Lady Bears Conclude 2009 Season With Two Losses in USCAA National Championship
DECATUR, IL – The St. Joseph's College softball team ended their quest for their first USCAA National Championship with two losses in the double elimination tournament falling to Southern Virginia and Penn State-Beaver, both by a score of 5-2. The Lady Bears conclude their 2009 campaign as the winningest team in school's history with a record of 26-10.
It the first round game against #4 Southern Virginia, #5 St. Joseph's was the visiting team and batted first by virtue of coin flip. The Lady Bears got on the board in the opening frame with Lisa Scheer (Queens, NY/Mary Louis) sending a one-out double to left center that scored Caitlyn Kakavas (Queens, NY/St. Agnes) who drew a walk.
Southern Virginia picked up two hits in the bottom half of the frame and a Lady Bear error with two-outs almost allowed a run, but Jennifer Safi (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) threw out a runner trying to score from second with Jackie Marinello (Brooklyn, NY/Fontbonne) blocking the plate.
St. Joseph's added another run in the third to take a 2-0 lead with Theresa Mendez(Queens, NY/St. Francis Prep) leading off with a single and stealing second to move into scoring position. Scheer delivered again with single to center for her second RBI of the game. The Lady Bears threatened to add more runs in the fourth with hits by Marinello and Carissa Cancemi (Queens, NY/Martin Luther), but we unable to capitalize stranding them on first and second.
Southern Virginia got on the board in the bottom fourth, knocking three straight hits off starting pitcher Scheer, capped by a two-run double by Emma Jamesto tie the game at 2-2. St. Joseph's minimized the damage by throwing out James at the plate when she tried to score on a throw to first on a dropped third strike.
St. Joseph's threatened again in the top of the fifth loading the bases with two outs but left the bases stranded. Scheer picked up her third hit of the game, knocking her second double to right center.
In the bottom of the fifth, a controversial call at second on a force play left runners at first and second with no outs for Southern Virginia. Two batters later Abbie Fisher hit a three-run home run putting the Knights on top 5-2.
St. Joseph's was unable to generate any offense in the sixth and seventh innings, going down in order and the 5-2 loss moved them to the elimination bracket to face #8 Penn State-Beaver. Scheer finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI. She also earned the loss in the circle, allowing 10 hits, striking out seven and walking none.
In the elimination game against PSU-Beaver, St. Joseph's won the toss and was the home team. The Nittany Lions scored first in the opening frame on a two-out single by Scialdone that scored a Jen Hain on second who leadoff with a walk and stole.
St. Joseph's responded in the bottom half on a Kakavas single and a Scheer shot to right center that was ruled a ground rule double when the centerfielder ran through the temporary fence. Kakavas was placed back on third, but scored on an Alyson Chiaramonte (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) fielder's choice as the Nittany Lions got Scheer in a rundown.
Both teams were relatively quiet in the second, third and fourth innings. The Lady Bears managed to get runners on base in each inning, but the Nittany Lions turned double plays in the second and fourth to end any threat.
enn State broke the tie in the fifth on St. Joseph's throwing error on a ground ball putting runners on second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly scored Katie Landis, and St. Joseph's minimized the damage by throwing out another runner at the plate, their third of the tournament.
St. Joseph's came right back to tie the game again in the bottom half, leading off with pinch hit walk by Safi who advanced on a wild pitch. With two outs, Cakavas then singled to left field scoring Safi.
In the sixth inning another Lady Bear miscue in the field allowed the opposition to score. A leadoff error on a ground ball put Melissa Swoager on first and a Jamie Karpinski single with one out put runners at second and third. Karpinski advanced as the Lady Bears tried to throw out the lead runner. Chiaramonte forced the next batter to pop out for the second out. Coach Frank P. Carbone decided to intentionally walk Landis who was 2-for-2 on the game to load the bases. However, on the fourth pitch, Landis reached out and punched the ball to center field for a two-run double. Landis later scored on an error as she attempted to steal third, giving Penn State-Beaver a 5-2 lead.
The Lady Bears threatened to tie the game for a third time in the bottom half with a leadoff double by Chiaramonte and a Palmieri single. Marinello was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. St. Joseph's was unable to capitalize however, stranding the bases loaded with a ground out, pop out and strikeout.
St. Joseph's held in the top seventh, needing three runs in the bottom half to fight off elimination with the top of the order coming to bat. The Lady Bears got off to a good start with a Mendez single and a Kakavas walk, but Mendez got doubled up on second when Scheer popped up to shortstop. Chiaramonte grounded to short in a very close call at first, ending the Lady Bears championship hopes.
Chiaramonte was credited with the loss giving up five runs (four unearned) on seven hits, striking out one. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Kakavas finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Despite the disappointing losses, the 2009 St. Joseph's College softball team leaves their mark as one of the most successful in the eight-year history of the program. Although five seniors will be graduating, this year's squad has built a solid foundation for a team that will graduate no seniors next year.