Saint Mary's opens home season with pair of wins
By KAREN SCHAFF
Sports Writer
The Saint Mary's softball team started the home season off on the right foot with an 8-0 win over the Concordia Cougars. With these wins the Belles bettered their record to 9-4.
Saint Mary's hosted a double header with Concordia for their home opener Monday. The Belles came out looking strong in their first game, shutting out the Cougars 8-0.
The Belles trounced the Cougars in the second game of the double header, cruising to a 12-1 win.
The Belles dominated offensively with Rachel Deer and Trish Klockner blasting homeruns in the first inning.
"We're coming out of our hitting slump," Klockner said. "And we're starting to gel together."
The Belles defense then came out in the top of the second and shut down the Cougars, three up and three down.
"We were so fired up from the beginning and that boosted our emotions to play," Deer said.
Midway through the third inning the Belles had created a substantial lead, 12-1. The Belles continued to play hard.
Concordia suffered from poor play. The Cougars had several errors and gave up several runs due to walks. They did not lack the cohesion the Belles displayed during the game.
"We looked strong, and defensively we are as solid as any other team out there," head coach Dave Speybreoeck said.
He added that he has been moving his team around, trying to fit each player to her position.
"I like to put my fastest girls in the outfield so they can get to the ball," he said.
This years team lacks experience. Eight of 18 players are freshmen and there are no returning seniors.
"Most of my freshmen girls just need college experience," Speybroeck said. "They are all really good players, and we are just trying to find where they are best suited for right now."
For Wednesday's game against Olivet College, Speybroeck wants to work on pitching.
He noted that although his pitchers have rhythm, their speed isn't quiet there yet. Kristin Martin and Anne Senger each pitched against Concordia.
"Martin has speed, but Anne has the corners," Speybroeck said.
Despite the inexperience, Speybroeck has high hopes his team.
"We have a lot of spirit," he said. "They'll do anything to be part of a team."
This past weekend the Belles made a good showing, winning both of their games against Hanover College.
The Belles won their first game with a score of 10-2.
They scored their 10 runs on nine hits.
"We've been working on hitting all week," assistant coach Dave Martin said. "It's still our greatest weakness, but we played pretty well overall."
The Belles' big hitter for the weekend was Katie Murphy, who went 2-4 with one triple.
"As a freshman, she stands out," Martin said. "We expect more things from her in the future."
Other contributors at the plate were Megan O'Keefe and Katy Ray, who both hit 2-4 and Kristin Martin who hit 3-3.
After a 20-minute intermission, the two teams came back for their second game. Saint Mary's came through with another win, this time 9-1.
"The second wasn't like the first," Murphy said "We didn't start playing and hitting our best until the top of the seventh."
The Belles scored their nine runs on just eight hits.
"Hitting is definitely something we need to keep working on," Martin said.
All in all, the team came back from Hanover with two very well played games and momentum for their upcoming games.
"Right now we are just polishing the edges," Martin said.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, March 28, 2000
