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