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Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Jeremy Rushing, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Apr. 17, 2012 - Excelling both in the classroom and on the field, North Central College senior softball player Mary Caron has a lot of experience being a leader. As one of the leaders on the softball team along with being a resident assistant on campus, Mary has a lot of people that look up to her in the campus community. 

In her first season with the Cardinals, Mary played in 37 games, starting in 36. She hit .227, along with having seven extra base hits and accumulating a .301 on base percentage. The organizational communication major also had 62 putouts with a .956 fielding percentage.

In her second season, Mary played in all 46 games for the Cardinals, starting in 45. She hit .302 with 25 runs batted in while accumulating a .372 on-base percentage. She saved her best for the postseason, batting a tournament-best .625 during the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament at Greencastle, Ind., and being named to the All-Tournament Team.  She also earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar Athlete honors.

As a junior, Mary played in 40 games for North Central, starting in 39. Batting .291 with 16 runs batted in, Mary was a Second Team All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) selection as well as a NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete recipient. 

Q:How long have you been playing softball?
A: I've been playing since I was about five years old.

Q: What do you like most about softball?
A: I'd say the thing I like most is the feeling you get while out on the field.  Whether it's making a good defensive play, getting a big hit at the plate, or just being around my teammates.  There's nothing like it.

Q: What's the best advice you've ever received with regard to softball?
A: The best advice I've received would have to be just to have a short memory on the field.  It's such a mental game that
you can't think about your mistakes, you just have to move forward.

Q: What is your biggest goal both personally and for the team this season?
A: Personally I just want to do whatever I can to help the team succeed, and as a team we really want to make it back to a regional.

Q: What is the best part of playing for Coach Jim Kulawiak?
A: He really knows and understands the game really well.  He also pushes us really hard to achieve our goals both on and off the field.

Q: What is the team environment like?
A: The team is great, we all hang out together off the field and I think that really gives us good chemistry on it.

Q:Who are your role models?
A: I'd have to say my family.  They are the reason I'm where I'm at right now and without them I don't think this would be possible.