Softball Will Battle Brown for NCAA Bid

By | May 4, 2004

The softball team entered last weekend’s match-up with Quinnipiac with two hopes in mind: one for a victory and one for a defeat. In the end, only the Red held up its end of the bargain as Cornell laid waste to the Bobcats in the two-game series but failed to clinch the coveted NCAA tournament bid when Brown swept Yale for a share of the Ivy League title. Now, with an Ivy ring assured and four non-league games remaining, the Red is looking forward to the culmination of its season this weekend when it takes on the Bears in a three-game playoff in Providence, R.I. The best-of-three series will decide which squad will represent the Ivy League in the NCAA Regional tournament, while the loser will be taking batting practice early this summer.

Moreover, according to the Red, this is exactly where they want to be.

“It’s not in anyone else’s hands anymore,” said head coach Dick Blood. “We control our own destiny.”

Both the Bears (19-18, 10-4 Ivy) and the Red (37-11, 10-4) turned up the heat down the stretch run, compiling substantial winning streaks over the final few league games. Cornell has not lost a game dating back to April 17 against Harvard, winning 13 consecutive contests since splitting a doubleheader with the Crimson at home. The Bears, meanwhile, are undefeated in their last seven games — including their final five Ivy outings.

“I think we recognize that Brown had to win their last four games in league,” Blood said. “They took care of business. Now we need to take care of business.”

Yet, while the Bears have no scheduled games between now and the weekend, the Red is set to face Siena on the road today followed by Binghamton tomorrow. With such an important series looming in the coming weekend and constant risk of injury, these final non-league games have the potential to be both a blessing and a curse.

“It’s better preparation than practicing all week,” Blood said. “Facing live pitching is always important. We want to get quality at-bats for our starters.”

The hitters on the Red are virtually assured to see some superior pitching this week in the form of Siena’s dominant starter Tara Campbell. The sophomore out of Spring Valley, Calif. has been shutting down batters all season, compiling an 8-7 record and 2.15 ERA. Campbell has also recorded 106 strikeouts and 10 complete games, including a no-hitter over the weekend against Iona. A menace on both sides of the plate, Campbell is currently batting .304 with six RBIs. The Saints (14-27-1, 5-9 MAAC) also boast one of the premier power hitters in the MAAC in junior Sarah Rose. A native of Loudon, N.H, Rose has belted nine doubles and five home runs — accumulating a team-high 29 RBIs in the process.

Binghamton (16-21-2, 7-9-1 America East) has fallen prey to momentum shifts throughout the season, putting together the occasional winning streak only to lose the next few. Recently, the Bearcats have been cold, having failed to register a victory in their last four games.

However, Binghamton features a deep and versatile lineup that can contribute from almost any spot in the order. The Bearcats have six hitters with at least 10 RBIs and seven starters who are hitting above .300. Binghamton also boasts a formidable pitching duo in Katie Hansen (9-9) and Michelle Weeks (6-10) who have combined to strike out 187 batters this season.

Archived article by Kyle Sheahen
Sun Assistant Sports Editor

Softball Defeats Siena Twice in Midweek Doubleheader

By May 5, 2004

With a NCAA three-game play-in series against Brown lurking in the back of the softball team’ s mind, the Red could have easily taken yesterday’ s games against Siena for granted. Instead Cornell looked sharp and focused, taking both games from Siena, 7-3 and 4-2 (10 inn.). The team had a combined 15 hits on the day while extending its winning streak to 15 games. The Saints opened the scoring early in the Game 1 when centerfielder Jennifer Griner hit a solo home run in the second inning. Cornell followed up with 3 runs of its own in the top of the third, but Siena tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a two-run shot by third baseman Sarah Rose. Sophomore Kirsten Landis started on the mound for the Red in Game 1 but struggled, giving up 3 runs on seven hits. Classmate Whitney Smith relieved Landis in the bottom of the fourth inning and closed out the rest of the game, throwing four scoreless innings while allowing only one hit. “Their pitching did a nice job of keeping us at bay,” said head coach Dick Blood. “But solid defense and solid pitching kept us in the ball game.” The Red took back the lead for good, scoring a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Sophomore Caitlin Warren hit her first of two home runs on the day, while senior Lauren May hit her 16th home run of the season, tying the single season record for Cornell. Cornell struck first in Game 2 with a run in the fourth inning, but Siena answered in the fifth, putting two runners on base with back-to-back singles. Rose then slapped a double to give the Saints a 2-1 advantage. The Red tied things up in the sixth inning after May hit a single to deep center field and reached second on an error. Senior Melissa Cannon then shot a two-out single to right center field to tie the game. “That was a clutch hit for us,” Blood said. The game marched on into extra-innings as the starting pitchers for both teams matched each other with scoreless inning for scoreless inning. Cornell sent senior ace Sarah Sterman to the mound against the Saint’ s hurler Tara Campbell. Campbell had a streak of 44 consecutive scoreless innings in league play earlier in the season. “[Campbell] spins the ball around, and makes you go up and down,” Blood said. “She’ s tough but Sterman matched her all the way.” Finally Cornell broke the tie in the top of the 10th inning, when Warren hit her second home run of the day, a two-run shot, lifting the Red to the 4-2 victory over the Saints. “We played outstanding defense,” Blood said. “We did a nice job. I’ m pretty excited.” Sterman got her 20th win of the season while the Red improved to 39-11, 10-4 Ivy. Cornell heads to Binghamton today for its last doubleheader of the regular season. Binghamton (16-21-2, 7-9 America East) boasts a solid power hitting team with 25 home runs on the season, as well as several strong pitchers, including 5′ -10″ senior Michelle Weeks. “She’ s really tough,” Blood said. ” She throws very, very hard and averages nine or 10 strikeouts a game.” Blood looks at tomorrow’ s games as a valuable tune-ups for this weekend’ s series against Brown. “I think it’ s really great to be playing these games right now,” he said. “It challenges your hitters, it challenges your pitchers, and it keeps us sharp.” Archived article by Paul TestaSun Staff Writer
Senior Track Athletes Leave Mark on Team

By May 5, 2004

Four years ago, the men’s track team was the worst in the Ivy League. The Red consistently finished at the bottom of the pack, and its last Heptagonal Championship had come nearly a generation earlier in 1978. The women were better, on the other hand, had established themselves as an Ivy power, winning Heps several times, but without any sustained glory. In 2000, a new class of athletes entered the track programs and understood they could be part of something greater. Men,/b> “There’s a thing called selling somebody a pig in a poke — something that’s not actually there,” said men’ s head coach Nathan Taylor. “You think its there. They recognized that they could have a profound impact on the future success of a program and were challenged by it. They felt like this was something they would really want to get involved in — leaders rather than followers.” Today, the resume of the class of 2004 is remarkable. The men have won two Heps titles, one indoor, the other outdoor. The team is consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally and among the best teams not only in the Ivy League, but also in the ECAC. The women top even that and have won five straight indoor and outdoor Heps championships; they are ranked in the top 25, and are at the top of the Ivy League. But just as this class came and conquered, now must it depart. The men are losing 13 members of their team. Among those graduating are seniors Rahim Wooley and Giles Longley-Cook. Described by Taylor as the least heralded athletes when they entered Cornell, Wooley and Longley-Cook have worked hard and become captains of the team. Wooley is a sprint specialist who holds the school record in the indoor 60-meter and 200-meter and was important contributor on the two Heps championship teams. Longley-Cook is a dependable performer in the weight events. Despite the fact he has only been throwing for four years, Longley-Cook has come very close to winning the Heps in the hammer and weight throw, finishing second at three consecutive Heps championships. “Probably my biggest memory was winning the indoor Heps,” said co-captain Jason Hart. “Cornell hadn’t won in a really long time. We worked really hard and watching it all pay off was great. We all came together.” Co-captains Aldo Gonzalez and Hart, and Mike Nanaszko will also be greatly missed. Gonzalez led the team in the mid-distances events. A member of the 4×800 relay that earned All-East honors at the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America last year, he finished second in the 1000 meter at the indoor Heps this past season. Hart, commended by Taylor for his work ethic, has been an important member of the jumps squad. Hart was a consistent Heps scorer and owns the second best all-time Cornell record in the indoor long jump. Nanaszko was a member of the record-holding indoor 4×400 relay team. “The legacy is that they have led the way in transforming the track program from the worst team in the league to the best team last year and a team that for three years in a row has been in the top twenty-five in the country,” Taylor said. The 13 seniors graduating in a few weeks have left their mark on their team, the program, and each other. But more than the competition and the championships, these men will miss their teammates. “I will miss the friendships and the camaraderie,” Hart said. “That’s not something you can easily find out in the workplace. I made some friendships that will last the rest of my life.” Women Distinguished among the many talented seniors on the women’s team are Natalie Gingerich, Kinsy Miller, Kalifa Pilgrim, Jill Crispell, Ib Stanley, Christina Eckstaedt, Merili Mosley, Ann Hansgate, and Hannah Garrity. Gingerich has been an iron horse in terms of hard work, willingness to do different events, and accept any challenge. Miller displayed great leadership qualities throughout her career. Pilgrim has been a good jumper and a regular scorer in the long and triple jump, despite having to fight through injury. Stanley developed over her career into a Heps champion and national qualifier. Crispell has worked hard throughout her career, peaking last weekend with a personal record in 400 meter last weekend. Eckstaedt captained the cross country team and set some personal records this season. The best of the best, however, are the team’ s captains. Mosley, a sprinter and hurdler, has been elected to this role twice for her abilities on the track and service to the program off of it. Hansgate, despite suffered a horrific injury last year that has prevented her from competing, still came to every practice and meet to support her teammates. Finally, Garrity, who spent her second semester junior year abroad in Scotland, returned in July ready to go. This year, she recorded some of the best times in school history in the sprints and hurdles and is a five-time All-East and six-time All-Ivy performer. “What allows you to have great teams is good senior leadership,” said women’s head coach Lou Duesing. “This class has not been any different from the last two, but it really goes back to when we won our the first ever indoor and outdoor championships. That senior group set a tone, they would be very comfortable on this team, and this team would be very comfortable with them as leaders. They have continued providing the excellent leadership and continuity with what’ s gone before. They have been remarkable competitors and really have led with encouragement and their actions.” Mosley added, “I think it’s an accomplishment that we have built a team that is strong, supportive and bubbling over with team spirit. I can look back on my time at Cornell and actually see the improvement of out team. Winning consecutive Heps Championships was a huge accomplishment. I think it’ s the combination of everything that made my time with Cornell track so great. Our team spirit is always intense with a positive flare. We love what we do, and that’ s why we do it — and it shows.” Archived article by James Rich Sun Staff Writer