McCarthy Offsets Slumping Offense

Author: Andrew Zimmermann

Busy would best describe the Middlebury softball team which, making up for a late start to the season, played six games over the past week, winning one and losing five. The most recent of the double-header match-ups involved the Panthers taking one from St. Lawrence in a tight, well-pitched 2-0 victory. However, the onus is now on the team to win its remaining league games and hope division leaders Amherst and Williams stumble toward season's end, if it is to expect any chance of making the NESCAC tournament.

On April 11 Middlebury took on a tough Norwich squad losing the first game 3-2 and the second 5-0. The team was not so lucky against Williams on Saturday however, as it dropped both games to the NESCAC West foe by the tallies of 2-0 and 9-1. Laura Legere '03 was a bright spot in the losses, hitting .455 in the four games going 5 for 11.

Yesterday Megan McCarthy '05 continued a spectacular rookie campaign, pitching to a shutout in a 2-0 win against St. Lawrence. She has been the starting pitcher in all five of the Panther's wins to date. She along with Lauren Guza '05 were able to collect bases loaded RBIs to account for the difference in the win.

The second game saw veteran Andrea Russo '03 take the mound for the first four innings before Lauren Bowe '04 relieved her. Middlebury could muster just two runs and only three in the four preceding games. Co-captain Meghan Cannella '02 explained, "We have focused on hitting for the four years I have been here at Middlebury. This year we have strong hitters but have had trouble stringing the hits together." The lack of continuity on offense would explain the sparse output yet as Cannella noted, "In the late innings we have scored runs." Indeed two weeks ago the Panthers won a 7-6 thriller in 13 innings.

The year, although not over, has seen some nuances and surprises for the Middlebury softball team. "Our defense is 100 percent better this year as opposed to last," said Cannella. The addition of three backup middle infielders who earned significant playing time, has meant a huge difference in the defense. The biggest factor in the team's makeup this year however, "has been our depth," commented Cannella. McCarthy has both spelled relief for an overburdened pitching staff from last year and has been crucial in the success of the team along the way. Cannella also sees Michaela George '04 as having improved dramatically this year as she has help in the demanding catching duties.

In just its fifth year of existence the softball team will be hard pressed to make the playoffs with Amherst and Williams playing so well. Cannella, a player with nearly four years of experience has seen the team evolve as it has become more competitive. Each incoming class has brought greater contributors she said. "We have improved and grown so much. We are a lot more confident and have a good amount of potential." That potential will be tested against Hamilton, which currently sits in the middle of the pack in NESCAC West. Today the Panthers play Green Mountain College away in what will be the first step in the rest of the stretch run.