2008 Woodie Awards
Softball splits double header against EMU on a cold Saturday
Patrick Childs
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Sports
The bitter cold didn't faze, and somehow didn't freeze the women's softball team on Saturday, March 29.
Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) came to town with an impressive, undefeated conference record and was looking to pounce on the Quakers. But the lady-Quakers were optimistic.
"Our coach told us to be mentally prepared for the game and to fight through the cold," said outfielder Sam Golley.
From the start, the Quakers filled the gaps with line drives and crowded the bases with runners.
After first-year Charissa Duncan scored off Kelly Guarnieri's fly ball to centerfield, junior Kelly Hale stepped to the plate.
Hale took a couple Babe Ruth-like warm-up swings as intimidation, and then looked for a pitch to blast. And she found it.
Mirroring the Babe's 1932 World Series home run, Hale's hit sailed over the centerfield wall for a two-run homerun and a 3-0 lead.
Slowly but surely the Royals made their way back into the game, responding to the Quakers' productive first inning with a run of their own in both the second and third innings.
The next two innings, pitcher and sophomore DeNina Eldridge held EMU scoreless on three hits, but the Quakers too were unable to put together any runs.
Beginning the seventh inning, the game was tied at three.
Eldridge continued her solid outing on the mound, which included five strikeouts. The seventh would prove to be her finest.
"I just love to watch her play," said Coach Dennis Shores. "She is a great competitor and always gives you 110 percent."
Eldridge's heat was nearly untouchable. It was as if the first two batters were waiving car antennas at a marble. They both struck out swinging.
An EMU scoreless seventh inning gave the Quakers the right-of-way to victory.
In the bottom of the inning, Guarnieri started a one-out rally with a ground ball base hit. First-year Ami Hutcherson followed with a walk, which left the game in the hands of Sam Golley.
Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) came to town with an impressive, undefeated conference record and was looking to pounce on the Quakers. But the lady-Quakers were optimistic.
"Our coach told us to be mentally prepared for the game and to fight through the cold," said outfielder Sam Golley.
From the start, the Quakers filled the gaps with line drives and crowded the bases with runners.
After first-year Charissa Duncan scored off Kelly Guarnieri's fly ball to centerfield, junior Kelly Hale stepped to the plate.
Hale took a couple Babe Ruth-like warm-up swings as intimidation, and then looked for a pitch to blast. And she found it.
Mirroring the Babe's 1932 World Series home run, Hale's hit sailed over the centerfield wall for a two-run homerun and a 3-0 lead.
Slowly but surely the Royals made their way back into the game, responding to the Quakers' productive first inning with a run of their own in both the second and third innings.
The next two innings, pitcher and sophomore DeNina Eldridge held EMU scoreless on three hits, but the Quakers too were unable to put together any runs.
Beginning the seventh inning, the game was tied at three.
Eldridge continued her solid outing on the mound, which included five strikeouts. The seventh would prove to be her finest.
"I just love to watch her play," said Coach Dennis Shores. "She is a great competitor and always gives you 110 percent."
Eldridge's heat was nearly untouchable. It was as if the first two batters were waiving car antennas at a marble. They both struck out swinging.
An EMU scoreless seventh inning gave the Quakers the right-of-way to victory.
In the bottom of the inning, Guarnieri started a one-out rally with a ground ball base hit. First-year Ami Hutcherson followed with a walk, which left the game in the hands of Sam Golley.
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