Fergus dispenses softball advice

ERIE, Pa. -- Joanna Fergus' advice to young girls who want to play softball is to join a team at an early age, practice a lot, make arrangements to get specialized coaching and get on a traveling team with better players.
"Just keep practicing and follow your dreams and do what you want to do," said Fergus, a senior first baseman on the Gannon University team from Fitch High. "Get with a good pitching and batting coach and get with a good traveling team so that you develop your skills in order to perform at the high school and college level."
Fergus, whose career was launched at an early age by her parents, Sue (Shuba) and Andy Fergus, knows what it takes to develop, advance and succeed because of the success she is enjoying at Gannon.
The granddaughter of Ed Shuba, former Vindicator photographer, and the grand-niece of George "Shotgun" Shuba, the former Brooklyn Dodgers player, Fergus has become one of the top players in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and a candidate for GLIAC player of the year.
Outstanding statistics
Fergus broke two school records this year, for home runs in a season (12) and career (28).
She also leads the GLIAC in five categories -- batting average (.428 on 65-for-152), home runs, RBIs (54), slugging percentage (.730) and on-base percentage (.476).
Fergus has helped the Knights to a 37-14 record, including 14-6 in the GLIAC entering the league tournament that began Friday.
Gannon was No. 3 in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes regional rankings, ending the regular season with seven straight victories and 13 wins in its last 14 games.
Fergus is majoring in elementary special education with a 3.4 grade-point average and plans to graduate in December, and would like to become a teacher and softball coach.
"I am going to be a graduate assistant at Gannon for 2007 and work on my masters for two years," said Fergus.
Fergus, who was coached by Jerry Beltempo at Fitch, is among six Gannon players batting .300 or better, which has helped the team to a league-best .306 batting average. Gannon also leads the GLIAC in fielding percentage (.965).
Joining Fergus in that elite hitting group is Jaclyn Corroto, a sophomore shortstop from Boardman High who is batting .356 (62-for-174) which ranks third on the team
Corroto also leads the team in runs scored (43) and is second in RBIs (37), homers (8) and doubles (12).
Corroto is big asset
Fergus said Corroto is a big asset to the team.
"Her hitting is definitely a strong point," said Fergus. "As a leadoff hitter, she is able to get on base with a single or double and this year she is hitting home runs."
Fergus said Corroto is an all-around player.
"And she is an intelligent base runner and she also has a great glove on the field and a great throwing arm. She is able to make those outstanding catches and plays that a lot of people are unable to do."
Also on the team is Jen Purnell, a freshman first baseman and third baseman from Fitch.
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