April 25, 2007

SALINA, Kan. - Not only did Ashley Coker throw a pair of no-hitters in helping the Kansas Wesleyan Lady Coyotes to four wins last week, her and her younger sister Katie have appeared in the national media spotlight for throwing no-hitters on the same day last Friday night.

Ashley, a senior for the Lady Coyotes, and Katie, a senior pitcher for Salina's Sacred Heart High School, both tossed no-no's last Friday night ... just across the park from one another.

While Ashley was busy tossing a no-hit performance in a 9-0 KWU win over McPherson at Diamond No. 3 at Bill Burke Park, Katie was equaling her sister on Diamond No. 6 for the Knights in a 8-0 win over Concordia.

Ashley's no-no was her second of the week, as she shut down Southwestern on Monday night 3-0, pitching seven innings of no-hit ball.

They were her first no-hitters of her career at Kansas Wesleyan.

Since the story appeared in last Sunday's Salina Journal of the sisters throwing no hitters, numerous media outlets have picked up interest in the story, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine and CBS.

CBS News contacted the Wesleyan sports information department on Tuesday about the possibility of talking to Ashley.

"To me, it's pretty exciting. It's kind of crazy," Coker said in an interview with the Salina Journal.

"Throwing two no-hitters in a week is an amazing accomplishment at any level," KWU Sports Information Director David Toelle said. "Throwing the in fact that she did it at the same time as her sister makes it a special deal, worthy of all the attention it's bringing to Ashley, her family, Sacred Heart and Kansas Wesleyan."

The elder Coker went on to earn both Kansas Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week honors, and NAIA Region Player of the Week and Co-Pitcher of the Week honors.