Eagles out-play Highland
By JJ Ossola
IV Leader Sports Editor, May 5, 2005
The Illinois Valley Community College softball team faced off with the Highland Cougars in a double header on April 21 and came away with an 8-0 and a 4-1 win.
The Eagles began the game swinging away, getting four of their eight runs early. It wasn’t until the fourth inning that they began scoring again, getting three more runs,
In the first game, pitcher Jessica Cinnamon, pitched 5 innings with only two hits and one walk, striking out four players and not allowing any runs.
Cougar pitcher Stephanie Stuckey, allowed 10 hits, 5 walks, struck out four players, but had 8 runs.
Head Coach Cory Tomasson said that it is not unusual for some teams to put their secondary pitcher in to try and get a split in double header games.
“In the conference, our pitchers have done extremely well.” Tomasson said, “When we don't walk players, we are in every game.”
During the break between games, Highland coach Beth Buckwalter implored her team to focus on the field better.
“"This is what you want, this is where you want to be. Why aren't you out there playing hard? Going after the
win?" she said.
The message seemed to work and the Cougars pitcher Elizabeth Sands pitched six innings, and had six
strikeouts but also allowed eight hits, two walks, and four runs.
Eagles pitcher Amy Abbott pitched seven innings and had four strikouts. The Cougars were able to get eight hits but only drove one in to score.
After the game, Cougar coach Buckwalter said, “I felt as if we sent out nine players to face their 10” in reference to some calls that the umpires had made during the double header.
“I can’t take anything away from the IV ladies though,” she went on to say, “because they played very spirited ball and they wanted it more.”
Coach Tomasson said, “There were some close plays, but the correct calls were made.”
With these wins the softball team clinched second place in the Arrowhead Conference.
Finishing off the season:
On April 26, the IV Eagles faced off against the 10th rated team in the National Junior College Athletic Association for batting average, the Illinois Central College Cougars.
The Cougars bested the Eagles, 3-0 and 9-1 in the double header at ICC.
The ICC Cougars pitcher Erin McEldowney only allowed two hits and struck out 14, with three walks, in the opener and first baseman Ashton Swearingen had her eighth home run of the season.
McEldowney is ranked third in Division II for strikeouts per inning, a respectable 1.286.
Swearington leads the Cougars in batting, .483, and was named the NJCAA Player of the Week on April 19 for Division II fast-pitch softball.
Coach Tomasson said, “Our defense has been the determining factor in most of our losses. When we make errors, they seem to be in a spot where runs score. When we play a clean game, we usually win.”
The Eagles also faced the No. 2 team ranked team in the NJCAA Div II polls, Parkland College.
Parkland boasts the 6th ranked pitcher Jackie Bradley and the No 8. pitcher Holly Waldin. Waldin is currently ranked No. 1 in strikouts, averaging an astonishing 1.81 per inning.
As a team Parkland boasts a .481 batting average and has players ranked in the top 20 in stolen bases, individual hitting, and 3 players in RBI’s.
“We lost all four games, however, this level of competition should get us ready for our regional play.” Coach Tomasson said. “They [Parkland] are the best team our teams have ever played against.”
At press time, the Eagles were scheduled to face off against Carl Sandburg Chargers on May 3 at home for their first regional game.
The Chargers’ record is 8-24 and the Eagles had a 15 point win over them once this season.
If the Eagles win, the next regional game after that will be on Friday and Saturday, May 6-7 in Joliet where the
Eagles will play in a double elimination, Final Four to decide who goes to the National Tournement on May 19 in Iowa.