Page 18
Lady Lions rule
by Paul Benim
Contibuling Reporter
For the fifth straight season,
the Lady Lions' softball team
improved on their success from
the previous year. This year's
ECAC Regional Title capped a
spectacular spring that included a
record-breaking 29-6 record.
The regional crown was
achieved through a dramatic 2-1,
eight-inning victory to give Penn
State-Behrend the 1993 NCAA
Division 111 ECAC Softball
Championship.
This is the third time in five
seasons the softball program has
gained a berth into post-season
play. The history of the Penn
State-Behrend softball program is
outstanding.
Over the past five spring
seasons, the program has
displayed an impressive mark of
107-42. This 72% winning
percentage carried over into the
1992 campaign under rookie
coaches Paul Benim and Bill
Graham.
"This year's team was
extremely special to me for a
variety of reasons. Simply put,
"We received major
contributions from
the 17 members
associated with
this team,..
Paul Benim
Head Coach
we played and executed an
excellent game of fundamental
softball," said head coach Paul
Benim.
"We received major
contributions from the 17
members associated with this
team, and it paid off with twenty
nine wins, and an ECAC
Championship."
The Lady Lions set new club
records for most singles, doubles,
triples, homeruns, and stolen
bases in a season. In addition,
they were recognized as having
the fourth best winning
percentage in the nation, 83%,
based on their 29-6 record.
They were led by senior
standout, Darcie Bradley
(Franklin, PA/Venango
Christian). Bradley, the MVP of
the Championship Series, hit
.430, and had 49 hits, scored 39
runs, stole 18 bases in 18 tries,
and drove home 27 runners. The
latter four categories are new
Behrend seasonal records.
' Arne' BaicitalCollegian Photo Coordirtaior
Vent, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered): Laura Connor comes off the bench to
provide some offensive punch. She was one of seventeen players that contributed to the Lady
Lions' success last spring.
The most consistent part of the
team this passed season was the
excellence on , the hill. The ace of
the staff was sophomore, Cherie
Varrassa. Varrassa had a
magnificent season going 15-2
with a spectacular 1.18 ERA.
This sophomore from Corry,
PA set single season records for
most wins, strike -outs, and shut
outs in a season.
Varassa was backed by Casey
Putteman (Pittsburgh, PA/North
Allegheny). Putteman became the
school's all-time win leader with
her 14-4 won-loss mark.
This softball team had several
outstanding qualities. The
outfield rotated four members
who added speed and run support
to the squad.
Terry Pegher (Wexford,
PA/North Allegheny) started in
leftfield. Terry had 32 hits and
drove home a team high 27
runners.
Freshman Carrie McDougall
(Erie, PA/Iroquois) played center
and hit .326, scored 27 times and
had the game-winning RBI in the
ECAC Championship game.
Freshman Julie Stocker
(Pittsburgh ,PA/Mt. Lebanon)
and Jenny Young (Cambridge
Springs, PA/Cambridge Springs)
split time in rightfield. Stocker
had four game-winning RBl's this
past season and Young used her
speed to steal 11 bases and score
15 runs.
The bases were covered with
experience. The infield was sharp
defensively with sophomores Sue
Mazur (Wexford, PA/North
SPORTS
Allegheny) at third base and
Karen Strait (Warfordsburg,
PA/Southern Fulton) covering
second.
The two consistently made the
routine play and frequently came
up with the spectacular. Mazur
scored 30 runs which made the
record books, and Strait drove in
21 runs, which gives her 47
RBrs in only two seasons.
Time at firstbase was split
between freshman Tanya
Cekovich (Pittsburgh,
Thursday, September 16, 1993
PA/Blackhawk) and Becky Reed
(Albion, PA/Northwestern).
Cekovich played solid defense
while Reed chipped in a
respectable .290 batting average.
Kelly Orga (Pittsburgh,
PA/Shaler) and freshman Laura
Conner (Pittsburgh., PA/ Trinity)
served the club id back-Op roles.
Behind the plate, the Lady
Lions received terrific
performances from ' catchers
Megan Musante (Edinboro,
PArieneral Mane) and Emmy
Arnett (Springboro,
PA/Conneaut Valley).
These two anchored the team
with their defense. Musante had a
defensive fielding percentage of
.986, while Arnett's .989
percentage led the entire team.
This softball team
demonstrated aggresive tendencies
especially on the base-paths, and
it paid off. The team's 91 stolen
bases in 102 tries almost doubled
the second most in history. The
Lady Lions could often be seen
taking the extra base and
applying pressure on the defense
by running aggressively.
"Every time we took the field,
I expected to win. This group of
15 individuals is extremely
talented and rose to every
occasion. By defeating the
seventh and twelfth ranked teams
in the nation and winning the
program's second ECAC
Championship, this program has
established itself as a softball
powerhouse; and today's players
have but one expectation--to
move forward, and history is on
their side," concluded Benim.
The Lady Lions lost two
players to graduation and five
more to other educational
pursuits, but with a solid
incoming recruiting class and a
core of returning players, the
softballers will•remain on ton in
the 1994 season.
Senior shortstop Darcie Baulky
and sophomore pitcher Cherie
Varrassa were named to tit.
ECAC Southern Regional Alt:
Star Team for their excelleit
play. Bradley and Varrassa were .
also recognized by the Nationsd
Softball Coaches Association &
being worthy of All-Regirfn
honors.