Ali Viola

Ali Viola (born in 1976) is a former collegiate All American, right-handed hitting softball player at shortstop and originally from Novato, California. She played her career for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1995-1998. She owns various records for the school, is the career Big 12 batting champion and is one of six NCAA Division I hitters to accumulate a .400 batting average with 200 RBIs and 50 home runs.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

For her freshman season, Viola was named to the then Big Eight Conference First Team, as well as garnering both the “Rookie of The Year” and “Player of The Year” honors. In addition, she was named a Second Team All-American.[1] Viola broke and set new school season records for RBIs, hits, home runs, and slugging percentage, both the RBI and hits still stand. Her average and doubles were and remain second best all-time at the university. She broke most of the same records for the Big 8 that season—they all remain in the top-10 for the Big 12—while leading in average, RBIs and hits.[2] Viola also achieved a career and school best 19 consecutive game hit streak from April 10–29.

In the newly dubbed Big 12, Viola was named to the 1996 Second Team and designated a First Team All-American.[3] Viola broke her own home run and posted a new base on balls record. She led the Big 12 in RBIs and home runs while her 85 hits were the conference’s second best total, now sitting the top-10 all-time. All her other season stats were and are top-5 school records.[4]

In 1997 Viola lasted just 21 games before injury forced her to retire for the season.[5] She responded the following year by being named all-conference, Big 12 “Player of The Year” and First Team All American.[6] Viola broke the season home runs, walks and slugging percentage records (all career bests) for the Cornhuskers. Her average, RBIs and hits were and remain top-5 school season records. That year she led the conference in all the latter categories except hits and walks.[7]

March 19-April 10, Viola matched her career and school best 19 consecutive game hit streak. Prior the NCAA tournament, Viola would become just the second player to join the exclusive club of .400 average, 200 RBIs and 50 home runs at the tail end of Big 12 play and into the conference tournament that year.

The Cornhuskers made the WCWS and on May 21 vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs, Viola was perfect at the plate (3/3) with the only RBI in the loss.[8] Although shutout in her next game with the Texas Longhorns, the team posted a victory to meet the Washington Huskies on May 23. Viola hit a home run in her final collegiate at-bat to close out her career and seal her spot on the All-Tournament team going (4/8) with 2RBIs and a walk.[9][10]

Overall for her career, Viola claims the school career records for batting average, RBIs, home runs, doubles and slugging percentage; she is second in hits and walks. For the Big 12 conference, she holds the career batting crown while ranking top-10 in every other offense category, minus her walks.[11][12][13]

Personal life

Viola began her coaching career with the Louisville Cardinals and then spent an equal three years with the Wisconsin Badgers and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs. She currently is Head Coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes and in her tenure has earned a 2007 conference championship and 2009 NCAA tournament super regional appearance.[14]

Viola was also named one of the “25 Women of Distinction” for the Cornhuskers on January 28, 2000.[15]

Statistics

University of Nebraska

YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
1995 63 199 43 87 .437 72 13 1 21 149 .748% 27 18 1 1
1996 65 202 59 85 .421 71 15 3 14 150 .742% 39 20 17 21
1997 21 58 9 19 .327 13 3 0 4 32 .551% 10 8 2 4
1998 60 170 46 72 .423 57 22 0 9 147 .864% 40 19 13 16
TOTALS 209 629 157 263 .418 213 53 4 48 478 .760% 116 65 33 42

References

See also