Towson University's Brooke Clyde was named as the Colonial Athletic Association's first Player of the Year in softball this season, the first in which the CAA has had softball as a league sport.

The four-year starter for the Tigers batted .306 with six home runs and 37 runs batted in. She stands second in the CAA in homers and RBI's.

The senior third baseman finished her career as Towson's career leader in runs scored (139), doubles (46), runs batted in (113) and stolen bases (40). Her 15 career home runs were just one shy of the school record and her 205 career base hits rank second in Towson history.

In addition to being the first CAA Player of the Year, Clyde also earned all-league honors four years in a row.

As a freshman and sophomore, she was second team all-league in the America East.

Last year, she was first team all-league at third base.

This year, she was first team All-CAA at third base.

Clyde is the fourth Towson softball player to be named as a conference Player of the Year.

In 1996, Jen Weaver was the America East Player of the Year.

In 1990, Toni Wiggins was the East Coast Conference Player of the Year.

Debbi Oraczewski was named the ECC Player of the Year in 1987.

Clyde was one of five Tigers named to the All-CAA team.

Sophomore pitcher Beth Miller was a First Team choice while junior second baseman Chris Navarro, the Tigers' leading hitter with a .326 batting average, sophomore outfielder Sara Foster and freshman shortstop Katie Mumbauer, the Tigers' third-leading hitter with a .320 average who scored 33 runs and 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts, were named to the second team.

For the third time in four years, the Tigers finished their season as conference runners-up. Top-seeded Hofstra beat the Tigers twice to win the first Colonial Athletic Association softball championship.

For the second straight year, the Tigers broke the school record for wins in a season. Towson finished the year 36-24 record, breaking the mark of 35 victories that was set last year.

Pitching was the key to the Tigers' season.

The team had 17 shutouts, a school record, two no-hitters and a 2.08 team earned run average, the best in the CAA.

Sophomore righthanders Miller and Beth Wilcox each won 12 games.