A look ahead: 2009 Softball

The 2008 softball season is in the books, but it’s never too early to look ahead to 2009. The Golden Bears lose two talented players to graduation in designated player/catcher Caitlin Hague and centerfielder Kathy Gregg, but return a significant amount talent, including every pitcher and seven regulars from the everyday lineup.

The ladies completed the 2008 season with an impressive 48-14 record and should only be better in 2009.

Lock Haven, KU’s top competitor in the Mid-Atlantic Region, will likely be tough again next season, losing only starting 2B Devin Glezen and reserve Missy Kurian to graduation. And yes, Kutztown fans, all-American pitcher Kristin Erb will be back. A junior in 2008, it saddens me to say she still has one year of eligibility.

As for Bloomsburg, who knocked KU out of the PSAC and Regional playoffs, the Huskies take a much bigger hit with PSAC East pitcher of the year Ashley Lynn’s career in the books. Add #2 pitcher Sheelin Fisher, 1B Jess Rosin, OF Jill Homyak, 1B Stacy Krupiewski, 3B Kayleen Sidisky, and CA Tiff Corliss to that list and Bloom has quite a rebuilding effort ahead of them.

The conference is still sure to be competitive, but Kutztown’s core of superstars will be back and have one more year of experience. The Golden Bears have yet to prove they can overcome their biggest obstacle (beat Lock Haven), but with the returning talent in 2009, there is no reason they shouldn’t come out with loads of confidence. Keep in mind that 2009 will mark the final season of the Steph Denlinger-Ashley Fitzgerald (pictured above)-Krista Cameron-Kim Morrison dynasty, which means they will be pulling all the stops to get to Nationals.

New faces in 2009

Heather Hannum – (Pictured to left - Photo Credit: www.bansheesfastpitch.com) From Horsham, PA, Hannum is listed as both a pitcher and firstbaseman. She joins her sister Nicole, who was a redshirted as a freshman this past season for KU. Unless she proves she can dominate opposing hitters as a freshman, I don’t see her spending much time in the pitching circle in the near future. If she proves she can hit right away, the right-handed hitter is a strong candidate to see time at designated player with Denlinger manning firstbase for one more season. According to rivals.com, she ran a 3.03 20-yard dash last season, third best among softball recruits at that time. At 5”10”-155 pounds, Hannum seems like she has five-tool potential.

The following clips are from stories I found online while researching the soon-to-be-Golden Bear: “The homerun was Heather's third of the day, having launched two in the semi-final contest against the Lehigh Valley Wildcats.” (www.eteamz.com) and “…said H-H senior Heather Hannum, whose two-run, 320-foot home run in the first was the beginning of the end for South.” (www.phillyburbs.com) Mouth watering yet?

Laura Kelley – From Stafford, VA, Kelley is a right-handed hitting outfielder and firstbaseman. With Gregg gone from the outfield, there is a spot open to be filled by either a returning veteran or a freshman. Kelley, who also ran track in high school, will likely get a chance to compete for the job. She considers herself a power hitter and was a key member of her high school team, which enjoyed an undefeated 2008 regular season. According to www.fredericksburg.com, Coach Lawes has been quoted as saying Kelley could see significant playing time as a freshman, as she is versatile and “could develop into a nice power hitter.”

Here is a caption about Kelley from www.fredericksburg.com: “…with Laura Kelley leading the way with four hits, including a bases-loaded triple, and six RBIs.”

Michelle McGinty – From Warminster, PA, McGinty is listed soley as a third basemen, which means Cameron will finally have some relief at the hot corner. McGinty will not see much time at third in 2009, but, like Hannum, will likely be a key contributor from 2010-2012. She seems to have the potential to be a strong third baseman in the field and at the plate. McGinty was a four year starter for her high school team and hit .448 in her senior season. Other numbers from her senior campaign include a 1.184 OPS, 16 RBIs, and .930 fielding percentage.

Nicole Colineri – From Scotch Plains, PA, Colineri is listed as a switch hitting middle-infielder, which means she could be groomed as Morrison’s replacement in 2010 and could spell Krista Tedjeske for playing time next season.

Projected Lineup
A majority of the lineup should stay the same in 2009, but designated player and centerfield voids need to be filled. This is my projected lineup, but it is almost certain to change as Coach Judy Lawes becomes more familiar with her new faces and as the veterans progress this offseason.

Batting Order—Class—Bats—Player—Position—(2008 Stats)

1 – Sr – L – Kim Morrison – 2B – (.279-3-16)
Morrison wasn’t herself in her first season as a leadoff hitter, but improved as the season went on and is likely to return to the role in 2009. She hit just .279 after combining to hit .326 in her first two seasons, but there wasn’t as much of a dropoff from her .352 career on base percentage to .330 in 2008. This was because she drew 14 walks in 2008 after walking just 12 combined times in her previous two seasons. She also saw her individual numbers dip from 2007 to 2008 in doubles (16-9), triples (3-0), and runs (53-42). Her power numbers were also down, but this was not surprising as she moved to more of a table-setting role.

If Morrison were to be moved out of the top spot, she could swap places with Schiavo or be dropped all the way to at least sixth in the order. She is too good to bat that low, so unless someone breaks out in the offseason and coach Lawes has no choice but to put them first in the order, Morrison will likely return to the top spot. She is a great contact hitter, but needs to work hard this offseason to rebound from a disappointing 2008. Expect her to bounce back and hit around .320 in her senior season.

2 – Jr – L – Maria Schiavo – LF – (.316-0-17)
Like Morrison, Schiavo saw her numbers dip this season, but fortunately it was not as dramatic of a decline. The junior’s batting average fell eight points and she had six less doubles, three less runs scored, 21 less RBIs, six less steals, and 12 less total bases. Those changes aren’t too significant and Schiavo’s on base percentage actually went up three points in 2008 thanks to drawing a few more walks than in 2007. The steep decline in RBIs is a product of Adriane Willmer batting ahead of her in 2007 as compared to a struggling Morrison in 2008.

She is likely to remain the two hitter as she is one of the nation’s top sacrifice bunters. She is an outstanding contact hitter and, statistically, she will basically go as Morrison goes. If there are runners on, she will be counted on to bunt them over. If not, she will need to find ways to get herself in scoring position for the big bats behind her.

3 – Sr – L – Steph Denlinger – 1B – (.349-16-55)
Denlinger had another superstar season in 2008, but the 2007 PSAC East player of the year actually saw a significant decrease statistically. The senior lefty saw her batting average drop from .507 to .349, her homerun total from 24 to 16, and her RBIs from 73 to 55. She also scored 17 less runs, saw her slugging percentage dip from 1.111 to .716, and watched her on base percentage fall from .625 to .491. After walking an almost unbelievable 51 times in 2007, Denlinger walked 46 more times in 2008, with the decline mostly a product of the outstanding protection provided by Fitzgerald in the cleanup spot.

Denlinger’s 2007 season would have been almost impossible to repeat, but I don’t think anyone expected her to regress all the way back to the numbers she put up in her freshman season. I won’t project a return to a 1.736 OPS, but I believe she’s capable of hitting 20 homers again in 2009. Despite the statistical decline, Denlinger was still one of the nation’s top power hitters in 2008 and expect her to be even better in her senior campaign.

4 – Sr – L – Ashley Fitzgerald – CA – (.427-16-59)
Fitzgerald will enter her senior season as arguably the most feared hitter in the PSAC. The senior slugger led the KU offense in 2008, pacing the team in batting average (.427), homers (16-tie), RBIs (59), total bases (150), and slugging (.811). Fitzgerald, who now has 35 career homers and 164 career RBIs, will remain the cleanup hitter in 2008, assuming Coach Lawes doesn’t move her up a spot in the order to get her a few more at-bats. Fitzgerald saw a majority of her time in the field at catcher, but also saw time at shortstop, right field, and designated player. Her versatility makes her an invaluable resource, but, with Hague out of the picture, expect her to man catcher for all of KU’s important games in 2009.

5 – Sr – L – Krista Cameron – 3B – (.318-5-37)
It’s been a one-woman show at third base for KU the last three seasons and it will be hard to imagine anyone besides Cameron at the hot corner after next season. Since her arrival in 2006, the senior has started all 174 of Kutztown’s games at third base, including 62 this past season. She could give way to the freshman McGinty for a few at-bats or spot starts in 2009, but Cameron will be the everyday starter in her final season. Cameron was another Golden Bear who saw her numbers decline in 2008 and it was most noticeable in the power department. She hit just .318 after batting .364 over her first two seasons. Cameron also saw a dip in homers (16-5), RBIs (66-37), runs (47-29), slugging (.724-.472), and on-base percentage (.398-.342).

As you can see, it was a significant offensive decline for Cameron and she will need to return to her 2007 form next season. She is counted on to protect Denlinger and Fitzgerald and it will be hard to do that without the threat of a homerun. She still had a stellar 2008 campaign, but there is room for improvement in her senior season.

6 – So – R – Krista Tedjeske – SS – (.248-2-21)
Tedjeske bounced between the six and eight spot in the order throughout the second half of the 2008 season and will likely be part of a similar rotation in 2009. Tedjeske was the everyday shortstop for KU and, despite a team-high 11 errors, showed some flashes of greatness with the glove in her freshman season. She is likely to return to the everyday role at shortstop, but needs to improve her .635 OPS if she wants to remain the six hitter. Her 21 RBIs were tied for fourth best on the team, but many of them came earlier in the season. If she can get it together offensively, expect her to remain in the six spot, but with some big freshman bats and Reifsnyder fighting for at-bats, the leash is unlikely to be very long.

7 – Fr – R – Heather Hannum – DP – (N/A)
I’ve never seen Hannum swing a bat, but from what I’ve read, you can probably already pencil her into the designated player slot. As mentioned earlier in this article (See New Faces in 2009), Hannum can crush the ball and will replace Denlinger at first base in 2010. Since she would need an injury or some kind of massive slump by Denlinger to see time in her place this season, expect Hannum to see much of her at-bats from the designated player slot.

8 – So – R – Maggie Reifsnyder – RF – (.239-4-10)
Reifsnyder started the 2008 season in a platoon in right field, took over as the full-time starter when Sam Flowers was removed from the team, and ended it in a platoon with fellow sophomore-to-be Angela Domenici. Heading into the offseason with one starter from 2008 already gone (Gregg), Reifsnyder is the favorite to start in right field in 2009. However, she will almost certainly feel pressure from whoever does not get a starting job, may it be Laura Kelley, Nikki Hannum, Natalie Chamerlain, or Domenici.

Reifsnyder hit a hot streak in the middle of 2008, but struggled late in the season before injuring herself against Lock Haven late in the year. Her OPS of .706 was not great, but she did manage four homers, which was fifth best on the team. Reifsnyder had just 10 RBIs despite seeing plenty of at-bats in the six spot, a number which must improve in 2009.

9 – Fr – R – Laura Kelley – CF – (N/A)
It’s hard for me to speculate here as I’ve never seen the freshmen in action, but based on what I’ve read, it seems like Kelley has a great shot to fill in where Kathy Gregg left off as both the centerfielder and nine hitter. Nicole Hannum, Natalie Chamberlain, or Angela Domenici could also get the nod here, depending on who is best suited for the role. As mentioned earlier (See New Faces in 2009), Kelley could potentially be a very good power hitting outfielder. If she can hit near .300 and match the six homers hit by Gregg this past season, she will likely see plenty of time in the starting lineup.

Key Reserves
My projected starting lineup is obviously not set in stone, so here is a look at a few other players who could see action, might it be a minimal or significant amount, in 2009.

Class—Bats—Player—Position—(2008 Stats)

Fr – S – Nicole Hannum – OF – (N/A)
Hannum was redshirted last season, but will compete for a shot to play everyday in the outfield. The switch hitter could also see time at designated player, battling for time there with her younger sister Heather. I don’t know too much about the older Hannum, since she didn’t play last year, but I have to imagine she was redshirted so she can see significant playing time during the next four seasons.

Fr - R - Natalie Chamberlain - OF - (N/A)
Chamberlain was redshirted due to a back injury in 2008, but will compete for playing time in the outfield in 2009. I don't know too much about her, but apparently she will be one of the fastest players on the team and has a decent throwing arm. If she can put the ball in play, Chamberlain could be a candidate to bat out of the nine spot for Coach Lawes.

So – R – Angela Domenici – OF – (.188-0-3)
Domenici saw limited action in 2008 with a significant amount of her at-bats coming late in the season when Reifsnyder was injured. She was just 6-of-32 at the plate, failed to draw a walk, and had just one extra base hit. It should be noted that a majority of those at-bats came late in the season, including during the playoffs, against tough pitching. She will contend for playing time in center and right field.

Fr – S – Nicole Colineri – MIF – (N/A)
(See New Faces in 2009)

Fr – N/A – Michelle McGinty – 3B – (N/A)
(See New Faces in 2009)

Jr – R – Tami Wambold – DP – (.154-0-2)
Wambold is likely to continue as a spot starter and pinch hitter in 2009. This past season, she hit just .154 in 26 at-bats and failed to record an extra base hit.

Jr – R – Emily Fazekas – IF – (.154-0-1)
Fazekas was primarily called upon as a pinch hitter in 2008, seeing only five starts and 13 at-bats during the 62 game season. She could see a few spot starts again next season, but will again see considerable time as a pinch runner.

So – R – Alex Najpauer – IF – (.182-0-4)
Like Fazekas, Najpauer was used strictly as a pinch runner last season. She batted .182 in just 22 at-bats, but did appear in 32 games for KU. She will likely be the number-two pinch running option behind Fazekas again in 2009.

Jr – L – Laine Heisler – CA – (.150-0-1)
Heisler has seen little action during her first two seasons at KU, but with Hague graduated and no other catchers besides Fitzgerald currently on the roster, Heisler could end up as the backup catcher, which would bring on a decent amount of playing time. Heisler had just 20 at-bats in six 2008 starts, putting up a less than impressive .340 OPS.

Other Reserves: Anne Arbogast, Joanna Spangler – Unlikely to see significant action in 2009.

Pitching Staff
The Golden Bears will return every member of their young pitching staff next season.

Rotation Spot—Class—Throws—Player—(2008 Stats)

1 – Junior – R – Katlin Arbogast – (26-7 1.41)
After being forced to carry a majority of the pitching load as a freshman in 2007, Arbogast was awarded with some relief in Mary Hoch and Monica Glomb in 2008. The 2007 PSAC East Pitcher of the Year responded with a better season in almost every area, but fell just short of winning the 2008 POY award to Bloomsburg’s Ashley Lynn. Arbogast improved her ERA from 1.82 to 1.41, her WHIP from 1.15 to 0.95, her opponent batting average from .205 to .183, and her strikeouts per 7 innings from 8.1 to 8.6. She walked 33 less hitters, allowed 50 less hits, and improved her record from 27-9 in 2007 to 26-7 in 2008. Arbogast will be one of the top pitchers in the PSAC during the next two seasons and is the early favorite to take home the 2009 PSAC East Pitcher of the Year award.

2 – Sophomore – R – Monica Glomb – (10-6 2.15)
Glomb’s ability to pitch effectively for over 100 innings in 2008 was a welcome surprise for everyone, especially Kaitlin Arbogast, who needed a break after tossing a school-record 249.1 innings in 2007. Now a sophomore, Glomb has a solid year of experience under her belt and will look to improve to the next level in 2009, which would mean minimizing the already small dropoff when Arbogast is out of the game. Glomb’s ERA may look a bit high, but it took a huge hit late in the season due to a few bad outings. She should be even better next season, which would make her one of the East’s top pitchers.

3 – Sophomore – R – Mary Hoch – (9-1 1.68)
Just looking at the numbers from last season, Hoch appears to have done a better job than Glomb, but Coach Lawes turned to Glomb more often, allowing her 30 more innings of work. That did not stop Hoch from having an outstanding season, notching a 9-1 record and an impressive 1.68 ERA. Both freshmen pitchers jumped to outstanding starts last season, but both went on to struggle late. If Hoch outpitches Glomb early in 2009, she in turn is likely to get more work. The biggest concern about Hoch is her lack of an ability to strike out opponents, managing just 47 in 70.2 innings (4.7 K/7).

4 – Sophomore – R – Lauren Doering – (2-0 1.98)
Coach Lawes called on Doering just six times in 2008, but the Canadian rookie did her job in 17.2 innings of work. Her ERA is probably a bit deceiving as her performance wasn’t quite as good as it indicates due to seven unearned runs. Her WHIP of 1.70 is way too high, but she did average more than a strikeout an inning. She will, at best, return as the fourth option again in 2009.

Other Pitching Reserves: Maggie Reifsnyder, Heather Hannum – Unlikely to see significant action in 2009.

So, there you have it. If you have any other inquiries on the 2009 team, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond as soon as I gather the information. Keep in mind that this was written based completely on the information I have at the present time and is likely to change based on the happenings of the current offseason.

UPDATES:
5/29/08 - More info added about Michelle McGinty
5/30/08 - Added Natalie Chamberlain info

Offseason Fun

It saddens me to say that the KU Athletic season has come to a close, but that does not mean the end of new posts on Kutztown University Vital Sports!

Throughout the summer, I will be working on previews for the 2008-09 seasons and posting all kinds of fun statistical information. When I have some other free time, I will do more player profiles, similar to the ones I did for the likes of Mercedes Van Wagner, Rachel Weidensaul, and David Ben.

If you have any information or article requests, feel free to leave comments on the articles or email me at mclay8823@yahoo.com. If you are interested in contributing to the site, you can express your interest via email as well.

Be sure to check back throughout the summer for the latest on Kutztown University Athletics!

Baseball season ends with 8-0 loss

The KU baseball season has come to a close after an 8-0 loss to fourth-seeded Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday. The PSAC Champion and sixth-seeded Golden Bears started the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Tournament with a heartbreaking 5-3 loss to top-seeded West Chester before beating second-seeded West Virgina State 2-1 to stay alive on Friday. The Golden Bears end the 2008 season with a 31-26 record.

Shippensburg went on to defeat West Chester for the Regional title in a decisive game seven.

Golden Bears stay alive with 2-1 win

The sixth-seeded KU baseball team defeated second-seeded West Virginia State on Friday by a score of 2-1, eliminating the Yellow Jackets from the double-elimination tournament. The win comes one day after KU fell 5-3 to top-seeded West Chester in game one of the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Tournament.

The Golden Bears now advance to a 3 p.m. game on Saturday against Pitt-Johnstown. Each of KU's remaining games will be elimination contests.

Check back throughout the weekend for continuous updates.

Complete Schedule/Results

Baseball falls in Regional opener

The KU baseball team fell to West Chester by a score of 5-3 on Thursday in the opening game of the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Tournament.

The Golden Bears, seeded sixth out of six teams in the tournament, fall to the loser's bracket and will play tomorrow at 11 a.m. against either West Virginia State or Shippensburg. A loss in that game would eliminate KU from the double-elimination tournament. The top-seeded Golden Rams move on to face either Concord or Pitt-Johnstown tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Baseball team looks to make noise at Regionals

What: NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Baseball Playoffs
When: Thursday, May 15, 2008 – Sunday, May 18, 2008
Where: Point Stadium on the campus of Pitt-Johnstown University

Team Info
The KU baseball team will head into this week’s North Atlantic Regional playoffs looking to continue its Cinderella run to the Division II World Series. The Golden Bears enter the tournament with an automatic bid after shocking the entire region by winning the PSAC Championship earlier this month. The Golden Bears enter Regionals with a 30-24 record and have won 12 of their last 14 games against PSAC foes.

Kutztown will be the six seed in the tournament and its opening playoff game will be against top-seeded West Chester on Thursday at 11 a.m. The Golden Rams went 41-14 this season and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has them ranked 24^th in the nation.

Six teams will contend for the Regional crown in the double elimination tournament. The other first round games will match second-seeded West Virginia State with fifth-seeded Shippensburg and third-seeded Concord with fourth-seeded Pitt-Johnstown. Three teams come from the PSAC, while the other three are from the WVIAC.

The Golden Bears were a combined 7-3 against the other five playoff teams in 2008. They were 0-1 against Concord, 5-2 against West Chester, and 2-0 against Shippensburg. KU did not play West Virginia St. or Pitt-Johnstown in the regular season.

Last season, KU won the North Atlantic Region Championship, which qualified them for the Division II World Series, where they were eliminated in just two games.

The Golden Bears started their improbable run to the Regional playoffs back in April when they completed the regular season by taking three of four games from West Chester. The wins improved their PSAC East record to 11-9, which earned them the division’s second seed in the six team conference playoffs. KU opened the tournament with a 4-3 win over Indiana (Pa.) and a 9-2 shellacking of Millersville, before falling for the first time against WCU 1-0. The Golden Bears responded by defeating Millersville again 8-7 before meeting West Chester for the PSAC title. KU needed to win back-to-back games against the Golden Rams to take the title and they did just that. The Golden Bears won game one 6-2 before escaping in the deciding game by a score of 8-7.

Probable Starting Lineup
1. LF – Chad Lightcap (.387-6-40)
Is the team’s best hitter by a longshot and is tops on the team in batting average, RBIs, runs (47), slugging (.620), and on-base percentage (.488).

2. 2B – Mike Kacelowicz (.315-1-20)
Spent much of the season as the leadoff hitter, but has done well in the two spot.

3. 3B – Mike Dugan (.286-1-19)
Frey could end up in this spot, but Dugan has the hot bat and will likely get the nod if he continues hitting.

4. DH – James Quigley (.330-1-17)
Quigley missed a big part of the early season, but has been stellar since his return.

5. CA – Matt Kulbacki (.286-7-32)
Will split time at catcher with Scott Kacelowicz, but his bat will be relied upon for power. He leads the team with seven homers.

6. RF – Corey Buletza (.278-1-23)
Captain versatility can play all three outfield spots and has started at least one game batting in every spot in the order except ninth.

7. CF – Garrison Rausch (.193-0-13)
Rausch struggled with the bat all season long, but has been hot over the last few games and could hit anywhere from fifth through eighth.

8. 1B – Jared Frey (.250-0-20)
Frey will be at the top of the order if he starts hitting again. He was well over .300 earlier this year, before a huge late-season dropoff.

9. SS – Mark Renda (.250-0-16)
Brett Wigder is likely to share time here, but Renda seems to be getting more playing time as of late. He leads the team with 17 steals.

Bench
CA – Scott Kacelowicz (.309-0-9) – Will see time at catcher
OF – Jeff Kistle (.220-1-11) – Will get a few spot starts and pinch hit opportunities
IF – Brett Wigder (.281-0-19) – Will see time at shortstop.
1B – Andy May (.311-1-9) – Will be limited to pinch hitting unless Frey struggles badly.
OF – Nole Saylor (.281-1-7) – Could see a start in centerfield.
OF – Bryan Riggins (.222-0-9) – Unlikely to see much time, but did get a rare start in PSACs.

Probable Pitching Rotation
1. LHP Darin Gorski (8-3 2.08)
The staff ace leads KU in wins, innings pitched (73.2), and strikeouts (78) and is best among the starters in ERA and opponent batting average (.208).

2. RHP Phil Rummel (6-5 3.39)
Has been better and better as the season has gone on and is not much of a dropoff, if any, from Gorski.

3. RHP Derek Reis (4-2 2.63)
A more than formidable third option, Reis is third best on the team in ERA in 51.1 innings of work.

4. LHP Garrison Rausch (1-3 6.17)
2008 was a struggle, but the senior has come up big in important games this season and could see a start.

5. RHP Jason Herr (0-2 3.72)
Herr started the decisive final game against West Chester and did a nice job. He could be rewarded with another spot start if necessary.

6. RHP Mike Bucklin (2-0 5.40)
He got a spot start in PSACs and could be used if Coach Blum is in a bind.

Bullpen
RHP Trent Mertz (1-0 1.80) - Leads the team in ERA and has 16 strikeouts in 20 innings of relief.
RHP Justin Jachowicz (1-3 3.33) – One of Coach Blum’s go to guys in the pen.
LHP Ryan Cassidy (2-2 4.24) – A top lefty option out of the bullpen.
RHP Mike Moran (1-1 4.86) – Has recorded more strikeouts than innings pitched so far this season
RHP Anthony Fegely (1-1 2.89) – Only worked 9.1 innings in 2008.
RHP Steve Craig (2-1 7.04) – Started earlier this season, but has struggled in limited action since then.
LHP Jordan Smith (1-1 5.02) – Unlikely to see much work

Outlook
As mentioned in last week’s PSAC preview, the Golden Bears aren’t the team that everyone feared in 2007, but teams are definitely going to take them more seriously now they’ve dominated West Chester and came out as champions of the always competitive PSAC. Last years team was loaded with veteran talent, but in 2008 its young talent, which can sometimes be even scarier for opponents.

The run to a Regional title will be the team’s toughest challenge of the season, but the Golden Bears’ deep pitching staff will keep them competitive against anyone. The young offense has been red hot, but the two week layoff from PSACs could be troubling for their momentum. It will be interesting to see if they continue to swing the bats well.

The Golden Bears have had success against the top teams in the PSAC, a strong pitching conference, but the WVIAC is more of a hitting-first conference. They say pitching wins championships, so that could give KU somewhat of an edge. The Golden Bears are another strong sleeper pick in Regionals as long as the offense continues to put runs on the board.

Baseball Regionals Schedule

Here is the schedule for the 2008 NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Tournament, which will run from May 15-18 at Point Stadium on the campus of Pitt-Johnstown.

Thursday, May 15
G1: #1 West Chester 5 vs. #6 Kutztown 3
G2: #2 West Virginia State 2 vs. #5 Shippensburg 10
G3: #3 Concord 3 vs. #4 Pitt-Johnstown 6

Friday, May 16
G4: Kutztown (0-1) 2 vs. WV State (0-1) 1 - WV State Eliminated
G5: West Chester (1-0) 7 vs. Concord (0-1) 4 - Concord Eliminated
G6: Shippensburg (1-0) 11 vs. Pitt-Johnstown (1-0) 1

Saturday, May 17
G7: West Chester (2-0) 5 vs. Shippensburg (2-0) 10
G8: Kutztown (1-1) 0 vs. Pitt-Johnstown (1-1) 8 - Kutztown Eliminated
G9: Pitt-Johnstown (2-1) 2 vs. West Chester (2-1) 6 - PJU Eliminated

Sunday, May 18
G10: Shippensburg (3-0) 10 vs. West Chester (3-1) 12
G11: Shippensburg (3-1) 5 vs. West Chester (4-1) 4 - Shippensburg Wins Title

Softball team eliminated

The 2008 softball season has come to an end for the Golden Bears after they were defeated by Bloomsburg 3-0 in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament on Sunday. The loss brings the careers of Caitlin Hague and Kathy Gregg to a close. Check back later this week for a full season recap and a look ahead to 2009.

Bloomsburg now advances to the regional championship against Lock Haven later today.

Complete Schedule/Results

Softball advances to semifinals

The KU softball team won both of its games on Saturday and are now one of just three remaining teams in the Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament. The Golden Bears defeated West Chester 1-0 in the early afternoon to eliminate the Golden Rams and later knocked out the California (Pa.) Vulcans with a 4-1 victory.

The ladies now advance to the semifinals where they will take on Bloomsburg Sunday at 10 a.m. If KU wins, they will take on Lock Haven in the PSAC Championship. They would have to beat LHU twice, first in a 12:30 p.m. meeting and then again at 3 p.m. If the Golden Bears lose any of three potential games on Sunday, their season comes to a close.

Softball falls, now faces elimination

The KU softball team fell 3-1 to Bloomsburg in a winner's bracket game on Thursday and will now face elimination the rest of the tournament. The Golden Bears move on to face West Chester Saturday at 11:30. KU's lone run came via an Ashley Fitzgerald solo homerun.

If the Golden Bears beat West Chester, they advance to a 4:30 meeting with the winner of Saturday's first game between California and Shippensburg. If KU loses either of those games, the 2008 season will come to a close.

As always, you can listen to both of Saturday's games live on the Golden Bear Network. Be sure to check back for schedule changes as inclement weather is in the forecast.

Softball wins Regional opener

The KU softball team opened the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional softball tournament with a 1-0 victory over Shippensburg in eight innings. The Golden Bears were led by a complete game effort from Kait Arbogast. KU's only run came in the bottom of the eighth when Steph Denlinger singled to left, enabling Maria Schiavo to score on a Shippensburg error.

KU now advances to the winner's bracket, where they will take on Bloomsburg at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. You can listen to a live broadcast of the game on the Golden Bear Network. Mike Clay and Scott Kemps will bring you the action starting at 4:20 p.m.

Complete Schedule/Results

The Erb Report

Over the last few years, I’ve had a lot of people ask me about Lock Haven’s all-American pitcher Kristin Erb. The junior pitcher has been one of Division II’s best pitchers over the last three seasons and the Golden Bears will need to beat her if they have plans of competing on the national level this season. I did some research and this is the statistics of the current KU roster against Erb since her arrival at LHU in 2006. This is a combination of statistics from seven meetings between the two teams, including three this season. In 2006, the teams met once during the PSAC playoffs. In 2007, they met three times, all of which were PSAC playoff games. This season, they’ve met three times, which includes two regular season contests and one PSAC playoff game.

Provided is KU’s players and each athletes numbers against Erb.

Probable Batting Order:
[Hits At-bats (Avg.) Runs RBIs Strikeouts (On-base%)]
1. 2B – Kim Morrison 7-for-24 (.292) 1 0 1 (.292)
2. LF – Maria Schiavo 3-for-20 (.150) 2 2 1 (.150)
3. 1B – Steph Denlinger 6-for-22 (.273) 4 2 5 (.360)
4. CA – Ashley Fitzgerald 5-for-23 (.217) 0 0 1 (.217)
5. 3B – Krista Cameron 3-for-24 (.125) 3 4 3 (.125)
6. DP – Caitlin Hague 2-for-14 (.143) 0 0 5 (.143)
7. SS – Krista Tedjeske 1-for-6 (.167) 0 0 3 (.167)
8. RF – Maggie Reifsnyder 0-for 4 (.000) 1 0 2 (.000)
9. CF – Kathy Gregg 5-for-19 (.263) 1 2 4 (.263)

Bench:
OF – Angela Domenici 0-for-2 (.000) 0 0 2 (.000)

Pitching (vs. LHU):
Kait Arbogast (1-3 3.28 ERA), 4 games, 35.2 IP, 33 H, 13 ER, 8 BB, 30 K, 1.15 WHIP
Monica Glomb (0-1 16.88 ERA), 1 game, 2.2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3.00 WHIP
Mary Hoch (0-0 81.00 ERA), 1 game, 0.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 15.00 WHIP
Lauren Doering (0-0 0.00 ERA), 1 game, 2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 4.00 WHIP

As you can see, Erb has done quite a number on KU, falling to the Golden Bears only once in seven tries. Kim Morrison, Steph Denlinger, and Kathy Gregg have had some success against her and it might be smart for some of the other players to talk to them about how they handle at-bats against Erb.

One thing I’ve noticed is Morrison’s approach, which I believe Gregg utilizes as well. Morrison stays back and tries to drive Erb’s pitches to the opposite field. With a tough pitcher like Erb, who throws a very fast heater and also has a devastating change up in her arsenal, being patient and looking to go the other way with the pitch is likely your best chance to succeed. Denlinger can hit for power to all fields against anyone and it’s no surprise that she has a team-best .360 on-base percentage against the LHU ace.

Hopefully this will be helpful for the fans (and maybe even the players). This is statistical evidence that KU can hit Erb and just needs to approach her the right way. If the Golden Bears get their chance against the Lady Eagles, it will be interesting to see if they can turn the tide. Stay Tuned.

Softball set for Regional Playoffs

What: NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional softball tournament
When: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 – Saturday, May 10, 2008
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University

Tournament Info
The KU softball team will head into the 2008 Regional Playoffs as one of the favorites to advance to Nationals. The Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 44-10 overall record and won the PSAC East crown with an impressive 21-3 mark. KU finished third in this past weekend’s PSAC playoffs and will be the third seed out of eight participating universities in the double elimination Regional tournament.

The Golden Bears opening game will be against sixth-seeded Shippensburg at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Their second game will be on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., if they lose their first game, or at 4:30 p.m., if they win.

The other teams competing for the title will include PSAC champ Lock Haven (1^st seed), Bloomsburg (2), California (4), West Chester (5), Slippery Rock (7), and CIAA champ Bowie State (8).

The Golden Bears were a combined 10-6 against the seven other playoff teams. This included 0-3 vs. Lock Haven, 2-3 vs. Bloomsburg, 4-0 vs. Shippensburg, and 4-0 against West Chester. They did not play California, Slippery Rock, or Bowie State in 2008.

Of the eight playoff teams, three are ranked nationally. Lock Haven is second, Bloomsburg is eighth, and KU is 16^th.

The Golden Bears did not fare well in the PSAC Playoffs. KU scored three runs in the first inning of its first game (a 3-0 win against ESU), but failed to score another run the rest of the tournament. Lock Haven beat them 5-0 and Bloomsburg eliminated them 2-0 in nine innings. That’s a scoreless drought of 21 innings.

Last season, KU was one strike away from winning the PSAC title before the eventual Division II Lock Haven Lady Eagles came back and stole the championship. After defeating ESU 6-1 in their first game of the tournament, the Golden Bears knocked off LHU 3-0 to position themselves one win away from the title. In their next game, KU led 5-2 with Lock Haven down to their last strike, but the Lady Eagles rallied and eventually won in 15 innings. The LHU win forced a grudge match for the PSAC title, which the Lady Eagles won 5-2.

The Golden Bears then participated in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, which, like the PSACs, were held at North Campus Field. KU was without an ill Katlin Arbogast for a majority of the tournament and it showed on the scoreboard. The Golden Bears lost 2-0 to Edinboro in their first game before pummeling NC Central 21-0 in their second game. They were eliminated the next day when ESU beat them 11-10.

Probable Starting Lineup
1. 2B – Kim Morrison (.292-3-16)
The junior leadoff hitter toned down on the power this season, instead embracing her new role as a table setter for the meat of the order. She slumped at points during the regular season, but has hit well as of late, bringing her average back up to .292. Her .343 on-base percentage is not where it should be for a leadoff hitter, but she has shown improvement in her first season batting high in the order. She has stolen 8 bases in 9 attempts.

2. LF – Maria Schiavo (.318-0-17)
Schiavo is one of the nation’s best in the sacrifice hit category and has been an exceptional two-hitter since her arrival at KU one season ago. Her .318 batting average is fourth best on the team, but she is relied on primarily for her ability to lay down good bunts. Her average of 0.39 sacrifice hits per game ranks her 11^th in division II.

3. 1B – Steph Denlinger (.354-16-55)
Denlinger is one of the most feared hitters in division II softball and likely will receive multiple free passes in the playoffs. The junior lefty leads the team with 16 homers and is tied with Fitzgerald for the RBI lead with 55. She is 19^th in DII in homers per game, 17^th in walks per game, and 32^nd in slugging percentage. When she gets a chance to hit, there is a good chance it will be a homer. However, don’t be surprised if she is intentionally walked on several occasions. Fortunately for her, she has excellent protection in Fitzgerald, which forces opponents to pitch to her.

4. CA/SS – Ashley Fitzgerald (.435-15-55)
The junior cleanup hitter will be the primary catcher, but could see some work at shortstop. Her .435 batting average is tops in the PSAC and 24^th best in DII. She is also 8^th in DII in doubles per game (0.43), and 10^th in slugging percentage (.863). Her team-leading 1.335 OPS is off the charts and really shows how dominant of a hitter she is. Teams will look to walk Denlinger, but it won’t be any easier with Fitzgerald at the plate.

5. 3B – Krista Cameron (.322-5-35)
Cameron might be one to watch in this tournament. The team’s six hitter had five hits in the PSAC tournament last year, homered twice, and had at least one run scored and one RBI in each of the team’s four games. Her home run total has taken quite a dip this season, but she has had yet another solid season as the team’s third baseman and five hitter.

6. DP/CA – Caitlin Hague (.283-1-12)
Hague, one of two seniors on the roster, will likely bat sixth, but has been in rotation with Tedjeske and Reifsnyder all season long. She will be the primary designated player and could catch a game or two. Her .283 batting average is just seventh among the team’s starting nine, but she is a solid hitter with invaluable playoff experience and one of only a few Golden Bears who improved their batting average during PSACs.

7. SS – Krista Tedjeske (.257-2-21)
The freshman shortstop has done a respectable job in 50 starts in her rookie season. Her .257 average is lowest among the starting nine, but she’s done a nice job providing runs with 21 RBIs, which ties her for fourth best on the team, and two homers. She will be looking to improve on making contact as she leads the team with 33 strikeouts.

8. RF – Maggie Reifsnyder (.268-4-10)
Reifsnyder missed KU’s last five games of the regular season and was not at 100 percent during PSACs due to an injury she suffered against Lock Haven last Tuesday. She started the last game of the PSAC tournament, but could split time with Angela Domenici again in Regionals. Reifsnyder is hitting a respectable .268 and has four homers, which is fifth highest on the team despite not playing full time until midway through the season.

9. CF – Kathy Gregg (.303-6-21)
Gregg, one of two seniors on the roster, is one of the team’s best hitters, but is slotted in the nine hole in order to get on base for the top of the order. Her six homers are third best on the team and is one of five Golden Bears above the .300 batting average mark. Her 21 RBIs tie her for fourth on the team and she has a team-high nine steals in nine attempts. Her 29 strikeouts (second worst on the team) are a bit troublesome, but she did not strike out in PSACs.

Key Reserves
OF Angela Domenici (.200-0-3)
While Reifsnyder was out, Domenici filled in the right field spot. The freshman is the top reserve in the outfield, but has just 30 at-bats this season.

DP Tami Wambold (.154-0-2)
Wambold could be used as the designated player, but, if anything, is more likely to see a pinch hit appearance or two. She doesn’t provide much in the contact department, but when she does get a hold of a pitch, there’s a good chance it’ll go a long way.

PR Emily Fazekas (.154-0-1)
Fazekas is the team’s top pinch runner and is likely to have opportunities to score big runs for KU in this tournament.

PR Alex Najpauer (.182-0-4)
Najpauer is another player coach Judy Lawes will go to if she needs a pinch runner.

Probable Pitching Rotation
1. Kait Arbogast (23-7 1.49)
Arbogast is one of the top pitchers in the PSAC and has already rewritten most of the KU pitching record book as a sophomore. She is 14^th in DII in strikeouts per seven innings (9.4), 24^th in wins (23), 22^nd in saves (3), and 24^th in hits allowed per seven innings (4.58). She is the team’s ace and will likely pitch a majority of the team’s innings in the tournament, much like she did in PSACs.

2. Monica Glomb (10-5 2.11)
A freshman, Glomb has started 14 games for KU this season. She pitched well most of the season, but was lit up by Lock Haven last Tuesday, which could cause concerns if she is called on against tough teams in the playoffs. Regardless of that bad outing, she has shown she is an effective pitcher and should be okay if she gets the nod.

3. Mary Hoch (9-0 1.61)
Hoch is another freshman who has done an outstanding job in the pitching department this season. She has yet to lose in 20 appearances (10 starts), but also got banged around a bit by LHU. Hoch will likely see some work in the tournament and it will be interesting to see how she holds up against the conference’s top teams.

Outlook
The Golden Bears will be one of the favorites in the tournament and they have arguably the best offense of the eight teams. Unfortunately for them, Lock Haven’s Kristin Erb seems to have their number and they will need to find a way to overcome the Lady Eagles if they have any plans of competing at the national level. Lock Haven won the national championship in 2006 and was the runner-up in 2007. If KU can get some momentum and knock them off, there is no telling how far they can go. The Golden Bears have also lost three straight to second-seeded Bloomsburg, who also has a stellar pitching option in Ashley Lynn.

If there is a point in the season to play your best, now is that time. The Golden Bears have been close to getting the chance to play at the national level for a while now and time is running out for some of the team’s top players.

What the tournament is going to come down to for KU is the offense. The Golden Bears need to find ways to plate runs against the likes of Erb and Lynn or they won’t have a chance. Arbogast is a stellar pitcher and can keep KU close, meaning 3-5 runs of support is likely all she would need. The Golden Bears are probably the most dangerous team offensively and there is no doubt that they can pound Kristin Erb if they get some momentum.

If the offense breaks out in this tournament, there is no telling what kind of damage KU can do. If not, it’s going to be another disappointing end to an outstanding season.

~Note: This preview is basically an updated version of last week’s PSAC playoffs preview~

Softball Regionals Schedule

Below are the participating teams and the schedule for this weekend’s NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Softball Regional Tournament, which will be held at Kutztown University’s North Campus Field. The tournament will run from May 7-10.

Participating teams
(Seed. Team – Reg. Season Record)
1. Lock Haven 43-6
2. Bloomsburg 48-9
3. Kutztown 44-10
4. California (Pa.) 26-16
5. West Chester 31-20
6. Shippensburg 27-25
7. Slippery Rock 27-15
8. Bowie State 25-12 - Eliminated

Schedule
Wednesday, May 7
Game 1 - 9 a.m. - California (Pa.) 7 vs. West Chester 0
Game 2 - 11:30 a.m. - Lock Haven 1 vs. Bowie State 0
Game 3 - 2 p.m. - Bloomsburg 5 vs. Slippery Rock 4
Game 4 - 4:30 p.m. - Kutztown 1 vs. Shippensburg 0

Thursday, May 8
Game 5 - 9 a.m. - West Chester (0-1) 4 vs. Bowie State (0-1) 0
Game 6 - 11:30 a.m. - Slippery Rock (0-1) 0 vs. Shippensburg (0-1) 4
Game 7 - 2 p.m. - California (1-0) 0 vs. Lock Haven (1-0) 2
Game 8 - 4:30 p.m. - Bloomsburg (1-0) 3 vs. Kutztown (1-0) 1

Saturday, May 10
Game 9 - 9 a.m. - Shippensburg (1-1) 1 vs. California (1-1) 2
Game 10 - 11:30 a.m. - West Chester (1-1) 0 vs. Kutztown (1-1) 1
Game 11 - 2 p.m. - Lock Haven (2-0) 1 vs. Bloomsburg (2-0) 0
Game 12 - 4:30 p.m. - Kutztown (2-1) 4 vs. California (2-1) 1

Sunday, May 11
Game 13 - 10 a.m. - Bloomsburg (2-1) 3 vs. Kutztown (3-1) 0
Game 14 - 12:30 p.m. - Lock Haven (3-0) 0 vs. Bloomsburg (3-1) 3

PSAC Champions!

The KU baseball team defeated West Chester 6-2 and 8-7 on Saturday to claim the university's sixth PSAC Championship, which includes three titles in the last four years. Chad Lightcap was named the tournament MVP after a huge offensive showing.

Despite their recent dominance over the last few seasons, the young Golden Bears are unlikely champions in 2008 after not qualifying for the playoffs until the last day of the regular season after battling to stay above .500 all year long. That did not stop them in the PSAC playoffs, however, as they were able to win five of their six games in the tournament, including a 2-1 record against the rival Golden Rams. The win qualifies KU for the North Atlantic Region Playoffs, which will be held in two weeks. The winner of that tournament advances to the Division II World Series. KU won the regional title in 2007.

Check back during the week for full previews for both the softball and baseball regional tournaments.

Photo: www.kubears.com

Saturday Playoff Log

The KU baseball team knocked off West Chester 6-2 this afternoon to force a winner-takes-all PSAC Championship game today at 4:30 p.m. The winner of the game will be crowned the 2008 PSAC Champion and will receive an automatic bid to next week's Regional Tournament. The Golden Bears have now defeated West Chester four times in six meetings this season, but this evening's meeting will be the most important of the year, as KU likely needs the automatic bid to qualify for next week's regional playoffs.

Meanwhile, the softball team has been eliminated from the PSAC playoffs after falling 2-0 in nine innings against Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears finish the tournament in third place and will now advance to next week's Regional playoffs, which will be hosted by Kutztown. Lock Haven defeated Bloomsburg 3-0 to win the PSAC championship.

Check back throughout the evening for continuous updates.

Full Tournament Schedules/Results

Friday Playoff Log

The KU baseball team is headed to the PSAC Championship after coming back to defeat Millersville 8-7 on Friday night. Earlier in the day, KU fell to West Chester by a score of 1-0 and that is who KU will face for the PSAC crown and an automatic bid to next week's regional tournament. The teams will play at 1 p.m. tomorrow. If WCU wins the game, they are the PSAC champ. If KU wins, the teams will meet again later on Saturday afternoon to decide the division title.

The softball team fell to Lock Haven in it's only game on Friday. The Golden Bears won their lone playoff game yesterday, so they are still alive in the double elimination tournament. The loss moves them to the loser's bracket, which matches them with Bloomsburg tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Check back tomorrow for continuous playoff updates.

Full Tournament Schedules/Results

Perfect start to PSACs for KU

The baseball and softball teams combined for a perfect 3-0 record in their PSAC playoff openers today.

The baseball team won twice, opening up it's playoff action with a 4-3 victory over Indiana (Pa.) and a 9-2 win over Millersville. They now advance to play West Chester tomorrow at noon.

Meanwhile, the softball team kicked off their playoff action this afternoon with a 3-0 win against East Stroudsburg. The Golden Bears next action will be a 2:30 p.m. meeting on Friday with Lock Haven.

Check back tomorrow for updates throughout the day.

Full Tournament Schedules/Results