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Softball
by Joe Mott!llo
Collegian Staff
0-ver-whelm verb
transitive- to crush; to
submerge; to overpower.
This one word explains how
the Lady Lions softball team
took care of their opponents on
their southern trip to Fort
Pierre, Florida.
"It's difficult to find a
weakness," said Coach Paul
Benim.
The Lions ended their trip
against Caldwell College of
New Jersey. The first game of
the twin-bill was won on the
long-ball. Darcie Bradley's grand
slam and Karen Strait's three-run
shot was all the offense the
Lions needed as they cruised to a
12-3 victory. Casey Putteman
picked up the victory for the
Lions as she went the distance.
In the second game, Caldwell
struck first. They led 2-0 in the
second inning. The Lions tied
the game in the sixth at 3-3.
Julie Stocker scored the tying
run when she hit a single,
advanced on a sacrifice and later
scored on an error.
Sue Mazur's two-run shot in
the seventh made the difference
as the Lions went on to win 7-
3.
Cherie Varrassa won her third
game of the trip as she threw a
six hitter.
The Lions had a hard time in
their first game against
Edgewood College of
Wisconsin. The Lions rallied
Bradley
by Hal D. Coffey
Collegian Staff
Webster's dictionary defines a
student as one who studies; a
pupil, a scholar; while an
athlete is one who engages in
exercises of physical agility and
strength.
Behrend's prime example of a
combination of the terms is two
sport star Darcie Bradley. From
making a crucial shot on the
basketball team to a decisive hit
in softball, to keeping up a 3.5
GPA in the classroom, Bradley
excels at whatever she does.
This 1989 graduate of
Benango Christian in Franklin,
PA. chose Behrend over other
schools for its academic
reputation and to play under
head coach Jenepher Banker
(basketball).
Since coming to Behrend,
Bradley has been part of two of
the best athletic teams in school
history, both last year's
basketball and softball teams.
As a big contributing player on
these two ECAC champion
squads, she has seen the greatest
of triumphs.
Sports
from behind three times and
erupted for four runs in the
ninth to defeat Edgewood 13-9
in extra innings.
With the score tied at 9,
Mazur led things off with a
single. She then stole second
and scored the eventual game
winner on Tanya Cekovich's
double. After singles by Megan
Musante and Becky Reed,
Bradley cleared the bases with a
double.
In the second game, Behrend
rode Cherie Varassa's six-hitter
as they defeated Edgewood, 9-1.
Strait, Putteman and Terry
Pegher each had two hits in the
victory.
The Lions opened the season
against Swarthmore College of
Pennsylvania. (Both games were
close until they started). Behrend
won 13-1 and 14-0.
"Our hitting, baserunning and
pitching is there everyn game,"
noted Benim. "Our strongest
point has to be our defense."
The Lions were ranked 6th in
the nation last season with a
.961 fielding percentage.
In Florida, the Lions
outscored their opponents 68-17
and outhit them .348 to .263.
Their defense, as usual, was
outstanding. In 220 chances, the
Lions recorded 8 errors to field
at a .963 clip.
The Lions got outstanding
hitting and leadership out of
Darcie Bradley. She hit .450
with 3 doubles, a triple and
homerun. From her leadoff spot
in the order, she drove in 10
Excels
Unfotunately, her last season
on the basketball team ended
rather abruptly in Philadelphia,
where they lost an opening
round game in the ECAC
tournament.
How difficult was it to
swallow this tragic pill? "I just
sat in the locker room with my
unifrom on for a long while,"
commented Bradley. "It meant a
lot to me."
Even with their early exit
from the ECAC's, Bradley was
not disappointed with this year's
team. "After the Buffalo ST
loss which started a string of 3
losses, I could see that this was
a building year," said Bradley,
"this team is now ready for the
next level."
Without anytime to look back
after the loss, Bradley was off to
Florida with the softball team.
She and the rest of the Lady
Lions were definitely primed and
ready as their 6-0 record shows.
No one was hotter that Bradley
as she hit .450 with 11 runs, 3
double, one triple, and a
homerun. Add to this her 3
stolen bases and 11 RBl's and
it's easy to see why she picked
sizzles
"Hey batter batter, schwing batter...": Third baseman
Sue Mazur waits to crack another line drive. The women's
softball team went 6-0 in Florida and travel to Virginia this
weekend.
runs and walked 4 times.
Karen Strait led the Lions in
RBl's (12) and triples (2), and
Becky Reed hit .368 with three
stolen bases to help the Lions
put up some eye popping
statistics.
The Lions open up their
northern swing this Friday in
the Ferrum Tournament. The
Arnel Balcita/CoNegian Photo Coo for
Concentration: Senior point-guard Darcie Bradley, this
week's Athlete of the Week, and Wendy Ebinger await
instructions during a time out during a womens' varsity basketball
game•
up Athlete of the Week.
As if those 6 wins in the
Sunshine state were not enough,
Bradley believes that they can
win at least 30 of 40 games and
ultimately an NCAA
How Realistic an dope goals?
According to Bradley, they are
Thursday, March 25, 1993
Lions play Longwood College,
Christopher-Newport and
Averett in pool play.
The Lions open up their
home season on the third of
April against St. John Fisher. If
the Lions play the way they
have so far, St. John Fisher
won't, pardon the pun, Have a
Prayer.
very possible, "because we
bring back a great infield, good
backups, and even more speed
that last year's championship
squad." As for personal goals,
see BRADLEY to per 19