What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Millersville Marauders
When: Friday, March 28, 2008 @
Where: Pucillo Field on the campus of
Game Info
The KU softball team will open up PSAC East play on Friday when they travel to Millersville for a doubleheader. The Golden Bears enter the game ranked 17th in division II and sport a 23-5 overall record. KU enters the game fresh off a home sweep of Indiana (
Millersville is 12-9 on the season and heads into the game following a home sweep of Columbia Union in doubleheader action on Wednesday. The Marauders were victorious by scores of 10-2 and 7-1.
Each team hosted a doubleheader last season with KU taking 3 of the 4 victories. The Golden Bears won 2-1 and 12-6 on the road, before returning home for a 6-2 win and a 3-4 regular-season finale loss.
Similar to 2007, KU is one of the top teams in the region this year, while the Marauders will be fighting just to qualify for the PSAC playoffs. The Golden Bears went 43-18 a season ago, but fell in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals to bring their season to a disappointing close. Millersville was 20-26 in 2007 and failed to qualify for the PSAC playoffs.
Probable Starting Lineups
Kutztown:
1. Kim Morrison – 2B
2. Maria Schiavo – LF
3. Steph Denlinger – 1B
4. Ashley Fitzgerald – CA/DH
5. Krista Cameron – 3B
6. Krista Tedjeske – SS
7. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
8. Caitlin Hague – CA/Emily Fazekas DH
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch
Millersville:
1. Shaina Briel – 2B
2. Lindsay Hosier – SS
3. Erin Hepner – 1B
4. Alexa Ashwell – CF
5. Janell Mrakovich – DH
6. Casey Coker – 3B
7. Trisha Johnson – CA
8. Jillian Golomboski – LF
9. Maria Polyak – RF
SPs: Emily Flieger & Janell Mrakovich
Scouting Report
The Golden Bears will be expected to handle the Marauders with ease, but divisional games always tend to be a challenge.
KU will rely on their outstanding offensive attack, which sports a deadly middle of the order. Steph Denlinger (.385-5-21), Ashley Fitzgerald (.420-8-26) [Pictured Above], and Krista Cameron (.373-2-22) should each approach 20 homers this season and will cause fits for the Marauder pitching staff. Kim Morrison (.284-3-12) has done a respectable job leading off, but needs to get on base more. Maria Schiavo (.345-0-10), who teams with Morrison to set the table, is currently fourth in the nation in sacrifice hits.
Fellow freshmen Krista Tedjeske (.247-1-14) and Maggie Reifsnyder (.233-1-3) will likely hit in the six and seven slots, respectively. Reifsnyder will likely be the full time rightfielder now that Sam Flowers has left the team. A designated player will likely fill out the eight spot, while Kathy Gregg (.282-4-10) will hit ninth.
After allowing Kait Arbogast (12-3 1.76) to carry almost the entire pitching load as a freshman in 2007, Coach Judy Lawes will have fellow freshmen Mary Hoch (4-0 1.44) and Monica Glomb (5-2 2.35) to help with the workload this year. Arbogast will start a game on Friday with Glomb or Hoch likely to start the other.
Millersville’s offense is led by the bat of Janell Mrakovich (.373-2-17), who leads the team’s regulars in homers, is second in batting average, and third in RBIs. Shaina Briel (.435-1-18) leads the team in batting average, while Alexa Ashwell (.309-0-20) and Casey Coker (.309-1-20) lead the team in RBIs. Erin Hepner (.362-0-8) and Lindsay Hosier (.361-0-12) will also contribute from top of the Marauder order. It should be noted that the Marauder stats are extremely inflated thanks to Tuesday’s two-game sweep of
Emily Flieger (4-3 1.77) and Janell Mrakovich (4-4 4.67) are likely to start for the Marauders, but Courtney Eckman (2-2 7.52) will be in the mix as well.
The Golden Bears simply need to come out and do their thing. They’ve played more games than any other PSAC team thus far in 2008 so rust will not be a factor. KU has the better offense and the better pitching, which should mean an easy Friday sweep.
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4 comments:
Why did Sam Flowers leave???Isn't she a senior this year?
Both Sam Flowers and Christie McIntyre have been removed from the team for a violation of team rules. There are rumors floating around, but there is no official word to this point.
I'd say it's not worth dwelling on. It is sad to see them both go, but there is no reason to let this distract the team or it's fans from what could really be a dream season.
Why all of a sudden are the coaches removing players for violating team rules? Rules have been violated for years on all teams in all schools. Flowers is a two sport athlete and a good one, its a shame, when others are getting away with all kinds of "illegal" stuff just because they are good liars. I guess you just have to know how to throw the bull and who to throw it to. I think it is a damn shame!!!
As the saying goes, it's not illegal until you get caught.
Of course there are athletes getting away with different things they shouldn't be doing, but let's be real, there is no way to catch everyone for every infraction. With that said, if someone does get caught, they should be reprimanded.
I'm sure whatever Ms. Flowers and Ms. McIntyre did was pretty significant if they got the boot.
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