Julie Croft had the knack of finishing what she started as a pitcher on the YSU softball team from 1987 through 1991. In her career, Croft made 69 starts and only one time did she not toss a complete game.
Croft had an impressive career for the Penguins finishing with 36 victories, a 1.87 earned-run average, 463.2 innings pitched, 167 strikeouts, 13 shutouts and out of 69 starts, she had 68 complete games.
At the time her career ended, she held school records for wins, shutouts, complete games, games started, innings pitched and strikeouts. Through the 2005 season -- 14 seasons after her career -- she still ranks in the top five in all those career categories and is also fifth in ERA. She ended her career third on the YSU earned-run average list in 1991.
As a senior in 1991, Croft started and finished 21 games, the most in her career. She posted a 14-7 record while pitching 143 innings and striking out 59. She had a 1.08 ERA, the best in her career, and tossed four shutouts. Her ERA ranks as the third best in a season in school history while her victory total is tied for second. At that time she became the first Penguin to win 14 games in a season.
As a junior in 1990, she started 19 games and finished with 18 complete-game performances. She pitched 123.1 innings and had 45 strikeouts. She had a 9-9 record, including two shut-out victories.
Croft sat out the 1989 campaign as a redshirt.
As a sophomore in 1988, she posted a 7-7 record helping the Penguins win a then-school-best 23 games. Croft started 14 games and tossed complete games in all her starts. She had 101 innings pitched and posted personal-high five shutouts. She finished with a 2.14 ERA and had 32 strikeouts for the season.
As a freshman in 1987, she posted a 6-9 record. Croft started 15 games and had complete-game performances in each contest. She pitched 96.1 innings and had a 2.90 ERA. She posted two shutouts and struck out 31 batters.
While at Youngstown State she earned a bachelor’s and a Masters degree in Business Administration.
Following her playing career she became the head coach of the program from 1996 through 1999. She posted a 73-125-1 record in her five seasons at the helm of the Penguins. Currently she is a mortgage loan originator for Reality Mortgage Express in New Jersey.
A native of Mineral Ridge, Ohio, she was an all-state performer at Mineral Ridge High School in 1986. In her junior year, the Rams won the state championship. All four years she was an InterCounty League selection.
Julie is married to former YSU assistant football coach and current New York Giants wide receivers coach Mike Sullivan. The couple resides in Totowa, N.J., with their two-year-old daughter Carmen.
