Alma College

The team started the greatest run in program history as it began a stretch of nine consecutive MIAA Championships. They are the seventh team in program history to be enshrined in the Alma College Athletic Hall of Fame, joining the teams of 1985, ‘86, ‘94, ‘98, ‘99 and 2000.
 
The team included Hall of Fame players Becky Pierce ‘00 and Brandee Brower ‘00. In 1997, Pierce was a First-Team All-MIAA player, as was pitcher Andrea Hill ‘97 and outfielder Lisa Meyer ‘97. All-MIAA Second-Team honors went to senior outfielder Angi Ahac ‘97, sophomore outfielder Heather Bruder ‘99, and sophomore second baseman Sarah Lefke ‘99.
 
The Scots finished the season with a 33-9 overall record, including an 11-1 mark in the MIAA. The team was well prepared for the league season, facing a non-league schedule made up mostly of contests against NCAA Division II and NAIA teams. With outstanding pitching from Hill and Pierce, as well as a stifling defense, Alma allowed only 19 runs in their 12 regular season league games.
 
Offensively, the team hit .421 in league play – the second highest average in MIAA history. Senior Lisa Meyer set a MIAA record for a single-season batting average, hitting .647 in league games, a record that still stands today.
 
The Scots’ regular season success gained the young team a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the third time in four seasons. A pair of nail-biting, one-run losses ended the campaign, but Alma finished the year ranked 18th in the final NCAA Division III poll. With only three seniors, the groundwork had been laid for a historic future run.