Lady Pios promise growth next season
Mark Bolich
Staff Writer
In the 2008 preseason polls, the Carroll softball team was picked to finish last in the Northern division of the Midwest Conference (MWC). However, the Lady Pios (14-10) proved many of their critics wrong this season.
Since going 5-5 in Ft. Myers over spring break, the Lady Pios have gone 8-2, winning their last three games, two of them with the ten run rule. Coach Eva Klamann said the team’s success comes from the players’ urge to improve the program. “We’re playing at a much higher intensity than we did last year,” said Klamann. “The ladies bring the high intensity not just to the games, but also to practices, and that alone shows there’s improvement in the program.”
The Lady Pios needed that intensity for their last two games of the regular season. Going into their doubleheader with Ripon on April 26, the Lady Pios trailed Ripon by one game in the conference standings, and needed a sweep to remain in contention for a slot in the conference tournament.
The team looked to be in good shape after the first game. Carroll dominated, winning 8-0. Junior Trista Corrigan provided the power for the Lady Pios, going 3-for-3 with four RBI’s and a triple. Junior pitcher Kelsey Deakins allowed only three hits in her complete game shutout.
However, Ripon edged Carroll 2-1 in the second game. Ripon scored two runs in the fourth inning, the first on an error and the second when Ripon’s Abby Richeson stole home. The Lady Pios had a chance to battle back in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Ripon’s Brittnee Peotter struck out the side, ending the Lady Pios season.
The Lady Pios had been riding a hot streak through the second half of the season. They began conference play with a small stumble against Lawrence University, losing 4-2, but quickly turned things around with a 8-6 win in the second game of the April 5 double header.
A week later the Lady Pios defeated Beloit 7-6 (12) in the first game and 3-0 (5) in the second game. In the bottom of the twelfth inning during the first game the Lady Pios trailed by one, but got things rolling with singles from sophomore Nicole Rieth and senior Mindy Benz. After Reith stole third to get in scoring position, freshman Mandy Mlodzik hit a double which brought in both Reith and Benz home for a one run win over Beloit.
“That was a huge victory for us,” said Benz. “It really got us motivated for the second game that day.”
After beating both Grinnell College and Illinois College on April 14, Carroll lost 4-1 to St. Norbert’s College in the first game of a doubleheader. The Lady Pios bounced back confidently with a 2-0 victory in the nightcap, firing them up for the next day’s double header against Mt. Mary College.
In both games against Mt. Mary College, which were Senior Day games, the Lady Pios won with a 10 run rule in the fifth innings. “We came fired up and ready to play,” said senior Mandy Schrimsher, who has the highest batting average (.507) for the Lady Pios and third highest in the MWC.
The Lady Pios dropped their next two, however, getting blown out by Wisconsin-Whitewater 10-2 and 9-1 just two days before facing Ripon.
While the post-season slipped through the Lady Pio’s grasp, the team has much to build off of for next year. The team’s winning percentage improved by .367 and they finished two places above where preseason polls had predicted. “We (the team) came into the season expecting to do better this year; everyone stepped it up 110 percent and have really turned this program around,” said Klamann.
They also only two seniors, Schrimsher and Benz, and have had several underclassman gain valuable experience. “We have players who I can see being very good for next year,” said Klamann.