Three members of the Boston Red Sox visited campus with the softball team.
Kerri Jacklets is in her eighth season as head coach of the Providence College softball program. In seven seasons, Jacklets has led Providence to four berths in the BIG EAST Tournament.
In her seven years at Providence, Jacklets has produced 11 All-BIG EAST selections, one All-BIG EAST Tournament Team player, three All-Northeast Team selections and one NFCA All-Region Team player.
Last season, the Friars recorded 17 victories, including seven BIG EAST Conference wins. Jessie Bryant was awarded the Mark Mandell and Yvette Boisclair Student-Athlete Scholarship and Jen Abrams was named a BIG EAST Institutional Scholar Athlete of the Year. Kristie Dederick and Jesse Bryant made the BIG EAST Softball Weekly Honor Roll during the weeks of April 2, and March 5, respectively.
During the 2011 season, the Friars earned a berth to the BIG EAST Championship quarterfinals where they were edged by Notre Dame. Justine Stratton was named to the All-Tournament Team and Jen Abrams earned Capital One Academic All-District honors. In addition, the Friars set single-season school records with 58 home runs and 140 walks.
In 2010, the Friars recorded 10 BIG EAST wins, the most in league action since 2006. Jacklets had three players named to the All-BIG EAST Third team as Christy Becker, Justine Stratton and Michelle Huber earned the honor.
The Friars also excelled in the classroom in 2010, and were No. 23 by the Girls Got Game/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Academic Rankings, which was based on a collective grade point average. Nine players were recognized individually for having at least a 3.50 GPA. The team also led the PC Athletic Department and BIG EAST Conference with the highest GPA. Katelyn Revens was the first member of the softball team to be honored as the BIG EAST Institutional Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.
In 2009, the Friars finished in the top five in the BIG EAST in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles, triples, home runs and total bases. In addition, the Friars played against eight ranked teams and defeated No. 21 Fresno State. Jacklets had two players named to All-BIG EAST Teams as Mary Rose Sheehy earned first team honors, while Jenna Garcia garnered second team accolades. In addition, Sheehy was named to the NFCA All-Region Team.
Providence turned in a strong 2008 campaign as the team finished with a 25-25-2 overall record and advanced to the BIG EAST Tournament. The Friars also earned impressive victories over No. 18 Georgia on Feb. 17 and Notre Dame on April 26. The win over Notre Dame was the team's first ever at Notre Dame.
In 2007, the Friars finished with an overall record of 23-24. The Friars earned their first ever victory over Notre Dame on April 14, defeating the Irish, 9-0. Jacklets coached two players who earned All-BIG EAST honors in 2007. Rachel Bartholomew earned First Team All-BIG EAST accolades as well as Northeast All-Region First Team honors. Mary Rose Sheehy also earned Third Team All-BIG EAST accolades.
In 2006, Jacklets led the Friars to a 29-19-1 record, including an 11-11 mark in the BIG EAST. The 11 league wins were the most by a Friar team since 1995. Jacklets' team, which was picked to finish 11th out of 12 teams in the 2006 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll, finished sixth in the Conference and earned the program's first trip to the BIG EAST Tournament since 1996. In addition, Jacklets coached three athletes who earned All-BIG EAST accolades. Samantha Pittman was named to the second team, while Elena Romero and Bartholomew garnered third team honors. Bartholomew and Pittman also were named to the All-Northeast Region Team.
Jacklets was named head coach of the Providence College softball program on January 20, 2006. In 2005, Jacklets served as an assistant coach at Providence and helped the Friars to a 33-20 overall record.
Prior to her assistant coaching position at Providence, Jacklets served three seasons (2001-04) as an assistant coach at Brown University. While with the Bears, Jacklets was responsible for overseeing a number of roles, including practice coaching duties with an emphasis on hitting, catching and the outfield. She also was responsible for recruiting, managing budgetary requests and organizing transportation. In 2004, she helped guide the Bears to the Ivy League Championship. She coached numerous players who earned Ivy League and Northeast Region honors, including the 2004 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year. She recruited and coached the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2004.
Jacklets enjoyed a stellar career as a catcher at PC from 1998-2001. She ranks fourth all-time at the College in batting average (.315), seventh all-time in home runs (18) and sixth in hits (179). Jacklets also ranks in the top-10 all-time in walks (41) and runs batted in (76). In 2001, she was named to the All-Northeast Region First Team.
Jacklets was a four-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star and graduated from PC with a 3.33 GPA in Social Science.
Jacklets, a native of Sayville, N.Y., resides in Providence, R.I.
