The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator

The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator

The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator

    Blugold softball comes within one game of winning 24-team invite in Georgia

    The women’s softball team usually doesn’t begin its regular season before spring break. This year head coach Deb Steward couldn’t pass up the opportunity to start the season a little early when the team was asked to play in the invite-only National Fastpitch Coaches Association Lead-off Classic in LaGrange, Ga.

    Coming off of back-to-back Great Lakes Regional titles and claiming two consecutive fourth-place finishes in the NCAA Div. III national fastpitch championships, the women’s softball team is looking to make another championship run.

    In her second year, Steward brought her 11 returning letter-winners from last season’s 29-16 squad to LaGrange this past weekend to play in the tournament.

    The ‘Golds lost their semifinal game to Alma College (Mich.). Alma scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to edge out the Blugolds, 5-4.

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    The Blugolds fell behind early in the first inning, 3-0, but matched Alma with three runs in the top of the second.

    Eau Claire extended its lead to 4-3 in the top of the sixth, but could not hold onto it in the bottom of the sixth inning.

    “We had an opportunity to see if we could come from behind,” Steward said. “We just weren’t able to finish it off. It was one of those games where you just couldn’t get a break.”

    Sophomore Jessie Sharpe went the distance on the mound giving up eight hits and walking three. Eau Claire had six hits, including a home run from junior Tracy Steffens.

    The loss ended the Blugolds tournament appearance and sent Alma into the championship game against defending NCAA Div. III national champion, St. Mary’s University (Minn). St. Mary’s proved to be too much for Alma in the championship game by winning 8-0.

    “We stuck in there against Alma,” Sharpe said. “They had great bats and so do we, so it came down to the little things. They were a good match for us.”

    Sharpe also pitched a two-hitter in the ‘Golds next win against Wilkes College (N.C.), 1-0. Junior Leah DeMares drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning allowing the ‘Golds to win its pool.

    “We were positive going into the tournament,” Sharpe said. “We have a strong team and it showed (in the tournament). We finally started to feel like a team again and it started to come together.”

    The ‘Golds opened the season with a 10-1 flogging of Cortland St. (N.Y.), with Sharpe allowing only three hits and one unearned run in a 10-1 Blugolds win. The team then followed with a 6-3 victory over Methodist College (NC). The Blugold women ripped 20 hits in their first two games of pool play, three of which were home runs.

    The team’s first two wins advanced Eau Claire to the eight-team Gold Bracket playoffs of the Leadoff Classic.

    Sophomore Kim Czapla pitched a two-hitter to lead the Blugolds to a 1-0 triumph over Ithaca College (N.Y.).

    “Our goal was to get runners on early and we accomplished that,” Czapla said. “Our defense kept us in the game from there.”

    Czapla threw eight strikeouts and only two walks while backed by a flawless defensive effort by her teammates.

    “We lost some seniors from last year’s team, but this team has come together,” Czapla said. “When we made errors, we made them as a team. Nothing was pointed out individually.”

    Eau Claire, though, could only manage three hits off of Ithaca. The lone Blugold run came on sophomore Brenda Westermann’s first-inning RBI single.

    “It was a tribute to our program for us to be invited,” Steward said. “Success has been built here and it shows.”

    Eau Claire will bring its 4-1 mark to Florida where the team will play in The Rebel Games over spring break.

    The Blugolds also have been given the honor of hosting the 2001 NCAA Div. III Softball Championships, which will be held May 17 to 21.

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    Blugold softball comes within one game of winning 24-team invite in Georgia