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~

Ladies set to compete for PSAC title

What: PSAC Softball Playoffs
When: Thursday, May 1, 2008 – Saturday, May 3, 2008
Where: Lawrence Field on the campus of Lock Haven University

Tournament Info
The KU softball team will head into the 2008 PSAC Playoffs as a favorite to bring home the conference title. 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 will be the top seed in the East and one of six teams competing in the double elimination tournament.

The Golden Bears opening game will be at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. They will face the winner of the tournament’s first game, a 10 a.m. contest between California (Pa.) (2^nd –West) and East Stroudsburg (3^rd – East). Their second game will be on Friday at either noon or 2:30 p.m. depending upon what happens on Thursday.

The other teams competing for the title include Bloomsburg (2^nd – East), Indiana (Pa.) (3^rd – West), and Lock Haven (1^st – West). BU and IUP will face off at noon on Thursday with the winner taking on LHU at 4:30.

The Golden Bears were a combined 7-5 against the five opposing playoff teams. This included 0-2 vs. Lock Haven, 2-2 vs. Bloomsburg, 3-1 vs. ESU, and 2-0 against IUP. They did not play California in 2008.

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

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 (.290-3-16)
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 .290. Her .344 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 7 bases in 8 attempts.

2. LF – Maria Schiavo (.320-0-17)
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 .320 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 (.362-15-53)
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 15 homers and is second with 53 RBIs. 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 (.456-14-54)
The junior cleanup hitter will be the primary catcher, but could see some work at shortstop. Her .456 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 1.385 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 (.341-5-35)
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 (.272-1-12)
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 .272 batting average is just eighth among the team’s starting nine, but she is a solid hitter with invaluable playoff experience.

7. SS – Krista Tedjeske (.258-2-21)
The freshman shortstop has done a respectable job in 47 starts in her rookie season. Her .258 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 31 strikeouts.

8. RF – Maggie Reifsnyder (.278-4-10)
Reifsnyder has missed KU’s last five games due to an injury she suffered against Lock Haven last Tuesday, but is expected to be at 100 percent come Thursday. The freshman is hitting a respectable .278 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 (.312-6-21)
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.

Key Reserves
OF Angela Domenici (.222-0-3)
While Reifsnyder was out, Domenici filled in the right field spot. The freshman is the top reserve in the outfield, but has just 27 at-bats this season.

DP Tami Wambold (.160-0-2)
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 (22-6 1.47)
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 (22), 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 playoffs.

2. Monica Glomb (10-4 2.02)
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 six teams. Unfortunately for them, Lock Haven 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.

One thing to remember about this tournament is that it is really just a tune up for the Regional Tournament. Five teams from the PSAC will likely be invited to the tournament, which is likely to be hosted by Kutztown. Technically, it doesn’t matter how KU fares in PSACs, since they will need to win the regional tournament to get to Nationals. With that said, the PSACs are an excellent opportunity for them to get the monkey of their back and prove to themselves that they can beat Lock Haven.

If Katlin Arbogast is on her game and the offense is as good as advertised, KU will be a contender for the PSAC title right down to the finish.

Ladies eye PSAC East crown

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Shippensburg Red Raiders
When: Friday, April 25, 2008 @ 2:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: Robb Field on the campus of Shippensburg University
~and~
What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ West Chester Golden Rams
When: Saturday, April 26, 2008 @ 1 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: West Chester Softball Field on the campus of West Chester University

Game Info
The KU softball team will head into this weekend’s road trip looking to seal up the PSAC East division title. The Golden Bears have already clinched a playoff spot and lead second-place Bloomsburg by two games with just two doubleheaders left to play. KU will head to Shippensburg for two games on Friday afternoon, before heading back east to West Chester for another doubleheader on Saturday.

KU (17-3) needs to win at least two of those games to clinch at least a share of the PSAC East regular season division title. Bloomsburg (15-5) has also clinched a spot in the postseason and will be looking to dethrone KU atop the division. With two of the three playoff spots in the east accounted for, the race will be on for the final spot. Conveniently, KU will be playing two of the major contenders for that spot. West Chester (10-10) currently holds the third seed, but they are being followed closely by Shippensburg (9-11) and East Stroudsburg (9-13). Mansfield (6-14) and Millersville (6-16) have been eliminated.

The Golden Bears are 40-10 overall this season and are ranked 19^th in Division II. They are coming off Tuesday’s home doubleheader with Lock Haven in which they fell by scores of 2-1 and 16-0. KU’s latest division action was a doubleheader sweep of East Stroudsburg on Saturday by scores of 10-1 and 6-2.

Shippensburg enters this weekend’s games after dropping two straight at West Chester on Tuesday by scores of 7-6 and 2-1. The Lady Raiders are 26-22 overall this season, but have dropped four straight games and 11 of their last 16. These teams met at North Campus Field back on April 7 with KU taking both games of the doubleheader by scores of 6-5 and 2-0.

West Chester, as mentioned, knocked off Shippensburg on Saturday to overtake them in the race for the final playoff spot in the PSAC East. The Golden Rams are 31-16 overall this season and have won seven of their last 10. On April 11, KU swept the Golden Rams at North Campus Field by scores of 4-0 and 4-2.

Probable Starting Lineups
Kutztown:
1. Kim Morrison – 2B
2. Maria Schiavo – LF
3. Steph Denlinger – 1B
4. Ashley Fitzgerald – CA/SS
5. Krista Cameron – 3B
6. Caitlin Hague – CA/DH
7. Krista Tedjeske – SS
8. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Shippensburg:
1. Liz Good – RF
2. Sarah Stengle – LF/DH
3. Hope Cornell – SS
4. Lori Knopf – DH/1B
5. Lisamarie Ramagli – 1B/CA
6. Moira Johnson – 3B
7. Amanda Bardo – 2B
8. Jillian Mullan/Chelsea Carson – OF
9. Rachel Wedell – CA/3B
SPs: Lori Knopf & Danielle Shields

West Chester:
1. Tara Colantuono – CF
2. Stefani Kerbacher – RF
3. Jamie McComb – DH
4. Megan Harbaugh – 1B
5. Erin MacNamee – LF
6. Meghan Halberstadt – 3B
7. Alisha DiMarzio – CA
8. Kelsey Rapp/Jackie DiPaola – 2B
9. Kristin McCoy – SS
SPs: Ashley Saussaman & Shannon Padula

Scouting Report
The Golden Bears will look to the pitching trifecta of Kait Arbogast (18-6 1.66), Monica Glomb (10-4 2.02), and Mary Hoch (9-0 1.66) to keep them in games, while counting on the high-octane offense to power them to victories. Steph Denlinger (.366-12-46), Ashley Fitzgerald (.448-14-49), and Krista Cameron (.327-5-32) can all hit the ball out of the park at any given moment and they will need to provide that power this weekend. Kim Morrison (.259-3-16) struggled at the plate earlier this season, but has been better as of late and will continue to lead off. Maria Schiavo (.299-0-14) has seen her batting average dip as of late, but is an excellent sacrifice bunter and another threat to set the table with a big hit at any time. Krista Tedjeske (.237-2-16), Caitlin Hague (.292-1-12), and Maggie Reifsnyder (.278-4-10) have been taking turns hitting in the six through eight spots in the order and that trend will continue until one of the players hits on a consistent basis. Right now, the senior Hague has been the hot hitter and will likely stay in the six spot for now. Kathy Gregg (.306-6-21) could easily hit neat the top of the KU order and will provide a lot of offense out of the nine hole.

The Raiders are likely to turn to the pitching duo of Danielle Shields and Lori Knopf, who will each likely get a start on Friday. Shields (12-7 1.92) leads the pitching staff with 101 strikeouts and is allowing opposing hitters to bat just .216 against her. Knopf (8-7 2.46) has struck out 79 and opponents are batting .227 against her. Both are respectable pitchers, but neither has pitched well over the past few weeks.

Knopf (.371-4-32) also does it as the plate, leading the team in batting average and doubles (13). Hope Cornell (.345-7-36) leads the team in homers, RBIs, and runs (31). Courtney Steele (.323-6-19), Chelsea Carson (.277-0-5), Sarah Stengl (.265-0-18), Jillian Mullan (.265-0-6), and Rachelle Wedell (.262-0-11) are among the other regulars hitting above the .250 mark.

West Chester’s ace is that of Shannon Padula (23-8 1.95), who will see action in at least one of Saturday’s games. She has pitched 190 innings this season for WCU, 130 more than runner-up Ashley Saussaman (4-3 1.40). Brittany Rees (2-1 2.78) and Megan Graham (2-4 5.54) are other pitching options for the Golden Rams.

Megan Harbaugh (.417-7-37) is the team’s top hitter, leading the Rams in batting average, homers, and RBIs. Stefani Kerbacher (.340-0-9) leads the team with 41 runs scored and with 15 steals. Other top-hitting Golden Rams include Erin MacNamee (.392-1-28), Meghan Halberstad (.323-0-13), Tara Colantuono (.313-2-24), Jamie McComb (.310-0-33), and Katie Kmiencinski (.303-1-16).

Outlook
If Saturday evening rolls around and KU is not the PSAC East regular season champion, it will be a big disappointment. The Golden Bears dominated divisional play for the most part and a collapse this weekend would be heartbreaking. Normally, there would be no reason for concern, but it will be interesting to see how the ladies bounce back from losses in four of their last six games, including a 2-1 heartbreaker to Lock Haven and a 16-0 shellacking at the hands of LHU.

If the Golden Bears struggle again this weekend against two quality teams, they will have a tough time contending with anyone in the playoffs. It’s not very often that a team in any league at any level can back into the playoffs and contend. KU can take last week’s struggles and learn from them. They breezed through much of the season, but now they are getting a taste of what level they need to be at if they hope to compete at the regional, and maybe even, the national level.

We know the Golden Bears have the talent to win all four games this weekend, but with Shippensburg and West Chester battling it out for the last playoff spot, every game will count for them. They will be pulling out all the stops in order to squeeze a win out of KU. The ladies need to realize this and treat these games like a playoff tune up. A few big games this weekend in a playoff environment will do wonders come the playoffs in early May.

Senior Day Photos

Here are four photos taken by Tony Vazquez on Tuesday during the Senior Day festivities at North Campus Field.
(From top to bottom)
1. 2008 Team Photo
2. The Canadians. (L to R: Fitzgerald, Morrison, Cameron, Doering)
3. Senior DP/CA Caitlin Hague
4. Senior CF Kathy Gregg

#10 Kutztown set to host #2 Lock Haven

What: Lock Haven Bald Eagles @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 @ 2:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University
Radio: Golden Bear Network at 2:20 p.m. (Mike Clay, Joe Balco)

Game Info
As most of you avid readers know, I normally only write up previews for the PSAC East games. This doubleheader, however, is an exception, as it deserves loads of attention.

The 10^th-ranked Kutztown University softball team will play host to the 2^nd-ranked Lock Haven Lady Eagles on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The Golden Bears enter the game at 40-8 overall in 2008, while The Lady Eagles are 34-6.

The teams have not met in the regular season since 2005, with the scheduled meetings in 2006 and 2007 being cancelled due to inclement weather. They did, however, meet during the postseason of each of the last four seasons.

In 2004 (another season in which their regular season meeting was cancelled due to rain), KU eliminated the Lady Eagles from the PSAC playoffs with a 9-6 victory. In 2005, Lock Haven returned the favor with an 8-0 shellacking, which eliminated KU from the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals. In 2006, the Lady Eagles came up victorious by a score of 5-1 in a non-elimination game in the PSAC playoffs. LHU went on to win the Division II National Championship.

The teams met three times during the PSAC playoffs last season, including an epic 15 inning Lock Haven comeback win. In the first meeting, KU won 3-0, which meant a win in the teams’ second meeting would earn them the PSAC Championship. The Golden Bears 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. Lock Haven would go on to finish second in the nation.

The Golden Bears enter the game fresh off a doubleheader sweep at East Stroudsburg on Saturday. KU won game one 10-1 before taking game two by a score of 6-2. The Golden Bears have won 19 of their last 22 games and have already clinched a PSAC playoff berth. At 17-3 in the PSAC East, they lead the division by three games with four games left to play.

The Lady Eagles, meanwhile, are 15-1 in the PSAC West and have also clinched a spot in the PSAC playoffs. Their latest action was a doubleheader sweep of California (Pa.) on Saturday by scores of 4-1 and 3-0. LHU has won 22 of its last 23 games.

Probable Starting Lineups
Kutztown:
1. Kim Morrison – 2B
2. Maria Schiavo – LF
3. Steph Denlinger – 1B
4. Ashley Fitzgerald – CA/SS
5. Krista Cameron – 3B
6. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
7. Caitlin Hague – CA/DH
8. Krista Tedjeske – SS
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Lock Haven:
1. Julia Popovich – LF
2. Sarah Norris – 3B
3. Kristin Erb – P/DH
4. Amanda Roosa – CA
5. Ilia Lopez – SS
6. Erica Eisenbise – RF
7. Devin Glezen – 2B
8. Amanda Gutmaker – DH
9. Nancy O’Connor – CF
SP: Kristin Erb

Scouting Report
The big matchup on Tuesday is going to be the powerful Kutztown offense against the All-American arm of Lock Haven’s Kristin Erb.

Erb, a junior from Reading, has already carried her team to a national title as a freshman and to a runner-up finish as a sophomore. This season she is 29-6 with an almost unbelievable 0.30 ERA, which is tops in division II. She has struck out 293 batters in 231.1 innings of work. Erb, the best pitcher in division II softball over the last three seasons, is the likely candidate to start both games for the Lady Eagles.

The Golden Bears will try to counter with their high-octane offense, which ranks as one of the most prolific offenses in division II. Ashley Fitzgerald (.457-14-49) has dominated in her junior season, leading KU in batting average, homers, and RBIs. Steph Denlinger (.377-12-46) has also been stellar and would likely have even better numbers if she wasn’t walked a team-high 38 times. Krista Cameron (.338-5-32) has flown under the radar a bit this season, but has quietly had another outstanding season. Kathy Gregg (.308-6-21) is another great player who doesn’t get a lot of the accolades in her role as the team’s nine hitter.

Kim Morrison (.255-3-16) and Maria Schiavo (.300-0-13) have both been inconsistent this year, but both are extremely talented and serve as excellent table setters at the top of the KU lineup. Caitlin Hague (.298-1-12) has done a good job in a part-time role as a designated player/catcher this season and will bat in the six or seven spot. Freshmen Maggie Reifsnyder (.289-4-10) and Krista Tedjeske (.237-2-16) will see plenty of work in the doubleheader. Reifsnyder will likely start both games in right field, while Tedjeske will probably start game one at shortstop.

The KU pitching staff will be overshadowed by Erb, but the young trio stacks up pretty well. Kait Arbogast (18-5 1.65) will start one of the games. A sophomore, Arbogast is the team’s ace with the other two pitchers who see significant action both in their freshman campaigns. Monica Glomb (10-3 1.69) and Mary Hoch (9-0 1.35) have very similar numbers so far in 2008 and both are likely to see some work on Tuesday.

It should also be pointed out that KU also ranks near the top 20 in the nation in both team ERA and in fielding percentage.

The Lock Haven offense will look to rattle the young KU pitching with a very formidable lineup. Sarah Norris (.392-12-34) will hit out of the two-spot and leads the team in batting average, runs (34), and homers. Amanda Roosa (.358-9-38) is second in batting average and homers and leads the team in RBIs. Erb (.348-3-24), the team’s three hitter, is not limited to just a pitching role, as she is stellar at the plate as well.

Julia Popovich (.269-0-6) is the leadoff hitter and is tied with Norris and Devin Glesen (.275-6-17) with a team-high eight steals. Erica Eisenbise (.294-5-28) and Ilia Lopez (.268-4-18) have both started all 40 of Lock Haven’s games. Amanda Gutmaker (.292-4-11) and Nancy O’Connor (.230-1-9) round out a well balanced lineup.

If Erb is not pitching, Popovich (5-0 1.34) would take the ball. She has started seven games this season and worked 41.2 effective innings.

There is no doubting that the Golden Bears have the tools to not only beat Lock Haven, but to sweep them. Kristin Erb is an unbelievable talent, but the Golden Bears proved last year that they could defeat her. If any team in the PSAC has a chance, it’s going to be KU. The Golden Bears have the offensive talent, a great batch of pitchers, and an outstanding fielding team. If they play their A-game on Tuesday, they certainly will contend for the win in both games. Come expecting a lot of excitement, but don’t expect to see too many runs on the board.

Ladies clinch playoff berth

Recap:
Friday, April 18 vs. Bloomsburg:
Game 1: L 2-5
Monica Glomb was lit up for five runs, four earned, on 10 hits in a complete game effort as KU fell 5-2 in game one. Steph Denlinger hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to cut the KU deficit to one run, but the Huskies answered with a two spot in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach. Kathy Gregg was 2-for-3 at the plate.
Game 2: L 1-4
The Golden Bears left 10 runners stranded in a 4-1 game two loss, allowing the Huskies to complete the daily sweep. Maria Schiavo and Gregg each had two hits in the loss. Maggie Reifsnyder was 0-for-3 and stranded seven runs. Kait Arbogast took the loss for KU, allowing four runs on nine hits in seven innings.

Saturday, April 19 @ East Stroudsburg:
Game 1: W 10-1
The Golden Bears bounced back on Sunday with a 10-1 smoking of ESU in game one. KU put up 17 hits in the win, led by three-hit days by Maria Schiavo and Caitlin Hague. Steph Denlinger, Ashley Fitzgerald, Krista Cameron, and Maggie Reifsnyder each had two hits. Arbogast was the winning pitcher, tossing a complete game, four-hitter. She allowed just one unearned run and struck out nine.
Game 2: W 6-2
The Golden Bears put 10 more hits on the board in game two en route to a 6-2 win. Hague, Kathy Gregg, and Krista Tedjeske carried the offensive load with two hits a piece. Tedjeske scored twice and drove in two runs. Mary Hoch was the starting pitcher for KU but was replaced by Monica Glomb after 2.2 innings of work. Glomb was the winning pitcher, tossing a scoreless 4.1 innings, while allowing just two hits.

What we liked:
The Golden Bears bounced back nicely on Saturday after a big letdown on Friday afternoon. Besides the two losses to Bloomsburg on Friday, ESU was the only other PSAC East team that had beaten KU this season. Instead of coming out in a funk against a team that knew they had it in them to knock off a good team like KU, the Golden Bears came out swinging and dominated the Warriors. Caitlin Hague was 6-of-10 (.600) and Kathy Gregg was 7-of-12 (.583) over the weekend. Both drove in two runs and scored twice. Maria Schiavo had a decent weekend, going 5-for-13 (.385) at the dish. Ashley Fitzgerald was 4-for-11 (.364), while Steph Denlinger was 4-for-12 (.333) and drove in five runs. Kim Morrison scored five runs in the four games. Krista Tedjeske seems to have broken from her slump. She was 3-for-10 (.300) at the plate, scored twice, and drove in two.

What we didn’t like:
You won’t see these names in this section very often, but the pitching wasn’t on the top of its game this weekend. Ace Kait Arbogast was 1-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 13 innings of work. She allowed 13 hits in that span, but did strike out 15 hitters. Monica Glomb was also 1-1, but with a bit higher of an ERA at 2.52 in 11.1 innings. Mary Hoch threw just 2.2 innings in game two against ESU and allowed four earned runs on five hits. At the plate, Krista Cameron hit a speed bump, managing just a 3-for-15 (.200) weekend. Maggie Reifsnyder seems to have cooled off, as she was 3-of-13 at the plate, including 0-for-6 against BU. Overall, the offensive output looks good for the weekend, but KU left a lot of runners on base. This was most notable in game two against Bloomsburg on Friday, as KU certainly had several opportunities to take the lead and even run away with that game. The Golden Bears did not bring their A-game on Friday and one can only hope that their performance will serve as a wake up call for the rest of the season.

Impact:
The Golden Bears sweep of ESU on Saturday clinched them a spot in the PSAC playoffs. KU (17-3) also had a chance to clinch the PSAC East title this weekend and, although they still maintain a three-game lead in the division, Bloomsburg (13-5) is certainly not out of the running. The Huskies will likely hold on for one of the two remaining playoff spots, but the third is certainly up for grabs. Shippensburg (9-9) holds the spot right now, but West Chester (8-10), ESU (8-12), Mansfield (6-12), and Millersville (5-15) are not far behind. KU’s biggest doubleheader of the season will come on Tuesday when they play host to PSAC West contender Lock Haven. The Lady Eagles are ranked second in the nation and are 34-6 overall in 2008, including 15-1 in the West. The Golden Bears, meanwhile, enter the game 40-8 this season and are 10^th in the nation. Check back this afternoon for a full doubleheader preview.

Ladies look to sweep Mansfield

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Mansfield Mountaineers
When: Wednesday April 16, 2008 @ 2 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: Helen Lutes Field on the campus of Mansfield University

Game Info
The KU softball team will head into Wednesday afternoon’s doubleheader at Mansfield as the top team in the PSAC East with an impressive 13-1 record. At 36-6 overall, the Golden Bears are ranked 10^th in the nation and are second in the region behind second-ranked Lock Haven. In the East, they currently lead second place Bloomsburg (8-4) by three games and are well ahead of Shippensburg (7-7), West Chester (6-8), Millersville (5-9), East Stroudsburg (5-9), and Mansfield (4-10). With 10 games to play including Wednesday, KU is still far from clinching a division title and still needs a few more wins to clinch a playoff berth.

The Golden Bears enter the game fresh off a weekend sweep of West Chester and Millersville. KU beat WCU 4-0 and 4-2 at home on Friday before beating Millersville 8-0 and 1-0 at North Campus Field on Saturday.

The Mounties enter the game at 10-13 overall this season and are last in the division at 4-10. They are coming off Monday’s doubleheader split with West Chester in which they lost game one 5-1 before taking game two 3-2.

The team’s met earlier this season in Kutztown on March 29. Both games were close, but it was the Golden Bears who managed to take 4-3 wins in both contests.

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. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
7. Caitlin Hague – CA/DH
8. Krista Tedjeske – SS
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Mansfield:
1. Shana Markwis – LF
2. Janelle Antes – 2B
3. Jess Christ – SS
4. Gabriella Carrullo – DH
5. Jen Stein – CA
6. Nicole Yost – RF
7. Megan Trutt – CF
8. Amanda Lewis – 1B
9. Sarah Cullen – 3B
SPs: Whitney Brown & Lindsey Knapp

Scouting Report
As usual, the Golden Bears have a much better lineup and pitching staff. Coach Judy Lawes will likely look to Kait Arbogast to pitch one of the games and to either Mary Hoch or Monica Glomb in the other. Since Glomb started game one on Saturday and Arbogast threw three innings in game two, I’d imagine Arbogast and Hoch will be the starters.

2B Kim Morrison has picked it up as of late after a mid-season slump and will continue to set the table along with two-hitter LF Maria Schiavo. 1B Steph Denlinger, CA/SS Ashley Fitzgerald, and 3B Krista Cameron will anchor the heart of the order with RF Maggie Reifsnyder beginning to heat up in the six spot. Caitlin Hague is the favorite to bat seventh and play designated hitter in one game and catch the other. SS Krista Tedjeske has struggled as of late, which was dropped her from sixth to eight in the lineup. CF Kathy Gregg is excellent out of the nine spot.

Mansfield is expected to throw Whitney Brown and Lindsey Knapp at Kutztown. Brown leads the team in starts, while Knapp is tops in ERA and strikeouts (56).

Jess Christ leads the team in batting average and is second in RBIs. Megan Trutt and Nicole Yost are the only other regulars hitting over .300. Janelle Antes has scored a team-high 17 runs, while Shana Markwis has a team-best 13 RBIs. Antes, Markwis, and Jen Stein have each hit two homers, tops on the team.

(New rankings as well as updated player stats will be added tonight or Wednesday morning)

Ladies extend win streak to nine

Recap:
Friday, April 11 vs. West Chester:
Game 1: W 4-0
KU scored two unearned runs in the first inning and never looked back, knocking off the Golden Rams 4-0 in game one. Kait Arbogast was stellar, tossing a complete game five-hit shutout, while striking out nine. Kim Morrison and Maggie Reifsnyder each had a pair of hits to lead the offense.
Game 2: W 4-2
Mary Hoch allowed two runs in the first inning, but her offense responded with three in the bottom of the second and an insurance run in the third as KU completed the season sweep of WCU. Hoch tossed a complete game, allowing just those two runs on four hits. Ashley Fitzgerald was 2-for-3 and hit a solo homer, while Krista Cameron and Caitlin Hague each added two hits.

Saturday, April 12 vs. Millersville:
Game 1: W 8-0
The Golden Bears scored at least one run in every inning and applied the mercy rule for the third consecutive meeting with the Marauders this season. KU led 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Fitzgerald hit a walkoff three-run homer to end the 8-0 affair. Maria Schiavo and Steph Denlinger each recorded two hits and scored twice for KU. Monica Glomb was on the hill for KU and allowed just four hits in five innings of work.
Game 2: W 1-0
Morrison scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning as KU shutout the Marauders for the third consecutive time this season, this time 1-0. The Golden Bears outscored the Marauders 27-0 in four 2008 meetings. Lauren Doering pitched well in a rare start, allowing just three hits in four innings of work for the win. Arbogast came on in relief and earned the save, throwing three perfect innings.

What we liked:
The pitching was stellar as usual with the three-headed monster of Kait Arbogast, Mary Hoch, and Monica Glomb joined up with Lauren Doering to allow just two total runs in four games. Arbogast really stands out, as she struck out 13 in 10 innings and allowed no runs, while earning a win and a save. Ashley Fitzgerald just keeps getting better and better, which is amazing since she is already a top hitter in the nation. This weekend she was 6-of-9 (.667) at the plate, homered twice, and drove in five. It was great to see Kim Morrison finally bust out of her slump. She was 5-of-13 (.385) at the plate over the weekend and scored three runs. Freshman Maggie Reifsnyder is starting to come into her own and was outstanding in her role as the six hitter behind the Denlinger-Fitzgerald-Cameron trio. She was 4-of-10 (.400) at the plate and homered. Caite Hague also hit well, going 3-for-7 (.429) at the plate.

What we didn’t like:
As usual, there isn’t much bad you can pull out of four straight wins. Steph Denlinger certainly did struggle, however, managing a hit in just one of the four weekend games. She was 2-of-11 (.182) at the plate, scored twice, and drove in just one run. Kathy Gregg also had her problems, managing just one hit in nine at bats (.111). She did, however, drive in three runs, second best on the team. Game two against Millersville could be viewed as slightly worrisome, since KU managed just one run on three hits against a respectable, but not great left-handed pitcher. Since the Golden Bears sport a bunch of lefties in their regular lineup, it could be tough to score against a top-notch lefty should they see one at the regional or national level. That’s something to keep an eye on.

Impact:
The weekend sweep moved the 10^th-ranked Golden Bears to 13-1 in the PSAC East and to an impressive 36-6 overall. They lead Bloomsburg (8-4) by three games and Shippensburg (7-7) by four, which means they are getting close to clinching the division title and even closer to clinching a playoff berth. Following a doubleheader at Mansfield on Wednesday, KU will play a very telling batch of games. Following a home doubleheader with Bloomsburg on Friday, KU will visit ESU on Saturday before a return home on Tuesday the 22^nd for the matchup of the year. That is when Kristin Erb and the Lock Haven Lady Eagles will be in town to prove they are the top team in the Region. The Golden Bears will look to stay hot heading into a doubleheader that everyone will be watching closely.

#18 Kutztown set to take on #8 Bloomsburg

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Bloomsburg Huskies
When: Sunday, April 6, 2008 @ 1:00 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University

Game Info
In what will likely prove to be their most telling games of the season to this point, the Golden Bears will head to Bloomsburg on Sunday afternoon to take on the PSAC East-leading Huskies. The doubleheader, set to begin at 1 p.m., will match the top two teams in the Eastern division. The Huskies, ranked eighth in division II, lead the East with a 5-1 record, while the 18^th-ranked Golden Bears are right there with them at 5-1. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Friday night, but was moved to Sunday due to inclement weather.

KU enters the game off a split with East Stroudsburg on Wednesday, as they were upset 6-2 in game one, before bouncing back with a 7-1 victory in game two. They sport a 28-6 overall record in 2008.

Meanwhile, the Huskies enter the game off a doubleheader with West Chester on Saturday. BU won game one 2-1 before falling 5-4 in game two. On Wednesday, they swept a talented Shippensburg squad by scores of 3-2 and 6-4. Entering the weekend at 25-2, the Huskies have the least amount of losses among the top 25 teams in the nation (according to the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll).

Last season, KU won three of the four matchups between the teams. At North Campus Field, the Golden Bears fell 9-0 before winning 7-1. Later in the season, KU won 3-2 and 5-2 on the road.

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. Caitlin Hague – CA/DH
8. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Bloomsburg:
1. Tara Reed – SS
2. Mandy Koch – 2B
3. Lacy Mauro – LF
4. Jenna Hampton – DH
5. Kayleen Sidisky – 3B
6. Nikki Shiko – CF
7. Casey Massimini – RF
8. Tiff Corliss – CA
9. Jess Rosin – 1B
SPs: Ashley Lynn & Sheelin Fisher

Scouting Report
In what has been a rare occurrence this season, KU is not the favorite to sweep the series. The Golden Bears played some of the top team’s in the nation earlier this year when they played in tournaments down south, but those games were mostly tune-ups for each team’s respective conference games. The Huskies have some top-notch offensive threats and one of the best pitching staffs around. The teams are relatively even and, since there hasn’t been too much roster turnover since last season for either team, both games are likely to be close right down to the finish.

The Golden Bears will look to the pitching trifecta of Kait Arbogast (14-4 1.93), Monica Glomb (7-2 1.97), and Mary Hoch (5-0 1.37) to keep them in games, while counting on the high-octane offense to power them to victories. Steph Denlinger (.387-7-32), Ashley Fitzgerald (.424-10-32), and Krista Cameron (.363-4-26) can all hit the ball out of the park at any given moment and they will need to provide that power on Friday. Kim Morrison (.262-3-14) will leadoff for KU and despite her recent struggles, she’s a proven hitter who can break out for 3-4 hits on any given day. Maria Schiavo (.340-0-12) will be called upon to move base runners out of the two hole, but is another threat to set the table with a big hit at any time. Krista Tedjeske (.231-1-14), Caitlin Hague (.250-1-9), Maggie Reifsnyder (.231-2-5), and Kathy Gregg (.298-5-14) are all capable hitters who will look to provide runs from the bottom of the order.

The Huskies will rely on their superstar pitcher Ashley Lynn (11-1 0.67) to carry them to the Promised Land. The senior has allowed opponents to hit just .212 and has struck out 81 in 83 innings of work. Sheelin Fisher (8-1 1.10) will likely start game two, while Tara Reed (6-0 0.78) rounds out a stellar pitching staff.

BU’s offensive attack is led by seven regulars who are hitting above .300. Nikki Shiko (.406-2-9) and Tara Reed (.333-1-12) lead the team in runs scored, while Jenna Hampton (.327-2-16) has the most RBIs. Shiko, Hampton, and Mandy Koch (.347-2-8) each have a team-high two homers. Tiff Corliss (.396-0-6), Lacy Mauro (.359-0-11), and Lori Neyhard (.320-0-8) will also be counted on for run production.

In order to compete with the Huskies, the Golden Bears will need a bounce back game from Kait Arbogast, as well as, more production from the offense than they’ve been delivering. If I had to bet, I’d put money on the doubleheader ending up a split, but both games will likely be close, so they could easily go either way. The Golden Bears have more pop than the Huskies, so don’t be shocked if KU wins at least one of the games thanks to a clutch homerun.

KU looks to dispose of struggling Warriors

What: East Stroudsburg Warriors @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Wednesday, April 2, 2008 @ 2:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Where: North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown University

Game Info
The Golden Bears (27-5) will head into Wednesday’s doubleheader with East Stroudsburg as the top team in the PSAC East. The 18^th ranked team in the nation swept Millersville and Mansfield this past weekend, which tied them at 4-0 with Shippensburg atop the division. KU has won 18 of it’s last 19 games and six straight, including a pair of 9-0 wins at Millersville on Friday and a pair of 4-3 wins at home against Mansfield on Saturday.

East Stroudsburg enters the game at 6-17 overall, the worst record in the PSAC East. The Warriors have lost six straight games, including 3-0 and 5-1 losses at Bloomsburg on Saturday and 7-1 and 6-2 losses at Shippensburg on Sunday. At 0-4 in the PSAC East, ESU is tied with Mansfield and Millersville in the basement of the division.

Last year, KU won five of the team’s six meetings, but ESU was the team who ended the Golden Bears’ season when they eliminated them from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament.

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. Caitlin Hague – CA/DH
8. Maggie Reifsnyder – RF
9. Kathy Gregg – CF
SPs: Kait Arbogast & Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

ESU:
1. Jamie Mingis – LF
2. Brittany Racek – 2B
3. Briana Malachowski – SS
4. Ali Hale – 1B
5. Amanda Feist – CA
6. Candice Pastor – 3B
7. Kara Darcey – RF
8. Laura Snyder – CF
9. Sam Bastian – DH
SPs: Kristen Halvorsen & Jackie Battaglino

Scouting Report
The Golden Bears are the far superior team here and should be able to easily dispose of the rival Warriors. KU is far better offensively and now, with the additions of Mary Hoch and Monica Glomb, have the pitching depth necessary to win even if Kait Arbogast does not have the ball.

Ashley Fitzgerald (.415-8-28) has flown under the radar over the past few seasons due to the almost surreal number put up by Steph Denlinger (.398-7-31), but she has led the offense in 2008. Krista Cameron (.379-3-25) has been stellar in protecting Fitzgerald, while Krista Tedjeske (.247-1-14), Caitlin Hague (.250-1-9), Maggie Reifsnyder (.250-2-5), and Kathy Gregg (.291-5-13) [pictured] round out what is possibly the toughest lineup in the PSAC. Not to be forgotten are the tablesetters: Kim Morrison (.270-3-14) and Maria Schiavo (.333-0-12), who will called upon to get on base for the meat of the Kutztown order.

Arbogast (14-3 1.77) has certainly not been a victim of a sophomore slump as she’s proved she can be the ace of the KU pitching staff. Hoch (5-0 1.17) has been lights out as a rookie, while Glomb (6-2 2.10) has joined with Hoch to form a deadly freshmen tandem.

As a team, KU is hitting .308 and has belted 32 homers. The team ERA is a whopping 1.84 and opponents are batting just .212 against the KU pitching staff.

The Warriors will look to counter the KU offense with the pitching duo of Kristen Halvorsen (3-8 2.77) and Jackie Battaglino (2-5 2.67). KU saw a lot of Halvorsen last season, while Battaglino made just four appearances in 2007.

The ESU offensive load will be carried by Briana Malachowski (.345-1-2), who leads the team in batting average. Brittany Racek (.294-1-11) has driven in a team-high 11 runs and scored a team-best 10 runs. She will be counted on to provide a majority of the pop from the front end of the ESU lineup. Leadoff hitter Jamie Mingis (.263-1-4) is hitting just .263, but has walked a team-high eight times. Other than those three, the ESU lineup has been rather unimpressive in 2008. Other than Sam Bastian (.300-0-1), who has just 10 at-bats this season, none of the remaining probable starters have a batting average higher than .222.

The Golden Bears are one of the top teams in the nation and should have no trouble with the Warriors. A loss in either game would be a big shocker, as ESU will be lucky to get out of the fifth inning if KU comes in focused. There is no reason to believe this will be a trap game for the Golden Bears, since most players are back from last year’s team—the team whose season was ended by the Warriors.

Softball opens East play 4-0

Note: My plan for softball and baseball season is to provide in depth previews as often as possible. I will also do full recaps for each doubleheader (or in some cases, like this one, each group of weekend games). Enjoy.

Recap:
Friday, March 28 @ Millersville:

Game 1: W 9-0
Katlin Arbogast tossed a six inning, one-hit shutout, while striking out 12 Marauders as KU cruised to a 9-0 win in six innings. The Golden Bears registered 11 hits, led by two a piece from Maria Schiavo, Ashley Fitzgerald, and Maggie Reifsnyder. Steph Denlinger, Krista Cameron, Reifsnyder, and Kathy Gregg each homered.

Game 2: W 9-0
KU completed the sweep of Millersville with another 9-0 blowout in just five innings. Mary Hoch tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout and struck out five Marauders. KU had 10 hits, including three from Caitlin Hague and two a piece from Denlinger and Cameron. Denlinger had 6 RBIs in the game, thanks to a grand slam and double.

Saturday, March 29 vs. Mansfield

Game 1: W 4-3
Arbogast took a 4-0 lead and no hitter into the sixth inning, before Mansfield rallied to three sixth-inning runs, cutting its deficit to one. Monica Glomb would then enter the game for KU and, despite allowing a bases loaded situation in the seventh, closed the door for her second save of the season. Fitzgerald registered two of KU’s four hits in the game. Cameron and Hague were responsible for the others.

Game 2: W 4-3
Schiavo hit a bases loaded, walkoff single in the bottom of the 7^th inning to propel KU to the sweep of the Mounties. KU left 14 players on base in the game, but managed 12 hits, including two a piece from Kim Morrison [pictured], Denlinger, Krista Tedjeske, and Hague. Glomb earned the win, tossing four total innings. She allowed one unearned run on four hits and struck out three.

What we liked:
To be honest, just about everything. The Golden Bears absolutely destroyed Millersville, as they allowed just four hits and outscored them 18-0 during the two game sweep. Steph Denlinger is back in her 2007 form and set the KU career RBI mark during her 8 RBI day on Friday. Caitlin Hague was a bit under the radar, but she was the teams top hitter over the weekend, going 7-for-11 at the plate, while scoring twice and knocking in two runs. Denlinger was 5-of-10 at the plate, knocked in 10 runs, and scored three times. Krista Cameron hit .417 on the weekend, contributed three RBIs, and scored twice.

The pitching was superb with Kait Arbogast carrying the load as usual. The sophomore ace went 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in her two appearances and struck out 20 batters in 11.1 innings of work. Fellow freshman Monica Glomb and Mary Hoch each earned a win and neither allowed an earned run in 13.2 combined innings.

What we didn’t like:
Kait Arbogast’s poor sixth inning in game 1 against Mansfield surely turned some stomachs, but I’m not concerned in the least. Everyone has a poor outing from time to time and it’s no secret that she’s a superstar on the mound.

My bigger concern was the production from the top of the KU lineup. Kim Morrison and Maria Schiavo are both excellent hitters and they need to produce better than they did this weekend. Morrison was just 2-of-12 (.167), while Schiavo was a bit better, going 4-of-15 (.267). Each of them drove in two runs and Schiavo did score five times. Again, they are good hitters, so I’m really not too concerned.

Impact:
The four wins move the Golden Bears (27-5), the 17^th ranked team in the division II nation, to first place in the PSAC East. Millersville and Mansfield are two of the easier teams on KU’s divisional schedule, so it’s likely to only get harder from here on in. Shippensburg is also 4-0 in the division, while Bloomsburg and West Chester are both 2-0. The Golden Bears blew out the Marauders and did what they had to do against Mansfield. They will need to keep up their solid play from top to bottom if they hope to continue tearing through a tough crop of PSAC East opponents.

Following a home doubleheader against East Stroudsburg on Wednesday, the Golden Bears will get their first true test on Friday when they head to Bloomsburg.

Softball team a national championship contender

The KU softball team will head into the 2008 season with extremely high expectations following a 2007 season in which they recorded a 43-18 overall record. The Golden Bears were just one strike away from defeating Division II powerhouse Lock Haven for the PSAC Championship and, if not for an injury to ace Katlin Arbogast, would have been contenders for the Eastern Regional title.

The 2007 Golden Bears won the PSAC East with a 22-2 record and set a school record in both overall and PSAC East wins. Head Coach Judy Lawes was named the PSAC East coach of the year, while slugging first baseman Steph Denlinger (pictured) was named the PSAC East Female Player of the Year.

The 2008 version of the Golden Bears is not much different from the powerhouse squad of one year ago, but did lose a few important pieces. Gone are leadoff hitter and standout centerfielder Adriane Willmer, who graduated in May. Catcher Dani Spalik also graduated, while backup pitcher Rachel Weidensaul left the team for personal reasons. Lindsay Bennett was expected to start at shortstop, but had to leave the team to focus on her degree. Other players from last year’s team who are not back in 2008 include Liana Daczka and Jennie Lincoln.

While Coach Lawes will certainly miss the departed, she has brought in several worthy replacements. The most notable is Krista Tedjeske, who is expected to start at shortstop and bat sixth. Maggie Reifsnyder will likely see significant time as a compliment to Sam Flowers in right field and as a backup pitcher, while Alex Najpauer will backup Kim Morrison at second base. When workhorse Arbogast needs a breather, newcomers Monica Glomb and Mary Hoch will split a majority of the time on the mound.

Other newcomers include pitcher Lauren Doering and outfielders Joanna Spangler, Angela Domenici, and Nicole Hannum (will redshirt).

The freshmen are going to be in for quite a ride as they are joining a team that certainly has national championship hopes. Led by last year’s division II leader in homeruns, Steph Denlinger, KU’s offense is one the best ever in the PSAC, and possibly in Division II. Denlinger’s returning supporting cast includes Kim Morrison, Maria Schiavo, Krista Cameron, and Ashley Fitzgerald. Those five are expected to bat first through fifth, providing a ton of offense to say the least. Deeper in the lineup will be the aforementioned Tedjeske, Caitlin Hague, and Sam Flowers.

Probable Starting Lineup:
(L to R: Batting Order – Position – Player – 2007 AVG/HR/RBI – Note)

1. 2B - Kim Morrison - .329/3/31 – Doesn’t walk much, but has speed and should score a ton of runs in this offense.

2. LF - Maria Schiavo - .324/0/38 – Hit in this spot last year as a rookie and set the KU single season record for sacrifice hits with 27.

3. 1B - Steph Denlinger - .507/24/73 – Will be expected to put up similar numbers to 2007, but will likely be walked even more than the PSAC record 51 times from 2007.

4. 3B - Krista Cameron - .359/16/66 – If opponents turn to walking Denlinger, Cameron could drive in 80+ runs this year.

5. CA/DH - Ashley Fitzgerald - .396/11/61 – She will catch more this year, which hopefully will not wear her down at the plate where she excels.

6. SS - Krista Tedjeske – N/A – The only rookie in the lineup will be counted on to provide some pop behind the “big 3”.

7. CA - Caitlin Hague - .325/1/12 – Will split time at catcher and is an excellent contact hitter.

or DH - Tami Wambold - .176/2/3 – She will DH when Fitzgerald catches and will be swinging for the fences every at bat.

8. RF - Sam Flowers - .211/3/11 – Will start in right field, but will feel free pressure from freshman Reifsnyder.

9. CF - Kathy Gregg - .337/0/7 – Was stellar as the nine hitter in 07 and will be relied on to get on base for the top of the order…not to mention replace Willmer in center field.

Returning to the bench:
IF Emily Fazekas - .200/0/0
IF Anne Arbogast - .000/0/0
IF/CA Laine Heisler - .167/0/1

Probable Pitching Staff:
(L to R: Depth – Player – 2007 Record/ERA/K – Note)

Ace: Katlin Arbogast – 27-9/1.82/287 – KU’s single-season wins and strikeout record holder was the ace in 2007 and will be even better this season.

Secondary option: Monica Glomb – N/A – The freshman will be relied on to produce when Arbogast needs a breather

Secondary option: Mary Hoch – N/A – Like Glomb, this power pitching freshman will see time behind Arbogast.

Other option - Christie McIntyre (0-0/13.36/1) – Saw little action a year ago, but could get more work this year depending how the freshmen fare.

What to expect:
This team is as good as they get at this level and there is absolutely no reason to expect anything less than a contender for the regional title. This team had Division II powerhouse Lock Haven beat last year and the player’s are as motivated as ever to storm back and roll over their PSAC rivals in 2008. The team does have a few question marks including depth and the heavy reliance on freshman pitchers behind Arbogast, but KU also has one of the best offenses in the nation and a proven winner on the mound.

If the team’s core players stay healthy and the pitching holds up, the Golden Bears will be a serious contender for a national championship. You heard it here first.