Stacey Schramm begins her 6^th consecutive year (8^th overall) as the winningest coach in the Royals’ Softball program history.      

The 2020 season faced unprecedented circumstances, as the season was cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  With 25 regular season games left, Schramm’s senior class earned a total of 95 victories, 11 wins shy of tying the 2019 senior class for the most wins by a Royals’ senior class.  Despite not having the opportunity to reach their season goals, the 2020 team was the first to play on their new homefield Tuckaseegee Dream Fields.  Senior pitcher Courtney Pearson and the team earned the programs first win at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields, February 26, 2020 vs King, while senior Alyssa Strickler recorded the first homerun at Tuckaseegee Dream Fields.  The team ranked 4^th in the nation in homeruns, with nine different players recording at least one, and sophomore McKenzie McCullen leading the way with seven (1 shy of her team-leading 8 homeruns in 2019.) 

Schramm’s 2019 squad earned their fourth consecutive appearance at the South Atlantic Conference Championship.  The squad fell short in their bid to win the SAC regular season title and an NCAA regional tournament bid by an unexpected upset in the final doubleheader of the season.  Despite the disappointing end to their season, senior Sydney Ditto, junior Courtney Pearson, and freshman McKenzie McCullen were named to the 2^nd Team All-Conference.  The program also earned the top GPA in the conference and ranked in the top 10 nationally.  The most Royals in program history (12,) were recognized as NFCA Academic All-Americans. 

In just her second season back, Schramm’s squad earned the most wins in program history (35,) while also breaking into the national poll for the first time in program history.  The 19^th ranked Royals led the conference in runs scored, stolen bases, on base percentage, and strikeouts per 7 innings, while reaching the South Atlantic Conference Championship for the third consecutive year.  The squad earned the 5^th seed at the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament, with the program’s first ever at-large bid.  Sophomore Sara Ingoldsby was named to the 2^nd Team All-Conference, while sophomores Kelly Winter and Courtney Pearson, junior Sydney Ditto, and freshman Jordan Hunt were named Honorable Mention.   Sydney Ditto also earned the program’s first NFCA All-Southeast Region award.  However, the most notable success came in the classroom, as 11 players were named NFCA Academic All-Americans.  Courtney Pearson also was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team.  

In her first season back at Queens, Schramm led the squad to the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Tournament, the program’s third overall appearance.  Junior Elaina Frantellizzi earned 2^nd Team All-Conference, while senior Ashton Whitaker was named Honorable Mention.  Five Royals were recognized as NFCA Academic All-Americans and sophomore Sydney Ditto was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

Prior to returning to Queens, Schramm spent six seasons as the Head Coach at Division I, George Washington University, where she also serves as the winningest coach in program history.  After previously only reaching the Atlantic 10 Tournament only once, Schramm led the Colonials to four conference tournaments, while her players rewrote the GW softball record books in all offensive categories.  During her time at GW, 12 players earned all-conference recognition, and most notably, her top player was signed by the Dallas Charge, to play professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch League.

Schramm’s first experience as the Queens’ head coach came in the fall of 2008.  She led the program to consecutive Conference Carolinas Championships, earning automatic bids to the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2009 and 2010.  In her two years leading the Royals, four players were named All-Conference, while her pitcher was recognized as Pitcher of the Year.  In each of the two years, a total of eight players were also named to the All-Tournament team.

Schramm’s first head coaching job came at Division II, Wheeling Jesuit University.  In each of the three years, Schramm increased the win-loss percentage and led the program to the most wins in program history since the program’s inception in 2002.  In her last two years, her players were named Rookie of the Year for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  Schramm also spent a year as an assistant at Drexel University, where she helped the team earn their first ever bid to the Colonial Athletic Association conference tournament.  Schramm began her collegiate coaching career in 2002, serving as an assistant for two years at Division I, Bucknell University. 

Schramm, a native of New Jersey, graduated from Division I, Monmouth University in 2001, with a special education degree.  The four-year starting shortstop was also a three-time captain of the squad.  She led her team to three NEC regular season titles.  She and her twin sister, Mandy Schramm were both recently inducted into the Woodbury High School Hall of Fame, as they earned 12 varsity letters and were four-year starters in soccer, basketball, and softball.   Schramm is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Organizational Development, while also just a few credits shy from a master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Drexel University.  Schramm is an active member in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, where she serves on the Division II Head Coaches’ Committee to create change in our sport.
 

COACH'S SUMMARY