SMC Softball: Belles to play final 3 games
By NATALIE BAILEY
Sports Writer
Coming off two losses against Calvin Wednesday, the Belles enter their three final games of this season this weekend. The Belles will face Hope College today at 3 p.m., Ancilla Saturday at noon and Franklin Sunday at 1p.m., all on their home field.
No. 3 Hope College will be the Belles' last MIAA contender. Sophomore first baseman Katie Frigge believes the will offer the most competition.
"Hope is in our conference and will be a tougher match for us," said Frigge. "But we will have more fans and more support on our home field."
The Belles did not move from their seventh-place ranking after losing 5-0 and 6-0 in their doubleheader against Calvin on Wednesday.
Frigge cited a lack of focus for their underachieving performance.
"Our coach had just told us about his resignation, and we were all kind of flat and not really there; we weren't into it," said Frigge.
The Knights took charge and set the tone for the games with a run in the first inning of the first game. The Belles showed some promise in the third when Erin Sullivan doubled to center field and made it around the bases, only to be thrown out at home. After a dry spell, with four hits, Calvin got two runs in the fourth inning and then wrapped up the game with two more runs in the sixth. In the second game, Calvin earned two runs in the second, two in the third and the final two in the seventh.
Despite their two losses, the team plans on entering this weekend's games using the same starting lineup, perhaps with a little variation. Graneff fielded the games against Calvin with Libby Wilhelmy or Kristin Martin as the pitcher, Marnie Walsh as the shortstop, Frigge in left field, Katrina Tebbe in right field, Mandy Hayes at third base, Susan Kutz or Sandy Harmon as catcher, Lynn Lapshan at first base, Rebekah Solmos at second base and Sullivan in center field.
"Our biggest problem on Wednesday were the errors of not knowing where the play was at," said Harmon. "This weekend we have to get on the ball earlier and improve offensively. Just one inning makes the game."
After a trying season due to the weather, new coaching staff and tough competitors, the biggest challenge for the Belles this weekend will be to enter their games with courage, focus and confidence.
"Playing hard, playing like a team and having fun in our last games — I think that is what we need," said Harmon.
All Sports Stories for Friday, April 26, 2002
