Shaffer Set To Play Second Season With Michigan Ice
May 18, 2007 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb softball assistant coach Lani Shaffer will embark on her second season in the professional ranks as she is set to play for the Michigan Ice.
Shaffer, who etched her name in Division I lore with 55 consecutive steals during her playing days for the Bulldogs, returns to a team where she was the only player to participate in every game last season.
Still a speedster, Shaffer will use her talent in the outfield, which is her natural position. At times last season, she was used in the infield and could again see time there if the need arises.
"Speed is certainly a threat and a tool in this game and Lani provides it," T. Jason Newsham, the general manager, said. "She not only has the speed, but she has smarts on top of that. This year she is getting a chance to play the outfield, her natural spot, to let her speed show. She proved she can make things happen and we expect more of that."
Last season, Shaffer was third on the team in batting average and second in on base percentage.
Shaffer recently completed her second season as a full-time assistant on head coach Tom Cole's softball team. Primarily in charge of the outfield and batting, Shaffer's crew re-wrote the Gardner-Webb record book in multiple offensive categories and the outfielder's had a near-record for assists in a season.
Her influence on the student-athletes and assistance to Cole was much of the reason that the Bulldogs won their first-ever postseason game since moving to Division I, advancing to the A-Sun Championship game. The team, which finished 35-26-1 on the year, recorded its name in the record book for the ninth-biggest turnaround in NCAA history.
The Ice are a member of the National Professional Fastpitch league that features teams such as the Akron Racers, Rockford Thunder, Washington Glory, New England Riptide, Philadelphia Force and the Chicago Bandits.
The squad will begin its 36-game schedule on Thursday, May 31 at 7:05 p.m., beginning a four-game series with the 2005 NPF champions and 2006 runner-ups.
Throughout the season, check back with gwusports.com as Shaffer
will provide insight on the team, games, practices and down time to
give softball fans an inside look at professional athletes during
their season. The journal that Shaffer will write can be accessed
by clicking gwusports.com and clicking on the softball link. From
there, click on the "Shaffer's Summer" link on the left-hand side
of the page (or by clicking
http://www.gwusports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10300&KEY=&SPID=4171&SPSID=88115).
In addition to the journal, Shaffer will also send photographs of
various parts of the season that can also be accessed by fans at
the same link.
