Softball
May 20, 2006
Le Moyne eliminated from NCAA tourney
The Dolphins softball team mustered only one run in their two
games.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
By Tony Paul, Contributing writer
- Syracuse Post-Standard http://www.syracuse.com/
Direct Link to Story http://www.syracuse.com/localcolleges/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/114811616630910.xml&coll=1
Salem, Va. - Sure, the Le Moyne College softball team would have liked a little more out of its trip to the NCAA Division II Championship. A few more hits, more than one run. Oh, and a win would've been great.
But really, just getting here might have been the ultimate prize for the Dolphins, who this season were light on seniors but not medical supplies.
"I guess some would call it a rebuilding kind of season, but we shy away from that term," coach Ken King said. "I was talking to the girls a little bit earlier. I mentioned that if any of us were betting people, who would have bet their last dollar that we would be here?"
Dreams of anything more ended Friday afternoon with a 7-1 loss to Georgia College and State University in the first elimination game.
Le Moyne managed just four Hits Friday, giving the Dolphins six hits, eight baserunners and a lone run in their two-day stay.
"You always set your goal to go to the World Series, but we knew we had a lot of work to do," said Ashley Anderson, the senior right fielder from Liverpool. "We played our best, we did a really good job this year. We couldn't have expected anything more."
Le Moyne finishes 32-21, not what the Dolphins are used to. It's the first time in five seasons it had more than 11 losses. Odds are, though, that those past teams didn't have turmoil like this.
The Dolphins lost their top returning pitcher, senior Erin Phaneuf, to surgery. After compiling 25 wins the previous two seasons, she didn't pitch in 2006.
Junior outfielder Lindsay Spaziani was out until April 8 with a broken leg. On April 9, senior shortstop Jennifer Winters broke two fingers - she didn't return until the NCAA Tournament, playing with tape on her hands. Freshman second baseman Lyndsey Balinskas (stress fracture) missed six weeks, and freshman outfielder Stephanie Senko had ACL surgery three weeks ago.
"It's been one after the other," King said. "It almost got to be a sitcom."
Lady Bobcat Mandy Chandler (23-4) went the distance, allowing four hits and a walk; she fanned nine. Counterpart Sarah Reed (17-11) struggled again, lasting three innings. The sophomore allowed six hits and three earned runs in her second loss in two days.
Not that it's time for mourning, though. Reed is among the youngsters with lots to look forward to. The seniors, meanwhile, can look back on a great stay.
"I've come to three World Series in four years," Anderson said.
Few can say that. Fewer could have predicted it.
