consecutive game hit streak. Prior the NCAA tournament, Viola would become just the second player to join the exclusive club of .400 average, 200 RBIs and 50 home runs at the tail end of Big 12 play and into the conference tournament that year. The Cornhuskers made the Women's College World Series and on May 21 vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs, Viola was perfect at the plate (3/3) with the only RBI in the loss.[9] Although shutout in her next game with the Texas Longhorns, the team posted a victory to meet the Washington Huskies on May 23. Viola hit a home run in her final collegiate at-bat to close out her career and seal her spot on the All-Tournament team going (4/8) with 2RBIs and a walk.[10][11]

Overall for her career, Viola claims the school career records for batting average, RBIs, doubles and slugging percentage; she is second in hits and home runs.[12] For the Big 12 conference, she ranks top-10 in every offense category, minus her walks.[13][14]

Personal life

Viola began her coaching career with the Louisville Cardinals and then spent an equal three years with the Wisconsin Badgers and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs. She was Head Coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes and in her tenure has earned a 2007 conference championship and 2009 NCAA tournament super regional appearance.[15]

Viola was also named one of the “25 Women of Distinction” for the Cornhuskers on January 28, 2000.[16] Under a "Make The Team" logo, Viola began offering softball lessons and continues currently.[17] She was also later inducted in the San Marin, California Athletic Hall of Fame.[18]

In 2018, Viola's jersey was retired by her alma mater.[19]

Statistics

Nebraska Cornhuskers

YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
1995 63 199 43 87 .437 72 13 1 21 149 .748% 27 18 1 1
1996 65 202 59 85 .421 71 15 3 14 150 .742% 39 20 17 21
1997 21 58 9 19 .327 13 3 0 4 32 .551% 10 8 2 4
1998 60 170 46 72 .423 57 22 0 9 147 .864% 40 19 13 16
TOTALS 209 629 157 263 .418 213 53 4 48 478 .760% 116 65 33 42

See also

References

  1. ^ "1995 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  2. ^ a b c "NEBRASKA INDIVIDUAL SEASON RECORDS" (PDF). Huskers.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  3. ^ "FINAL 1995 DIVISION I SOFTBALL STATISTICS" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  4. ^ "1996 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  5. ^ "FINAL 1996 DIVISION I SOFTBALL STATISTICS" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  6. ^ "Viola Battles Through Disappointment". Dailynebraskan.com. 2006-06-16. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  7. ^ "1998 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  8. ^ "FINAL 1998 DIVISION I SOFTBALL STATISTICS" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  9. ^ "1998 Women's Division I Softball College World Series Game 4". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  10. ^ "1998 Women's Division I Softball College World Series Game 10". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  11. ^ "All-Tournament Teams" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  12. ^ "HUSKER CAREER RECORDS" (PDF). Huskers.com. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
  13. ^ "Big 12 Record Book" (PDF). Big12sports.com. Retrieved 2020-07-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  14. ^ "Ali Viola Bio". Huskers.com. 2006-09-22. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  15. ^ "Ali Viola". Ohiostatbuckeyes.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  16. ^ "Distinctive Women in Sports Recognized". Dailynebraskan.com. 2000-01-28. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  17. ^ "Ali Viola" (PDF). Make-the-team.com. Retrieved 2015-06-14.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Ali Viola, Athletic Hall of Fame Bio". Marinij.com. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  19. ^ "Ali Viola Jersey Retirement". Nmnathletics.com. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
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