National Softball Player of the Decade Hails From South Windsor

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — With a resume boasting three straight NCAA championships and a slew of pitching records, Allyson Fournier got used to accolades pouring in during her softball playing days at Tufts University. Now, more than four years after ending her competitive career and beginning her professional life, another athletic honor has been bestowed upon her.

The 26-year-old South Windsor native has been cited as Division III Softball Player of the Decade by Justin's World of Softball, a leading national web site devoted to the sport. A quick rundown of her accomplishments in college and beyond makes it easy to see why she was chosen for this recognition.

"I am honored to be considered one of the top softball players of the decade, and grateful to have had the opportunity to make so many memories along the way," she said upon learning of the recognition. "I enjoyed many successes over the last 10 years, which included my time at East Catholic High School, Tufts University, the Stratford Brakettes, and finally with the Pennsylvania Rebellion. I most enjoyed the competitiveness of facing a batter on the mound and my time spent with teammates, who remain my best friends today."

Following a standout career at East Catholic High School in Manchester, Fournier opted to stay close to home by attending Tufts, known more for its academics than athletics. Despite a demanding major, chemical engineering, she spent her first two years as a two-sport athlete, competing on the women's swimming team as well as playing softball for the Jumbos.

Her freshman season in the pitching circle produced eye-popping statistics: a 23-3 record, 0.71 earned run average and 307 strikeouts in 177 innings for a team which finished 41-7. Somehow, things only got better, both for her and her teammates.

Tufts won the Division III national championship for the first time in 2013, compiling a 46-3 overall record. Fournier went 25-1 with a 0.59 ERA, striking out 272 batters in 154 innings. The following year, the Jumbos repeated as national titleholders, going 47-4 behind their ace hurler's 28-1 record, 0.49 ERA and 314 strikeouts in 202 innings.

Fournier was honored by the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance in April 2015 with the Hank O'Donnell Female Athlete of the Year Award, in recognition of her outstanding 2014 campaign. At the time of the award presentation at the 74th annual Gold Key Dinner, Tufts was in the midst of its season, one which would become historic for both the team and Fournier personally.

On May 25, 2015 in Salem, Va., the Jumbos defeated the University of Texas at Tyler in the championship game to snare the program's third straight national championship, the first D-III team to accomplish that feat. The Jumbos finished with a perfect 51-0 record, another first, and set a D-III record with 53 consecutive victories.

Fournier's numbers in her senior season made her previous three campaigns look miniscule in comparison. She posted a 35-0 record, the first perfect season by an NCAA D-III pitcher with at least 20 decisions. She notched a 0.20 ERA, while averaging more than two strikeouts an inning by fanning 422 hitters in 210.2 innings pitched. She twirled five no-hitters and two perfect games, and established a new D-III record with 105 consecutive scoreless innings, shattering the previous mark of 75. Following the season, she received the Honda D-III Athlete of the Year award at THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards for the second time; she also earned the honor in 2013.

She ended her college career with a 111-5 record, and her .957 winning percentage and 0.44 ERA are both D-III all-time bests. She recorded 1,315 strikeouts in 743.2 innings, an NCAA-record 16 no-hitters and six perfect games, and was an NCAA All-American four times.

Fournier broke another barrier following her senior season, when she signed to pitch professionally with the Pennsylvania Rebellion of the National Pro Fastpitch League, becoming the first D-III athlete to play in the league. Playing against top-level Division I talent, she held her own as a rookie, posting a 1-1 record and 2.80 ERA in 30 innings.

After that campaign, Fournier "retired" at age 22 to establish her professional career. In Oct. 2015, she was hired at MilliporeSigma, a leading life science firm in Bedford, Mass. Seven years and two promotions later, the current resident of West Newbury, Mass. is an Applications Engineer II.

Of all the honors and accolades, Fournier said her top highlight was the undefeated 2015 championship season.

"It was the perfect ending to my college career and was truly a team effort, supported by the entire Tufts community," she said. "My softball experiences over the past decade exceeded all expectations and made me into the person I am today. I do miss being on the mound for sure, but I think I have been able to put a lot of that focus into my career. It also helps that I coached a high school team, Concord Academy, the last two years and will be helping out at Tufts a bit this year, so softball is never too far away."