December 19, 2007

Hood College Names Kate Davis Barrick Head Softball Coach 

FREDERICK, MD - Hood College has hired a former Division I standout from Fordham University to lead its softball program.

Kate Davis Barrick becomes the fourth coach in the seven-year history of the Blazers' varsity softball program. She inherits the head coaching duties from Tricia Fiut, who resigned after four years at the helm.

A 2006 graduate of Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y., Barrick was a three-year starter and three-time Atlantic 10 all-conference selection for the Rams. A power hitter, she left her mark on the Fordham record books, setting career records in home runs (35), runs batted in (113), slugging percentage (.622) and total bases (323). She also lists second all-time in hits (178), doubles (38), runs (113) and ranks third in batting average (.344).

As a junior, Barrick garnered the A-10 Player of the Year award and was an all-region first team choice by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). That year, she guided the Rams to a first place finish in the conference regular season standings and a runner-up showing in the league tournament. In 2004, Barrick was a three-time A-10 player of the week and was named to the NFCA all-region second team.

Barrick began her collegiate softball career at Ohio University where she appeared in 34 games as a freshman and finished second on the team with five homeruns and 20 runs scored.

After receiving a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Fordham, Barrick joined the coaching staff as an assistant at Division II Shippensburg University. The Lady Raiders went 30-24 in 2007, marking the program's sixth straight season with 30-plus victories. A perennial power in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), the nationally-ranked Lady Raiders earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Regionals.

Barrick was a two-sport athlete at South Western High School in Hanover, Pa., earning letters in field hockey and softball. She recently received the school's Women's Athletic Alumni Award for leading both squads to the state playoffs during her career.

Barrick and her husband, Greg, from Shippensburg, co-own PA Softball and direct several tournaments and a college showcase event. From May to August, tams attend from as many as 15 states and Canada.  

Barrick inherits a Hood squad which posted a 14-21 record in 2007 and won the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference crown for the second year in a row. The Blazers will embark on their inaugural year in the prestigious Capital Athletic Conference this spring and kick off the 2008 slate Mar. 1 hosting Shenandoah University.

Release run with permission from the Hood College sports information office.