Posted on May 14, 2003

The final at bat of Jill Ring's fantastic career epitomized exactly what being a student-athlete at a school like Union College is all about. The fact that her final collegiate at bat produced her Union-record 14th career home run is secondary to how her final hit in a Garnet uniform came about.

With her team trailing 3-0 in the seventh inning of the NCAA Eastern Regional Softball Tournament's championship game, Ring came to bat with one out. She patiently worked the count to three balls and two strikes, before fouling off the next dozen pitches. The next pitch thrown sailed over the left field fence and kept the Dutchwomen's hopes alive. Union was able to get the tying runs on base before the final out was made to end the Dutchwomen's incredible season.

But Ring's story does not end there. While she has been one the softball team's stars throughout her career, Ring has seen the other side of the limelight. In her four seasons with the basketball team, Ring averaged less than 10 minutes a game, and it is her ability to handle that situation with dignity, pride, class, and understanding is what makes Jill Ring so special.

This year Ring was chosen as a co-captain for both the softball and basketball teams. It is not at all surprising that with Jill in a leadership roll, that both squads produced the finest seasons in the 28-year history of women's athletics at Union. The basketball team won a record 22 games and was invited to its first-ever ECAC postseason tournament. The softball team, meanwhile, tied the Union record with its 26 victories and was invited to its first-ever NCAA postseason tournament. What makes all this success even more incredible is that Ring was the only senior on the basketball team and one of two seniors on the softball squad.

“I don't think her attitude changes in basketball or in softball,” said sixth-year head softball coach Pete Brown. “You would never know she was the star of our team. She is a great person, always upbeat and happy, and willing to do anything for a teammate.”

Seventh-year head basketball coach Mary Ellen Burt agrees with Brown's assessment and knows how valuable Jill's leadership role, in the locker room, on the bus, and among her teammates was in the success of this year's team.

“Jill has been a leader for the basketball team by her personality and outgoing style,” Burt. “She has seen this program change over the years and in doing so her role on the team also changed. Throughout it all, Jill's positive attitude and enjoyment of Union and her teammates have kept her spirits high. She is a true leader by example.”

While her presence on the court, on the field, in the locker room and in the classroom will be sorely missed, Jill Ring will continue to represent her alma mater with same dignity, pride, class, and understanding that made her so special to her teammates, her coaches, and everyone else who knows her.

Jill Ring's Career Totals:

Yr.	Gms	AB	Runs	Hits	RBI	2B	3B	HR	SB-SBA	Avg.
2003	33	99	21	36	24	10	4	4	2-3	.364
2002	33	106	25	35	19	5	2	4	4-5	.330
2001	34	107	21	32	29	7	4	4	2-3	.299
2000	29	94	22	34	22	6	6	2	7-9	.362
TOTALS	129	406	89	137	94	28	16	14	15-20	.337

Jill Holds the Union College Career Records for:

Extra Base Hits-58 (old record 40) Triples-16 (old record 12), Home Runs-14 (old record 11)
RBIs-94 (old record 79); Doubles–28 (old record 26), Career Hits 137 (old record 135)

ALSO: Runs Scored (89 puts her 4th, record is 104),
Walks (36 puts her tied for eighth, record is 65)

Awards:

• 2000 Union's “Outstanding Freshman Female Athlete of the Year,” Athletic Promise Award
• 2001 Sophomore Athletic Prize as Union's “Outstanding Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year”,
  NYSWCAA All-Tournament Team, UCAA All-Conferfence Second Team

• 2002 ECAC Medal as Union's “Outstanding Junior Female Athlete of the Year”, NYSWCAA, All-Tournament Team
  UCAA All-Conference First Team

• 2003 Robert Ridings Award as Union's “Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year”
  UCAA All-Conference First Team