Youth Fuels Florida Wins for Softball

Author: Francis Connolly

The women's softball team was very busy during last week's Spring Break. Though it was in the pleasing climate of Cape Coral, Fla., the squad had little time to relax, playing nine games between Sunday, March 24 and Thursday, March 28. Though the team's record of 3-6 in those games could have been slightly better, there were a number of positive flashes that should give the team encouragement as it opens the rest of the season.

The women opened their trip with two close losses, falling 2-1 to Lawerence College and 9-7 to Buffalo State on Sunday, March 24. The team then ran into some trouble against a very powerful squad from Cornerstone College of Michigan on March 25 before breaking into the win column the next day. The first win for the team, against Southern Maine, provided quite a bit of excitement, as first-year Megan McCarthy made her first statement of the season. Embroiled in a scoreless pitcher's duel, McCarthy managed to help her own cause in the sixth inning, knocking in junior Lindsay Ladd. The rookie took home both the win on the mound and the game-winning RBI.

The rookies represent a large part of the Panthers' cause for optimism, as first-year Kate O'Connor had a multi-hit game the next day against Endicott. McCarthy continued to impress later that day, earning the win in the second game, against Thomas College of Maine. Her pitching performance was supported by an offensive explosion from veterans Kelly Slack '03 and co-captain Meghan Canella '02, who each had two hits.

The final day in Florida saw the women in a doubleheader against the White Mules of Colby. After dropping a close 2-0 game in the first contest, Middlebury called on McCarthy once more to take the hill. The rookie responded brilliantly, pitching the Panthers to a 4-1 victory. McCarthy's third win of the season was powered by two hits from sophomore Michaela George.

As if nine games in five days were not rigorous enough, the women had to travel to Amherst for a double-header Saturday before they would get any rest. The first game of the women's New England Small College Athletic Conference season did not go particularly well, as they were held to two George hits, in a 3-0 defeat. The nightcap, however, held much more excitement. Trailing 2-0 entering the sixth, the Panthers plated a run in each of the last two innings to send the game into extra innings. After bringing in a run in the top of the extra frame, the Panthers broke down and allowed the Lord Jeffs two runs in the bottom of the eighth, as well as a 4-3 win.

Despite the tough loss, the softball team must be extremely pleased with the performance of sophomore Christina Freyer. Freyer, who Coach Diane Boettcher targeted as a player who would help the team tremendously at the plate, had a single and two home runs in the second loss to Amherst.

Though its record may not show it, the women's softball team is showing great promise and improvement as the season begins. It will play at Bates this weekend, before the home opener Thursday, April 11 against Norwich.