Balls & Strikes An LHU Softball Publication

Transcription

1 Balls & Strikes An LHU Softball Publication Lock Haven University Softball Volume 6, Issue 2 Summer Season Recap- Paige Stuppy #1 The main theme that kept occurring during our season this year was that our team always pushed to the end. Whether it was in the weight room, conditioning drills or at practice we always wanted to be better, faster and stronger. Even during the grunt of our season, our PSAC schedule was plagued with bad weather causing us at one point in our season to play 8 double headers within a 9-day span. Even during this time when our bodies were sore and tired from playing so much, our team pushed through and came out with some good wins. Last year our team graduated 4 outstanding seniors whose shoes would be hard to fill. Our squad of 8 rookies, 7 freshmen and 1 sophomore transfer were eager to accept the challenge. This season our team was also excited to welcome back 3-time PSAC Conference player, Nicole Smith. Our pre-season also consisted of some players moving around the diamond as well as during the season our team showed great depth at defense with some players being very versatile, which helped our team out a lot. We started off our spring season a bit on the bummed side when our tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina was completely cancelled due to inclement weather. This was our first occurrence that weather wasn t our friend this year. Our team then suited up as excited as ever for our 10-day Spring Break trip to Florida. Our team came out hot our first game with Gabbie Henson smashing a homerun her first at bat in her collegiate career leading us to a 3-0 victory over Saint Rose. The rest of our time at Florida was a bit rocky and frustrating for our team. We all pushed through coming out with 3 more wins and many games that we fell short by one run. When we got back from Florida the weather was not on our side again. Due to rain or snow our team had to wait 19 days to get back on the field. We started off our PSAC performance strong my sweeping Shippensburg and then splitting our doubleheaders with Millersville, Kutztown and West Chester. The rest of the PSAC Conference we hit some road bumps, during a game at Bloomsburg we went a hard fought 11 innings to come up just short. Through the rough patches our team kept competing and sticking by each other. We finished out our season at home during senior day with a split with Millersville. This year we graduate our 4 outstanding seniors and leaders, Jessie Probst, Sarah Schwalm, Kelsey Harris, and Nicole Smith. These 4 played tremendous for Lock Haven during their years spent here. Our team will miss their personalities and talents on and off the field. Our team is excited to get started working for the 2016 spring season this upcoming fall. Our rough patches in our season this year will only motivate us to work harder for next year. Inside this issue: Season Recap New Faces at the Haven Senior Reflection Meet the seniors 100 for 100 Randy Jeffries Memorial Scholarship Alumni Corner

2 Volume 6, Issue 2 Page 2 New Faces at the Haven LHU Lady Eagle Softball would like to welcome the following freshman for the Season: NAME POSITION HOMETOWN FAVORITE COLOR YEAR Traci Kromko INF Tunkhannock, PA CRIMSON FRESHMAN Rhiannon McGlone INF Douglassville, PA CRIMSON FRESHMAN Bekah Slattery P Stewartstown, PA CRIMSON FRESHMAN Jess Strouse INF Beech Creek, PA CRIMSON FRESHMAN Senior Reflection-Kelsey Harris #11 With four seniors gone and a young team on the field, we knew this year would be tough. We had faced a lot of challenges in the 2014 season but we felt that we were prepared for the upcoming season. We were ready to step up do what would take to be successful. Even though the season did not end how we may have hoped, I think that the 2015 season taught us a lot about ourselves as a team. There are some big shoes to fill on the field for next year but I know that our team is willing to work and next season will bring greater success than this years. Being on a team that had become so close so fast, it didn t really hit me that my softball career was over until I was packing up to head home for the summer. I began thinking of all the great memories I had made in my three short years here at Lock Haven. LHU softball has given me amazing friendships and I will forever be thankful for my time as a Lady Eagle. From the time I transferred to LHU as a sophomore, I was immediately accepted and felt that every teammate I gained would give anything to help out myself and the team. It was something that I grew to love so much about Haven softball. Every player that has gone through this program keeps the people they meet, the memories they make, and the things they learn in a special place in their heart. For me Lock Haven felt like home. I can remember the feeling of excitement I would get to come back after breaks. I dreaded leaving and couldn t get back fast enough. I will always remember our group chats and team dance parties. Our smelly bus rides and those times when we thought we were never going to eat. I will miss how we turned every ride into a chance to express all our amazing talents. While we may have voices that were similar to shrieking children, we managed to turn those bus isles into a stage where all talents were welcome. Whether it be Taryn showing off her rhythm or Manders turning every song into screamo, it is all those memories that I will miss. I know that I could be away from the Haven for years to return and not miss a beat. That is what is so great about being a Lady Eagle. We would fear going to practice after rumors shot around that we were definitely going to die doing whatever workout/run coaches had planned for the day. But we all would show up and give our all for ourselves, our teammates, and our coaches. Once you re done you would give anything for one more year of gassers, 300s, or even that one Monday. Although we ve all thought about tripping over a root while we run the trail in an effort to end the pain, the truth is any Haven softball player would do anything to be back on the field wearing Crimson and White again. There aren t a lot of programs that can say that. It is amazing to be a part of the LHU softball family and a privilege that I will always be grateful for.

3 Volume 6, Issue 2 Page 3 Meet the Senior Class Name: Amanda Saulsbury Nickname: Manders Major: Health Science Future Plans: Attend graduate school for Physical Therapy Favorite Part of Being Apart of the LHU Softball Program: All of the life long friendships I have made with my teammates Favorite Food: Pizza Favorite Quote: "Success doesn't just come and find you, you have to go out and get it." Favorite Bus Memory: Everyone modeling down the aisle of the bus to our walk out songs Advice for incoming Freshman: Appreciate every second you have here in Lock Haven because it goes by quick. Favorite place in Lock Haven: Ice Shack Name: Katie Diehl Nickname: KDizz Major: Health and Physical Education Future Plans: To become a Health and Physical Education teacher around home and coach high school softball Favorite part of being apart of the LHU Softball team: Making my teammates not only my friends, but my family as well. Favorite food: Pasta Favorite quote: "Stay Strong" Favorite bus memory: Shaking the bus/vans at red lights Advice for incoming freshman: Let everything you do, good or bad, be a lesson for your future. Favorite place in Lock Haven: The dike levee river walk. KRISTIN ERB GETS INDUCTED TO LHU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME The Charter LHU Athletics Hall of Fame Class was inducted at the 2015 LHU Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony on Sunday, June 7, The LHU Athletics Hall of Fame was established to celebrate the rich history, pride, passion and tradition of LHU Athletics by honoring the school's greatest athletes, coaches and supporters from the school's founding in Ten individuals and one team make up the first-ever LHU Athletics Hall of Fame Class. The 2015 Hall of Fame Class includes two coaches, a pioneer in athletic training, a "Golden Era Inductee" and represents nine sports. Arguably the best Division II softball pitcher of all-time, Erb, a four-time All-American, led LHU to National Championships in 2006 and '09. She owns six NCAA records, six PSAC records and 10 school records. Erb threw 14 no-hitters and eight perfect games during her Haven career. Three times she was nominated for the NCAA DII Woman of the Year Award, winning it twice. Congratulations Erb! We are all so proud of you!!

4 Volume 6, Issue 2 Page 4 On June 6 th, 2015, we welcomed back our Alumnae at our first ever LHU Softball Social! It was a great time with food, friends and reminiscing. Danielle and I are looking forward to our next social, which we hope to hold in the Philadelphia region to accommodate more of our alums. We will continue to communicate as we further plan this event. During the social, we announced a plan to raise $10,000 in scholarship money through our 100 for $100 campaign. I fully understand the demands we all experience and do not want to burden one person with the challenge of restoring our scholarship funds. My hope is to gather a large giving base to help support our program. $100 is less than $2 a week for you to give back to the program that helped shape who you are today. Brittany Pataky graduate.i know there is a lot of need for donation so I d really like to give back. It was an honor to be able to receive a scholarship while at LHU and I d like for someone else to have that opportunity while there as well. This was her response when I asked if she would be willing to help launch the $100 for 100 for LHU softball. Thank you! Coming this fall on October 1, 2015 the Lock Haven University Foundation and LHU Athletics will join together for the All In Day of Giving! For twenty four hours, we will encourage everyone to give back to support Lock Haven University athletics. For the softball program, we will continue our 100 for $100 through the All In Day of Giving as a final push to reach our goal. Contributions of all amounts are welcome and I thank you in advance for the support for LHU softball. I hope you will commit and encourage your former teammates to join you and become ALL IN! $100 for 100 donors will be updated through our Facebook page, but here is our current list: Brittany Pataky, Dianna McMullan, Sarah Norris Colletti, Kelly Shannon, Danielle Fraser, Tom and Rosalind Norris, Dave and Rae Erb, Alan and Christine Popovich, Devin Glezen Crebs, Krystin Montoro, Amanda Roosa, Joby Topper, Holweger Family, Toshia Williams, Matt Henson Who s All In? Who s Next? Link for $100 for 100: -Coach Shannon

5 Volume 6, Issue 2 Page 5 Randy Jeffries Memorial Scholarship The first awarding of the Randy Jeffries Memorial Scholarship took place during the school year. The scholarship is in honor of the late Randy Jeffries, father of 2009 graduate Jess Jeffries Forrester. Randy was a long time supporter of the Lock Haven University Softball team. He spent countless hours volunteering for our softball program and booster club at LHU and in his own community! He could frequently be found working in our concession stand during a postseason run or helping roll a cooler into our dugout loaded with Gatorade for the team. He was a selfless man who enjoyed everything about watching his daughter and the LHU Softball team play ball! We are humbled to honor him each season with this scholarship. SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA A female student athlete with a minimum of one year participation on the varsity softball team who demonstrates a strong work ethic and selflessness. Priority consideration given to a studentathlete making the team as a walk-on. We are happy to announce that senior shortstop, Sarah Schwalm was first recipient of the Randy Jeffries Memorial Scholarship. My name is Sarah Schwalm and I was the senior shortstop for the softball season. This past year I was lucky enough to receive the Randy Jeffries Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is given to a female softball player that has played on the Lock Haven softball team for at least one year and demonstrates strong work ethic and selflessness. I am very honored and grateful to have been awarded this scholarship because it made it possible for me to focus on my academics and final year of playing the sport I love rather than thinking about how I was going to pay for a few months rent and the many books that come with being a college student. I feel extremely fortunate to have played softball at Lock Haven University. It is an amazing program that I am very proud to be a part of. The program and the many people that I have met through Lock Haven softball (coaches, alumnae and players) have helped mold me into the person I am today. TO CONTRIBUTE, Please follow this link:

6 Volume 6, Issue 2 Page 6 Alumnae Corner Name: Amanda Fernandez Graduation year: 2013 Position played: 3rd base Current job: Outcome specialist/case manager at Northeast Treatment Centers and Assistant Coach for the Lady Muckdawgs. Favorite LHU memory: When we swept Bloomsburg and Mansfield and the end of the 2012 regular season, making Lock Haven the regular season PSAC Central Champions. Alumnae Corner Name: Ilia Lopez Graduation year: 2009 Position played: Shortstop Current job: Front desk supervisor/ manager on duty at The Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado. Favorite LHU memory: My favorite memory is winning our second National Championship with my best friends and senior class. I couldn t have thought of a better way to end our career. Booster Club Renewals It is that time of the year for Booster Club renewals! The booster club membership will expire on August 31, All current members will receive a renewal form at the end of the summer. Thank you for your continued support of Lock Haven Softball. Your yearly membership fee helps to enhance this program and its legacy in ways that make all LHU alumnae proud. Memberships run from September 1 August 31 each year. By simply paying a yearly membership fee of $50.00, you can receive a newsletter and a LHU Softball decal. We can also enhance this program and its legacy in ways that will make all LHU alumnae proud. Membership dues will be billed each year by our office. We look forward to your support! Go Haven!!