Players

JOAN JOYCE, Pitcher

When one thinks of women’s softball, either on the amateur or professional level, the first name that automatically pops up is that of sensational pitcher Joan Joyce, an organizer and current president of the Women’s Professional Softball Association.

Joan earned her brilliant reputation during her sensational 21-year amateur career, playing three years with the Orange (Calif.) Lionettes and 18 seasons with the Raybestos Brakettes, compiling an awesome 494-32 mound record during that span with 123 no-hitters and 37 perfect games. In 3,972-1/3 innings of hurling, the Waterbury native, who launched her career at the age of 16 with the Brakettes, struck out an amazing 6,648 batters and allowed just 897 hits and 105 earned runs for an amateur career earned run average of 0.19.

She holds no fewer than 17 Raybestos Brakette pitching records and still owns Women’s Amateur Softball Association National Tournament marks for most innings pitched (70) and most strikeouts (134) in a tournament as well as most strikeouts (40 in 18 innings) in a single game.

Equally adept with the bat, she registered an amateur career batting average of .325 with 534 runs batted in and also maintains the ASA National Tournament mark for most doubles in a tourney with five.

Joan’s two-year record with the Connecticut Falcons is just as awesome. Racking up 67 wins against only seven losses with an incredible 0.44 ERA, including eight no-hitters and three perfect games, she has struck out 747 batters while allowing only 241 hits and 36 earned runs in 576-2/3 innings on the mound. At the plate, Joan sports a two-year .283 batting average with the Falcons, including 38 extra-base hits and 93 runs batted in.

Obviously a WPSA All-Star selection the past two seasons, Joan was the East’s most valuable player in the 1976 spectacle. A year ago, she topped the WPSA in earned run average (1.03), wins (24), won-lost record (24-4) and shutouts (13) and ranked second in the league in strikeouts (175) and hits allowed (119) while firing 24 complete games.

She was instrumental in leading the Falcons to their second straight world championship in 1977. She belted a homer and double to drive in three runs as the designated hitter in the second game of the WPSA World Series, a 4-2 Connecticut win, and tossed a four-hitter while rapping a two-run single in a 5-1 triumph in the third contest.

An outstanding all-around athlete, Joan, who owns Joan Joyce’s All-Star Travel Agency in Trumbull, is presently an active member of the Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA).

Although Joan is unfortunately in the waning years of her spectacular career, she is overjoyed that female athletes can now earn compensation for playing a game they all love so deeply – her prime motive in organizing the WPSA.

RAYLA JO ALLISON, Catcher

Batted .222 as a reserve catcher with the Falcons last season, but is being counted on heavily in this year’s plans…Came to Connecticut in the 1977 dispersal draft from the Chicago Ravens…Hails from Fort Worth, Tex…A versatile performer who can also play the infield and outfield as well as pitch…A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree…Played as an amateur with the Fort Worth Rebelettes for two years and the Fort Worth Rebels for seven seasons…Was also a standout for two seasons with the University of Texas-Arlington women’s softball team…Also a qualified trainer and served in that capacity with the Ravens in 1976…Was also a trainer with the University of Texas-Arlington football team while in college…Bats right, throws right…Registered a fine .986 fielding percentage in ’77…Serves as a physical education instruction and head women’s basketball and track coach at Wesleyan University in Middletown during the winter months.

SNOOKI MULDER, Outfield

An outstanding center fielder with excellent speed and a strong throwing arm…Improved her batting average 38 points a year ago with a respectable .272 norm…A three-team, four-player trade prior to the start of the 1976 campaign brought her to Connecticut…Led the Falcons in 1977 with 16 sacrifice hits and 14 stolen bases, ranking second and fourth, respectively, in the league in those categories…Has excellent control of the bat…Played as an amateur with the Orlando (Fla.) Rebels for six seasons and the Orlando (Fla.) Suns for one year…Bats left, throws right…Grew up in Eustis, Fla…Enjoys swimming and riding motorcycles in her free time…Studied law enforcement at Lake County Vocational School in Florida and served as a probation officer for a period of time…Presently a teacher’s aide at Umatilla (Fla.) Elementary School…As an amateur, she was an All-Southern Regional All-Star five times and competed six times in the national tournament…Makes things happen when she gets on base.

DONNA TERRY, Pitcher

Showed improvement on the mound last season with a 13-7 record and 3.00 earned run average…Added a win in the World Series, tossing a five-hitter win over Santa Ana, as well as a save…An excellent pure hitter…Owns a two-year .302 batting average with the Falcons…Bats right, throws right…Decided she wanted to become a softball pitcher when she saw Joan Joyce hurl in the ASA National Tournament…Pitched as an amateur with the Orlando (Fla.) Rebels…Enjoys writing poetry, reading, swimming and distance running in her spare hours…Grew up in San Juan, P.R., and presently makes her off-season home in Opa-locka, Fla…A 1970 graduate of Memphis State…Currently a graduate student at Texas Women’s University…Also serving as a graduate assistant women’s softball coach at TWU, which gained a berth in the AIAW national tournament in Omaha this year…A good clutch hitter…Fired a one-hitter last August in a 6-1 win over Bakersfield…Made a bid to join the U.S. Olympic swimming team in 1964.

ANNETTE FORTUNE, Outfield

Earned a spot with the Falcons through the 1976 open tryouts…Hails from Granville, Mass…Began her softball career in Western Massachusetts recreation league ball in 1957…Played from 1968-72 with the women’s softball team at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in physical education…Versatile all-around athlete…Also played for four seasons with the ASU field hockey team, earning Deep South Field hockey All-Star laurels as a senior in 1971…Bats right, throws right…Enjoys all outdoor sports and sewing in her spare hours…Presently the intramural director and women’s softball coach at the University of Hartford…A leader in team spirit…Has shown outstanding speed and base-running ability as a pinch runner on numerous occasions during the past two seasons.

KAREN GALLAGHER, Shortstop

Only 19 years old…Has the potential of becoming a first-rate defensive shortstop…Batted .172 with the Falcons a year ago…is expected to become a stronger hitter with experience…Native of Chicago…Bats left, throws right…Came to Connecticut in the 1977 dispersal draft after playing with the Chicago Ravens in the league’s inaugural season…Her signing of a Ravens’ contract was delayed so that she could complete her senior season with her high school women’s softball team…As a 17-year–old rookie, she earned WPSA All-Star honors with the Ravens in 1976…Will enter her junior year at Lewis University in the fall, where she is a member of the women’s basketball them…With the retirement of Sharron Backus, she will be gunning for the Falcons’ starting job at shortstop.

LU GECEWICZ, Outfield

One of the league’s premier defensive outfielders…Had made only six errors in two seasons with the Falcons…Suffered through a .159 batting average last season after posting a .242 mark in 1976…Bats right, throws right…Played as an amateur with the Shoreline Bells for five years and the Raybestos Brakettes for two seasons…Batted .352 with the Brakettes in 1975…The Falcon’s expert in covering the left field corner…A Middletown product…Received her Bachelor’s degree in physical education from Central Connecticut State College in 1976…Posses a strong throwing arm…Also has excellent speed…Enjoys art as a hobby…Has a loyal following at Falcon home games…Presently a women’s coach and physical education instructor at Iowa State.

KATHY NEAL, Pitcher

Was plagued by knee problems last season and posted a 5-7 record on the mound after enjoying an outstanding year in 1976 with a 19-10 mark…A hard-hitting pitcher, sporting a two-year batting average of .267 with the Falcons…Bats right, throws right…Product of Kelseyville, Calif…Has the distinction of being the Falcons’ first draft pick ever…Tossed a no-hitter against Pennsylvania in 1976…Was the East’s starting pitcher in the 1976 All-Star game…Was a pitcher, first baseman and outfielder as an amateur with the Sunnyvale (Calif.) Bandits and the Chico (Calif.) Peppers…A 1972 graduate of the University of California at Chico and presently working on her Master’s degree in physical education there…Compiled an impressive 2.79 ERA last season…Was sidelined during the 1976 World Series with a knee injury which lead to off-season surgery…Also missed last summer’s World Series…Sports a two-year ERA of 1.92 with the Falcons…Enjoys golf, fishing and camping in her free hours…Currently competing on the mini-tour of the Ladies Professional Golfers Association.

JOYCE COMPTON, First Base

An outstanding defensive first baseman who could also be torrid at the plate…Goes by the nickname of “J.C.”…Posted a strong .283 batting average a year ago with 76 hits, including 25 for extra bases, in 269 at-bats…Has led the league the past two seasons in runs batted in, driving 49 in 1977…Hit at a .429 clip in last year’s World Series, collecting six hits, including three doubles, in 14 at-bats…Also a graduate of the Raybestos Brakettes, where she posted an overall .338 batting average in three seasons while driving in 142 runs…Has good speed on the bases…Has been a WPSA All-Star pick the last two years…Bats left, throws left…Grew up in Robbinsville, N.J. but presently makes her off-season home in Stratford…Enjoys tennis, skiing and riding motorcycles in her free time…Serves as the women’s athletic director and volleyball, basketball and softball coach at Mattatuck Community College in Waterbury…Directed the Chiefettes to the NJCAA New England Volleyball Championship in 1975 and 1976…Led the Falcons last summer in hits (76) and home runs (7) as well as runs batted in.

SANDY FISCHER, Pitcher

Had an off-year in 1977 with a 7-8 won-lost mark, but posted a respectable 2.78 earned run average, second lowest on the team and eighth best in the league…Allowed only 47 hits and 20 walks while striking out 27 in 97 innings of work…Came to the Falcons in a three-team, four-player trade at the beginning of the 1976 season…Enjoys writing poetry and horseback riding in her free hours…Began playing softball at the age of 10 and was competing on the ASA level four years later…Pitched for Western Illinois University from 1971-1975, leading the team to the AIAW national tournament in Omaha three of the four seasons…Was named to the Illinois All-State collegiate team as a senior…Earned her Bachelor’s in recreation and park administration at WIU…Bats left, throws left…Currently earning her Master’s degree in physical education at Michigan State University…Serves as an assistant coach with the MSU women’s softball team, which captured the national championship in 1976…Undefeated (3-0) with the Falcons in World Series competition…A native of Quincy, Ill…Currently makes her summer home in Springfield, Mass.

AUDREY KUJALA, Outfield

Acquired by the Falcons in the 1977 amateur draft…Was a big asset to last season’s championship drive with her strong hitting, both during the regular season with a .310 batting average and in the WPSA World Series, where she was Connecticut’s top slugger with a .500 norm…Goes by the nickname of “Audi”…A 1978 graduate of the University of Delaware…Starred for two seasons with the University of Delaware women’s softball team, leading the Blue Hens to a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Regionals as sophomore in 1976…Born in Camden, N.J., and presently makes her off-season home in Newark, Del…A speedy outfielder…Selected as the outstanding woman athlete in field hockey and softball at Delaware in 1976-77 and received the Outstanding Senior Athlete award as a senior…Served as an assistant softball and field hockey coach during the past year at Delaware, where the field hockey squad finished third in the national championships…Enjoys backpacking, winter camping, cross country skiing, sewing, music and bicycling in her free time…Earned WPSA All-Star honors a year ago…Played with the Delaware Shamrocks in 1975, leading them to the state championship and the Eastern regional Tournament in Washington D.C…Turned to slow-pitch softball the following summer with the Second Chance and the Pacers, both of Ann Arbor, Mich., and the Little Caesars of Berkeley, Mich…Bats left, throws right…Also works in a backpacking store in Newark, Del…Posted an .899 fielding percentage last year.

WILLIE ROZE, Second Base

The Falcons’ fourth-leading hitter last season with a .296 batting average…Collected 68 hits, including 16 for extra bases…Played for 10 seasons as an infielder and outfielder with the Raybestos Brakettes, registering a .281 batting average during that span…Hit .342 in 1975, her final year as a Brakette…Earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in physical education at Southern Connecticut State College…Has the distinction of hitting the first home run in WPSA history in the Falcons’ 1976 season opener against Buffalo…Bats right, throws right…A slick-fielding second baseman…Posted a .928 fielding percentage a year ago…Led the Falcons in 1977 in scoring 43 runs…Has been a WPSA All-Star selection the past two seasons…Has been a physical education teacher and women’s softball coach at Hand High School in Madison for the past five years, leading the softball squad to the Shoreline Conference crown twice and a berth in the field hockey and basketball at Hand High…Batted .357 in last year’s World Series with 5 hits in 14 at-bats…Born in Germany and currently makes her home in Hamden…Enjoys reading in her spare hours.

KATHY STILWELL, Outfield

The Falcons’ top hitter in 1977 with a sparkling .352 batting average while also leading the team in hits (76), doubles (17) and triples (9)…Led the WPSA in triples and was second in the league in batting and doubles…A highly personable player…Joined the Falcons in August of 1976…In her first appearance in a Connecticut uniform, she slammed a run-scoring double in her second at bat…Bats right, throws right…Attended Florida Technological University on a volleyball scholarship, graduating in 1977…A fine all-around athlete…As a senior, the FTU volleyball team was ranked ninth nationally…Also played basketball at FTU, averaging 14 points a game as a junior to earn All-SEC Small College honors…Also attended Valencia Junior College in Florida on a tennis scholarship, where she was ranked sixth in the state of Florida on the junior college level…Played as an amateur with the Orlando Rebels in 1974 and the Orlando Suns in 1975, batting .310 the latter season…Can play shortstop, second base and the outfield…Born in Garnett, Kan., but presently makes her off-season home in Orlando…Enjoys racketball, fishing and all outdoor sports in her free time…Also likes tacos and hot fudge cake…A teacher and women’s coach at Westridge Junior High in Orlando during the winter months.

C.B. TOMASIEWICZ, Catcher

Showed great improvement offensively with the Falcons last season, posting a .283 batting average…One of the key factors in the success of the Falcons’ pitching staff over the past two seasons…A young, versatile athlete…Has been behind the plate when Joan Joyce turned in some of her finest pitching performances, both as an amateur and professional…Native of Weston…Starred scholastically in three sports at Weston High, gaining All-State laurels in basketball while also playing field hockey and softball…Real name is Claire Beth, although she is called “C.B.” by her teammates and friends…Bats right, throws right…Played three years with the Raybestos Brakettes, enjoying her best season in 1974 with a .305 batting average…Currently a junior civil engineering major at Princeton University…Has been a standout the past two seasons with the Princeton women’s basketball team, earning All-Ivy League honors last winter in leading the squad to the Ivy League Championships…Enjoys music and reading in her spare time…Was a WPSA All-Star pick last summer…Missed the 1976 playoffs and World Series with a bone fracture in her right foot…One of the Falcons’ premier clutch hitters.

MARGARET REBENAR, Pitcher

Comes to Connecticut through this year’s dispersal draft from the Bakersfield Aggies…Only 21 years old…Posted a 6-20 mound record with the weak-hitting Aggies a year ago after enjoying a 24-29 campaign with The Phoenixbird in 1976…Has a blazing fastball which has been clocked at over 80 miles per hour…Led the Aggies last season in runs scored (31), hits (66), doubles (15) and runs batted in (42)…Ranked third in the WPSA last year in RBI, fourth in doubles and homers (9) and 10th in the circuit with her .282 batting average…Born in Phoenix…Will enter her senior year at Cal Poly University at Pomona in the fall…Pitched 22 complete games in 1977…Played in all but six of her team’s games…Was a 1977 WPSA All-Star selection…Bats right, throws right…Posted a .903 fielding percentage in 1977.

JACKIE LEDBETTER, Catcher

A promising 19-year-old southpaw catcher and outfielder…Bats left, throws left…Acquired by the Falcons in this year’s dispersal draft from the Santa Ana Lionettes…Led Santa Ana to the 1977 WPSA World Series…Batted .308 against the Falcons in the four-game series, collecting four hits in 13 at-bats…Hit at a .333 clip in the 1977 round-robin playoffs against St. Louis and San Jose…Earned a roster spot with the Lionettes a year ago through their open tryouts…Will enter her junior year at the University of California at Sacramento in the fall…Born in San Diego and presently makes her home in El Cajon, Calif…Starred in softball, basketball and volleyball at Granite Hills High, earning All-Grossmont League honors in each sport and All-County laurels in softball…Batted .545 as a senior…Also played as an amateur with Navajo in the California Girls Softball Association, leading the team to the championship of the Yuma Softball Tournament while gaining most valuable player honors…A member of the women’s basketball team at Sacramento State the past two years…Also played volleyball as a freshman…A woodworking enthusiast in her spare hours…Also enjoys fishing and camping…Would like to become a coach on the college level…is expected to see plenty of action this year.

IRENE SHEA, Third Base

Has been one of the Falcons’ most consistent hitters the past two seasons with a .327 batting average over that span…Ranks among the league leaders as a defensive third baseman…Was the team’s second-leading hitter in 1977 with a .329 mark. Also recorded an impressive .958 fielding percentage…Hit the first home run in WPSA World Series history in the second game of the 1976 championship event…Injuries sidelined her for the 1977 World Series…Struck out only three time a year ago…Enjoyed a star-studded amateur career with the Raybestos Brakettes, posting a startling lifetime batting average of .395…Still owns Brakette season records for most hits (124), most runs scored (81), most triples (13) and highest batting average (.423)…Bats left, throws right…Also holds the Women’s ASA National Tournament record for most runs scored with nine in 1975…Enjoys reading and traveling…Grew up in Banbridge, N.Y., but now makes her home in Pollack Pines, Calif…A WPSA All-Star pick last season…Graduated from the University of Buffalo in 1968…Presently the women’s athletic director at the University of California at Sacramento.

LINDA McMORRAN, Shortstop

A 22-year-old shortstop with plenty of potential…Acquired by the Falcons in this year’s dispersal draft from the Santa Ana Lionettes…Played with the Southern California Gems in 1976…Batted .268 with Santa Ana last season…Ranked second in the WPSA in home runs with 10…Bats right, throws right…Will enter her junior at the University of California at Fullerton in the fall…A standout on the women’s basketball team at Fullerton State…Previously attended Grossmont Community College…Starred scholastically in softball and basketball at Claremont High School where she was named the most valuable player on the softball team three times…Born in San Diego and currently makes her off-season home in Ramona, Calif…Posted a .917 fielding percentage a year ago…Enjoys surfing as a hobby.