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| All-Americans 2002 National Championship |
* 33 winning seasons, including 30 of the last 31 years;
* an overall record of 691-391-4 in 37 years of competition;
* a winning percentage of .638
* Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) or NCAA playoff berths in 23 of the last 28 seasons.
The Bombers posted a 3-3 record under head coach Jean Lewis in their initial season. In 1970 Doris Kostrinsky took over the program and guided Ithaca to prominence during her 17 seasons. Under Kostrinsky, Ithaca was an annual contender for postseason play. Early playoff opportunities were limited to the New York State Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NYSAIAW) tournament. The Bombers won titles in 1972 and 1975 and finished second three times. In 1982 the team made an appearance at the AIAW Division II national tournament and finished ninth. Ithaca went to the NCAA Division III World Series a year later and placed fifth.
Standout performers like pitchers Jo Burruby and Vicki Scott were among Ithaca’s early leaders. Offensive standouts included Monique Echternach and Nancy Kleinsmith.
Ithaca’s first softball all-Americans were recognized in 1985 when Carol Buckheit and Mildred Piscopo received first-team honors. Buckheit, a shortstop, earned a repeat selection in 1986, joined by outfielder Maria Kramer, who was a second-team honoree.
Jane Jacobs took over as coach in 1987 and led the team to a 20-11 record and an NCAA playoff berth. Her 1988 team finished 17-12.
Piscopo, a catcher and third baseman, set eight school records, including most career hits (124),
doubles (27), triples (16) and RBIs (70). Her mark for triples still stands. Pitcher Kathy Volpi set five school records from 1984-87, including most career victories (37). Wendy Haft, a 1988 graduate, set a single-season record for stolen bases (24).
Current coach Deb Pallozzi has guided the Bombers to a 459-238-1 record during her 17-year career. Her 1991 and 1992 teams posted back-to-back 20-win seasons, an accomplishment topped by 10 straight 25-win seasons from 1994 to 2003. Each of those seasons resulted in an NCAA playoff appearance. Ithaca was the NCAA northeast region runner-up in 1994, 1995 and 1997 and won the regional title in 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. In 2002 Ithaca again won the regional title and went on to win its first national championship. In 2005 another regional title put the Bombers back in the finals, where they finished fourth.
In 1996 the Bombers reached the Division III championship for the first time since 1983. After losing the opening game of the regional playoffs, Ithaca won four straight to earn a spot in the six-team NCAA championship. Ithaca lost to Simpson (1-0) and Allegheny (2-0) at the championship.
In 1997 Ithaca again lost its opening playoff game, then won three in a row. A 5-3 loss to host Wheaton (Mass.) ended the season. In 1998 Ithaca won a school-record 31 games and placed third in the regional.
The 1999 team swept through the regional playoffs and earned the program’s third trip to nationals. In 2000 the Bombers dropped an early game to Salisbury State, then defeated them in back-to-back games to advance to nationals. 2001 was another comeback as the team again dropped an early game, this time to Oneonta, and came back to advance for the third consecutive season.
In 2002 the Bombers defeated King’s (Pa.) and Geneseo to open up regional play undefeated. The tournament was called due to a torrential rainstorm and as the only undefeated team Ithaca received the bid to nationals. At nationals the team won its first three games to advance to the national championship game. Lake Forest defeated the Bombers, 4-2, to force a second championship game. Ithaca defeated the Lakers, 1-0, to win the title.
A year later Ithaca won its first two games in the regional playoffs before falling to Cortland and Union. The 2004 team finished as regional runner-up.
The following year Ithaca again came out of the consolation bracket to claim the regional title, then recorded wins over Alma and William Paterson in the championship finals before a pair of one-run extra-inning losses.
The following year Ithaca again came out of the consolation bracket to claim the regional title, then recorded wins over Alma and William Paterson in the championship finals before a pair of one-run extra-inning losses.
Pallozzi has coached several outstanding performers. First baseman Amy Bannon was selected twice to the academic all-district team. After transferring to Ithaca from the junior college ranks, pitcher Stacy Johnson set school records for career strikeouts (191), season wins (17) and season strikeouts (112). Johnson posted a 31-8 record and a 1.43 ERA for her career. Nancy Liskiewicz, a four-year starter at shortstop, set the Bomber record for assists (346). Outfielder Kim Lamoureaux set career records for RBIs (87) and hits (147).Infielder Jen Blum set school records for games played (152), career RBIs (96) and career runs (98).
Margo McGowan, a first-team academic all-American, hit .335 for her career. Amy McMordie ranks seventh all time at Ithaca with a .347 career batting average. Her 92 RBIs rank fifth on the all-time list.
Cheryl Wah, an NFCA and academic all-American selection, ranks second in career hits (175) and career runs (130). Julie McGraw, a two-time all-region selection, ranks second with 96 career RBIs. Pitcher Robin Bimson earned second-team all-American honors and set a school record with 77 career wins, good for eighth in the NCAA.
In 2001 first baseman Laura Remia was named the Division III Honda Player of the Year and set the NCAA career home run record with 49 (topping the old record of 44). Remia’s name is all over the Bomber record books, ranking second in career batting average (.420) and first in career RBIs (187), hits (221) and runs (168). In 2002 catcher Kristin Furdon received her second all-America selection (her first was in 2000). Abby Hanrahan, a 2003 graduate, set the school record with 576 career strikeouts.