Ohio State’s Jamee Juarez Signs Pro Softball Contract with Akron – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 30, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State senior Jamee Juarez, a four-time All-Big Ten selection who helped lead the Buckeyes to the 2007 Big Ten softball championship, has signed a contract to play professionally with the Akron Racers of the six-team National Pro Fastpitch League. Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) went undrafted in February but was sought by several NPF teams when her collegiate career came to an end following the NCAA Regionals May 20.
In 2007, Juarez went 21-9 and set Ohio State single-season records for strikeouts (240) and saves (5) and led the Big Ten in fewest walks per game (1.2) as the Buckeyes went 40-18, won their second Big Ten championship and first Big Ten tournament title. During the season, she established five OSU career pitching records, including wins (76), strikeouts (747), shutouts (27), innings pitched (746.1) and appearances (147).
“When we started talking about adding a pitcher for this season, the first person we thought of was Jamee,” Shonda Statton, Racers head coach, said. “She had a fantastic career at Ohio State and was a huge factor in the Buckeyes’ success, especially this season, and we think she can bring that success to the next level. We are just so impressed with the quality of player Jamee is. She can play third base and will give us depth in the outfield, too, which is what we need when players are coming and going with the national team. Jamee is just a great athlete and we hope Buckeye fans will come out to watch her and the Racers.”
Juarez, who will graduate from Ohio State in the fall, will not be with the Racers this weekend for their season-opening series at the Michigan Ice while she finishes classes and exams. Juarez will then join Akron for its home-opening series June 7-10 at Firestone Stadium against Olympian Jennie Finch and the Chicago Bandits. Akron will play at the New England Riptide Aug. 9-13, when Juarez will face OSU pitching coach Erica Beach.
“I’m starting a new chapter,” Juarez said. “I know it’ll be tough, but I’m coming off a good season and that is a motivating factor for me to try to carry that to a higher level. I have enjoyed getting to know Coach Statton and I am very happy to stay in Ohio, which is like a second home for me. At Akron, I’ll get to be around the families of two of my OSU teammates, Courtney Pruner (native of Akron) and Brittany Vanderink (native of Hiram, Ohio).”
Juarez is the third Buckeye to play professionally, joining Kristine Himes (2000-03) and Jamie Chenevey (1996-99). In addition, Cheryl Palaroan (1996-99) was drafted but did not play and Kristie DeVries (2001-04) is currently playing with the Dutch national team.
Juarez was the fourth Buckeye to earn All-Big Ten honors all four years and was the third player in Big Ten history to earn league pitcher of the week honors three consecutive weeks. She was Ohio State’s most valuable player as a sophomore and junior, with 2007 team awards announced Sunday. Juarez earned first-team all-region honors as a senior and concluded her pitching career with six one-hitters, three no-hitters and one perfect game. At the plate, her 127 career RBI rank third all-time at Ohio State and she was a career .301 hitter with 39 doubles, eight triples, 14 home runs and a .379 on base percentage.
