Lady Apaches get 4 see in region: IVCC to host first-round game with Harper
By Tony Nelson
The Lady Apache softball team earned a number 4 seed in the N4C giving them a home game against Harper in the first game of the tournament on May 4.
The Lady Apaches were scheduled to play College of DuPage on Tuesday for the regular season finale, which was after press time.
The Lady Apaches are currently 3-4 in conference play. They split with Joliet and Rock Valley in the double headers against the two teams. The won the first game of a double header against Harper before the second game was rained out.
Two of their four conference losses were due to a forfeit against Triton because IVCC didn’t have enough players for the game.
"The team has been staying focused and relaxed lately," said coach Bill Forrest.
The Lady Apaches have also been getting strong play from their ace pitcher Nicole Thompson. "She keeps us in the games and she gets stronger as the game goes on," said Forrest.
Other women have been hitting well for the Apaches. Sophomore Beth Grooms is leading the team with a .478 average. Shelly Obermiller has also put up a .428 average. Jennifer Doyle and Tina Wujek have also been hitting well, according to Forrest.
"Tina Wujek has really started hitting well since she moved from third base to centerfield," said Forrest.
"Narissa Sturm moved from centerfield to third base. "Tina has been quicker out in the outfield… Narissa seems to knock more balls down at third and get them over to first a little better," said Forrest.
Besides the forfeit to Triton, a lot of games have been canceled because of the weather. "Lately the weather has been bad," said Forrest.
Forrest also added that its hard only having 11 players. "Illness and injury are difficult to deal with when you have small numbers," said Forrest.
Forrest seemed to be confident in beating Harper. "We should beat Harper," said Forrest "Then we’ll have to face COD who has a pitcher with a 1.5 era.
The team will lose the five sophomores who returned this year including Megan Sluis, Thompson, Wujek, Grooms and Obermiller but five other members on the team are expected to return. The other member of the team, Doyle, is academically a sophomore but athletic wise is only a freshmen which will allow her to play at IVCC another year if she chooses.
Another benefit for the Lady Apaches next season will be addition of tuition waivers which were granted by the Board of Trustees. The softball team was awarded 9 waivers for next year.
The Apache April 29, 1999