FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2001
Softball team gains experience
for AMCC Tournament play
by Mike Bello
staff writer
With the weather finally cooperating, the
Behrend softball team was finally able to
compete on a regular basis with its opponents,
giving them a handful of experience in game
situations they had been lacking due to the
many rainouts and snowouts earlier in the
season. Heading into their Wednesday game
at Fredonia, the Lions had gone 3-5 the
previous week to run their record to 8-12 on
the year with three more doubleheaders on tap
leading up to the most anticipated part of the
season. This is the AMCC tournament, which
is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18 and
Friday, April 20.
On Wednesday, April 4, Behrend took a road
trip to Cleveland to play two games against
Baldwin-Wallace (14-10). In the first game,
the Lions had a strong pitching performance
from senior Mandy Bodnor, but unfortunately
for the Lions, B-W got an even stronger
performance in a 3-1 win over Behrend.
Bodnor pitched six innings, giving up all three
runs on five hits with four K's, but the Lions
could only push across one run, that on Cheryl
Peterson's RBI double to score Becky Corbin.
In the second game, the Lions had nine
hits but still had trouble capitalizing on their
opportunities, losing 9-2. Corbin and Amy
Hunter had three hits with Hunter scoring both
runs for Behrend, but for the day the Lions
struck out 17 times, missing out on many
scoring chances. Stephanie Covert took the
loss, allowing five runs in four innings of work.
Behrend then came home to play Thiel (12-
11) the next day, a game originally to be played
March 19, and this time was able to overcome
their offensive struggles they ran into against
Baldwin-Wallace. In the first game Behrend
smacked 13 hits and plated eight runs in an 8-
seven extra inning victory. Behrend followed
that up with a 9-I shellacking that improved
their record to 7-9.
Cheryl Peterson was the offensive hero of
the day, going 4-4 with 2 RBl's in the first
game and 3-3 with two runs scored and two
RBl's in the second game. Kelly Woods,
sidelined a month with a broken hand, had
three hits, scored two runs, and had three RBl's
on the day. Bodnor had three hits and drove
in six runs, including five in Game Two, while
Brandy Polinick had two hits and two runs
scored in the second game of the afternoon.
Bodnor picked up the win in Game One,
pitching eight innings and giving up seven
runs, five earned, on nine hits while striking
out eight. Covert gave up only one run in five
innings of work to pick up the win in the
second game. The Lions were flawless in the
field in both games.
The Lions did have to cancel their game
against Lake Erie on April 7, this time at least
not because of snow. On Sunday, April 8
Behrend was able to get in a twinbill against
Frostburg State (8-12, 3-1 AMCC), strong
contenders for the conference championship.
Bodnor went 3-4 and drove in three runs in
the first game, but it was not enough as the
Lions dropped a 6-4 decision. Bodnor pitched
all seven innings, striking out four and giving
up six runs, four earned, while allowing nine
hits. The Lions fared worse in the second
game, as they were unable to generate any sort
of offense in a 4-0 loss. Becky Rishel had
two hits in the second game, after scoring two
runs in the first, for the Lions who as a team
managed only six hits while being shut out for
only the second time this year. Covert was
the losing pitcher in the second game, giving
up four runs, only one earned, on just four hits
in six innings of work. The Lions were also
hurt by seven errors on the day.
On Tuesday the Lions squared off against
Pitt-Greensburg, a make up game pushed back
from March 31 that marked the first of three
straight doubleheaders the Lions engaged in
due to early season postponements. The
visiting Lions came out swinging in the first
game, piling up nine hits in a 6-1 win. Bodnor
and Peterson both had two hits to pace the
attack. Bodnor also got the win, running her
record to 4-6 on the year, as she gave up only
one run and three hits while striking out three.
In the second game, the Lions again scored
SPORTS
six runs but shaky pitching prevented the Lions
from gaining the win in a 7-6 loss. Covert
started but was pulled after pitching one and
two-thirds innings and giving up four runs on
five hits. Bodnor came in and shut down Pitt
for the next one and one-third innings, who
then gave the ball to Jennifer Pinkhouse.
Pinkhouse pitched three and two-thirds
innings, giving up three runs on two hits while
striking out four and issuing four free passes,
but took the loss when Pitt scored in the bottom
of the seventh inning. The Lions scattered
eight hits in the second game, including two
each by Rose Boni and Kelly Woods, and
walked seven times.
The Lions were scheduled to go on the
road on Wednesday to compete against
Fredonia (11-6-1), a rescheduled contest from
March 28 that could not be played at the
Behrend field. Fredonia comes in ranked
number one in their New York conference,
SUNYAC, despite having only one senior on
the team. The Lions then are tentatively
scheduled to play Pitt-Bradford the following
day (April 12), although that could change
since the Fredonia game had to be shifted to
Fredonia's field. Pitt-Bradford brings in a 5-
3 record and like Behrend, has a 3-3 AMCC
record, tied for 4th place in the league.
Bradford has had to rely on a majority of
underclassmen, with only one junior and two
seniors on the squad.
The Lions' last tune-up before the AMCC
tournament will be on Saturday against
defending champ La Roche. After going 22-
3 with a 15-1 conference record last year, La
Roche has shown no signs of slowing down.
This year the team is 15-5 and has a 5-1 AMCC
record, good for first place and represents the
biggest obstacle the Lions will have to face
should they get past their other opponents in
the tournament. The Lions will have four days
rest before the tournament, but with a flurry
of games this past week, the Lions will no
longer be required to depend on indoor
practices for their 2001 season experience.
www.pserieepsu.edulathletidintramurallArdtm
FROM PAGE 1B
WOODS
There's been an overwhelming tendency
in the past two years to name the greatest
athletes ever. The most consistent names
that appear are those three. So to put Tiger
on that list isn't anything small or
insignificant. But does he belong?
Right now, it's too early to tell. But if
Woods is to continue this incredible streak
of excellence, then there is no doubt that he
belongs. An achievement that high would
put him above names like Jesse Owens, Jim
Never in sports could
an athlete retire at
the age of 25, and be
considered the
greatest ever. Tiger
is the exception.
Brown and Wayne Gretzky. That should
give you an idea of this man's importance to
golf, and his potential to be seen as a
legendary figure.
Before last weekend, comparisons were
being made between Tiger and "The Golden
Bear" Jack Nicklaus. Now, Tiger has
surpassed Nicklaus. He has done what no
golfer has ever done by winning his fourth
straight major championship. There is
nothing we can do to put that in perspective.
I can't think of an individual that has ever
achieved such an accomplishment in golf or
anywhere else for that matter.
Woods is redefining golf with every
tournament he conquers. He's mastered a
sport, at age 25, that takes most golfers an
entire career to fully learn. He's been able
to do this while maintaining support and
admiration from fans.
Today in sports, younger athletes are
beginning to play with less desire but with
more emotion. There are no traditions in
most sports where athletes today are
required to follow some sort of code of
ethics.
Golf, however, is different, which makes
Tiger an exception from the young talent in
other sports. In a sports world plagued with
cockiness and arrogance, he has been able
to keep himself humbled behind golf's
tradition of sportsmanship.
When asked after his Master's victory this
past weekend where he ranks among golf's
greatest, Woods would not answer. Even
though we already know the answer, Tiger
claimed it wasn't his call to make. It's
tough to dislike a man who makes
comments like that.
Perhaps more incredible than Tiger's
demeanor and accomplishments is his age.
Never in sports could an athlete retire at
the age of 25, and be considered the greatest
ever. Tiger is the exception.
If Woods announced tomorrow that he
has played his last tournament, the world
would celebrate him as the greatest golfer
ever. He hasn't even reached his prime, or
at least the age where most golfers truly
understand the game.
There is no other athlete in history who
has accomplished as much in such a short
amount of time. At 25, Woods is almost
halfway to Nicklaus' record 18 major
championships. The span of time it took
Nicklaus to win his 18 majors was 24 years
from his first win in 1962 to his last in
1986.
If Woods continues at this pace (which is
likely given he hasn't reached his prime yet)
for 20 more years, he will win 36 majors.
That would double Nicklaus' mark.
Right now, Tiger Woods is sports greatest
competitor. He will be the one to carry
sports competitive spirit throughout the next
25 years. Ruth had his days to become
legend, Ali had his days to talk of his
greatness and Jordan had his days to capture
the hearts of anyone who watched.
Today, it's Tiger's turn to shine.