MCLA inducts 1995 Softball team, four individuals into Hall of Fame

North Adams, MA- Headlined by the 1995 Softball Team, the MCLA Athletics Department held the 2011 Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday evening.  Along with the team, four other individuals were enshrined in the class of 2011.

Enshrined on Saturday before a crowd of 150 guests were: Kevin Reed '75 (Track and Field), Jeff Reed '83 (Basketball), Jose Diaz '01 (Baseball), and Christine Bonatti '00 (Soccer/Basketball).

MCLA Athletics Director, Scott Nichols kicked off the evening before turning the program over to former State Representative, Dan Bosley.  Below is a brief overview of accomplishments of the inductees:

Jose Diaz- Baseball, Class of 2001

Diaz was a three time All MASCAC first team selection at MCLA.  His accolades also included a pair of MVP awards (2000 and 2001), along with being an ECAC All New England selection his final three seasons.  Diaz led MCLA to an ECAC New England Championship in 2001, being named tournament MVP in the process.

He was an offensive force during his career at MCLA.  The slugger had arguably the best season in school history in 2000.  Diaz tallied school records in hits (63), total bases (124), home runs (15), and RBI (46) while batting .438.  The following year, he checked in with a .490 batting average.    

Diaz would finish his career with a .429 batting average, 44 doubles, 34 home runs, 135 runs scored, and 125 RBI.  He graduated with a degree in Business.

Kevin Reed- Track and Field, Class of 1975

Reed was a four year participant in Track and Field.  He was the first four time winner of a championship in school history.  His best event was the long jump where he once held the NAIA record.  His personal best in the long jump was 24’7”.

As a sophomore, Reed was named the champion of the 1973 Vermont Invitational.  He would use the championship to catapult him forward as a junior where in 1974 he won the Brandeis Invitational.  Reed would culminate his career in 1975, where as a senior he would capture 14 points in the Massachusetts State College Meet.

Following college, he would continue to compete on the amateur level, becoming a finalist in the long jump five different times at the Empire State Games. 

Reed graduated from North Adams State College in 1975 Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Elementary Education.

Jeff Reed- Basketball, Class of 1983

Reed was a four year standout in basketball while also competing one year in Soccer.  Reed was a three time MVP for the Basketball team (1981-1983).  The Athletics Department named him the recipient of the 1983 Louis Parisien Memorial award, given annually to the top Male scholar athlete.

Reed’s best year was his final one.  As a senior, Reed was the tenth leading scorer in the nation averaging 22.6 points per game.  The average was good enough for second in the region.  For his efforts, he was named All MASCAC first team, an honor he also received as a junior.

Reed graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Administration.  He was a member of the National Honor Society as well as being an Academic All American Honorable mention as a senior. 

Christine Bonatti- Basketball/Soccer, Class of 2000

Christine Bonatti ‘00 was a dual sport threat during her career competing in both women’s basketball and soccer.  On the court, Bonatti was a three time MVP of the program.  On the pitch, she tallied 34 goals and 11 assists throughout her career.  She also was named Soccer Co-MVP in 1999, while earning All Conference honors in both 1998 and 1999. 

Bonatti’s best season on the court was during her senior season where she led the team in scoring while finishing second in rebounds.  On the Soccer field, she was named captain as a senior.  She would follow that up with one of the most productive seasons in school history.  Bonatti would tally 16 goals while adding 7 assists for 39 points.  The 39 points was a school record at the time.

1995 Softball Team-

Team Members: Jill Trance, Heather Swenson, Angie Bushika, Carrie Bradford, Betsy Sherman, Kate Sampson, Kate Kelley, Christina DeMasi, Melissa Welliver, Donna Kutil, Jen Moreau, Shannon Nye, Kate Wapenski, Melissa Norman, Sandy LaPierre

Head Coach: George Galli
Assistant Coach: Jennie Holmes

The 1995 softball team won the MASCAC championship, earning a bid into the NCAA tournament.  The team boasted five all-conference performers, and the same players earned ECAC All New England honors.  The NCAA tournament appearance and MASCAC Championship are the only ones in program history.  The 32 wins is also a program record.  The team was under the direction of George Galli.

The team had a 19 game winning streak that still is an all time program record.  Galli’s team had five players named to the ECAC All New England Regional team (Melissa Welliver, Melissa Norman, Angie Bushika, Kate Wapenski, and Jill Trance).  The same performers were named to the All MASCAC team.

NASC reached as high as five in the national rankings on May 2^nd.  They also went undefeated in conference play (12-0) en route to their championship.  NASC entered the NCAA regional as the top seed in the region.