ST. CLOUD -- St. Cloud State University junior Brooke Gentzler, a resident of Austin and former athlete at Austin High School, has enjoyed a strong start to the 2003 softball season.

A first base player for coach Paula U'ren, Gentzler is batting .365 this season with three doubles, two triples and five home runs. She has 18 runs batted in to her credit and 49 total bases this spring. Gentzler has 20 career homers, which is one short of the team record of 21.

A two-time All-North Central Conference selection, Gentzler already has 85 RBIs, five triples and 23 doubles to her credit during the past two seasons at SCSU. Her career batting average stands at .381 and her slugging rate is .609 since 2001. She recently tied a team record with two home runs in a single game during the Huskies' win over Lincoln University on March 10.

The Huskies are 18-8 this season and have received votes in the latest NCAA Division II national poll.

Brooke is the daughter of Rollie and Cindy Gentzler of Austin.