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Women's Softball

 (630) 617-6140
 lorib@elmhurst.edu

Lori Brown
Head Coach

Lori Brown is beginning her ninth season as head coach of the Bluejay softball team.

Brown guided the Bluejays to a 12-25 record in 2008, earning a sixth-place tie in the CCIW. Beth Cann, Amanda Bowlin and Mo Roderick all earned all-conference honors. For the second straight year, Cann earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors.

Brown's teams have also been repeatedly recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for their excellence in the classroom, including having the second-highest GPA in the country for the 2005 season. The 2008 squad had the sixth-highest GPA in the country.

Brown, who previously served as an assistant coach for the Bluejay women's basketball team, came to Elmhurst from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga., where she served as the head softball and volleyball coach for two years. During her time there, her teams consistently achieved grade-point averages of 3.0 or better.

Prior to her work at Agnes Scott, Brown was the head women's softball coach at Aurora University from 1996-1999. While there, she was named the 1997 Northern Illinois Iowa Conference Coach of the Year. Brown also served as the head women's volleyball coach and assistant women's basketball coach at Aurora.

Brown earned a bachelor's degree in business administration (with a minor in coaching) from Illinois Wesleyan University where she was a four-year letter-winner for the women's softball team. Brown also holds a master's degree in physical education from Eastern Illinois University.

Mike Paulo
Assistant Coach

Mike Paulo is beginning his second season with the Bluejays as an assistant coach.

Paulo has more than 30 years of playing and coaching experience in softball. A member of the 16-inch softball Hall of Fame, Paulo began coaching in 1985 and has led his teams in a variety of age groups to three national championship appearances.

A player and coach on the American Softball Association (ASA) All-America team from 1992-93, Paulo helped his team to a second-place finish in the ASA national tournament in 1993, as well as an ASA USSSA Illinois state titles.

Working with the Lemont Rockers 18U softball organization, Paulo guided the 14-and-under squad to a 14th-place finish in the 2002 World Championships in Orlando, Fla. He led the 16-and-under and 18-and-under groups to five consecutive national tournament appearances and two top-20 finishes.

Paulo also served as the as the head softball coach at the Illinois Math and Science Academy and at Hinsdale Central High School (2006-07). He also served as an assistant coach at Benedictine University from 2004-06.

Paulo earned a bachelor’s degree from North Central College in 2004. He currently works as a substitute teacher in the Naperville and Darien districts.

Paulo and his wife, Donna, reside in Woodridge with their daughters Nina, Natalie, Valerie, and Dana.

Hillary Pietrucha
Assistant Coach

After enjoying a standout career at Elmhurst College, Hillary Pietrucha enters first season with the Bluejays as an assistant Coach.

A four-year starter in center field, Pietrucha was a first-team all-conference selection in 2005 and earned all-region honors during the 2006 season. She closed out her career as Elmhurst's all-time leader in hits (161), runs scored (91), and triples (13). She ranks second in stolen bases (45) and total bases (201), fourth in batting average (.370) and sixth in RBI (64).

Kristen Hipp
Assistant Coach

Kristen Hipp joins the Bluejay coaching staff after completing a four-year career with the Bluejays in 2007.

A four-year letter-winner and starter, Hipp appeared in 139 contest and posted career totals of 68 hits, eight double, two triples, 28 RBI, and 46 runs scored.