Bloomsburg Softball Heads to PSAC Championships

BLOOMSBURG- The Bloomsburg University softball team will travel to Shippensburg University to compete in the 2005 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships.

The tournament will be held at the Robb Sports Complex on the campus of Shippensburg University. Admission is $7 for adults, $2 for students with student identification. All day passes are also available at $18 for adults and $5 for students.

The Huskies enter the tournament as the number two seed from the East and will take on California (Pa.), the number three team from the Western Division in Thursday's opening round game at 10 a.m. The winner will then face Lock Haven at 2 p.m., while the loser plays Friday at 10 a.m. The tournament will be played in a double elimination format.

In the day's other opening round game, Indiana (PA), the number two team from the West will face Kutztown, the three seed from the East, at noon on Thursday. The winner of that game will face Shippensburg, the top seed from the East, at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Bloomsburg finished the regular season with a record of 36-6, 17-5 in the PSAC East, and has won 11 of its last 12 games.

The Huskies are led this season by Sara Roba (Emmaus/Emmaus) who is batting .409 with 16 doubles, eight home runs and 48 RBI's. Roba has had 16 multiple RBI games this season. Dee Wolfe (Milton/Milton) is hitting .400 with 16 doubles and 33 RBI's, while Amanda Breon (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) is batting .394 with seven triples and five home runs. Kelly Zarski (Danville/Danville) is batting .336 with seven doubles and four homers, while also playing a vital role in the Huskies defense with a fielding percentage of .931.

Jamie Wilson (Olyphant/Bishop O'Hara) leads the team on the mound this season with a record of 10-1 with 84 strikeouts and has issued just six walks. Wilson has an ERA of 0.72. Amanda Smith (Sandy Ridge/Philisburg-Osceola) is 12-3 on the year with a team-high 133 strikeouts and has pitched 11 complete games. Smith has an ERA of 1.35.

The Huskies opening round opponent, California (Pa.) enters the conference championships with a record of 24-14, 13-7 in the PSAC West.

Of special note is the fact that Bloomsburg coach Jan Hutchinson enters the tournament needing just six wins to reach 1,000 victories for her career. Hutchinson also has 483 wins as the Huskies' field hockey coach.

The Vulcans are led by Jennifer Doty who is batting .493 with 14 home runs and 49 RBI's. Doty has a slugging percentage of 1.007 and also leads the team in doubles with 17. Amanda Collins is second on the team batting .410 with 29 RBI's.

On the mound, Becky Mezyk leads the team with a record of 12-7 with 109 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.03.

Lock Haven, who awaits the Bloomsburg and California winner, enters the tournament with a record of 32-6, 17-1 in the PSAC West, and as the number one seed from the Western Division.

The Lady Eagles are led by Courtney Hughes who is batting .387 with seven homers and 32 RBI's. Heather Johnson is batting .382 with 24 RBI's.

Jean Middlestead is the team's leading pitcher this season with a record of 13-1 with 106 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.87. Shona Guevara is 17-4 on the year with 123 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.29.

On the other half of the Bracket, Shippensburg received a first round bye after posting a record of 37-3, 20-2 in the PSAC East earning the top seed from the Eastern Division.

The Lady Raiders are led at the plate by Jamie Dacey who is batting .569 with 11 triples and 54 RBI's. Liz Corr is second on the team batting .473 with 62 hits and just four strikeouts.

Kelley Tiesi is the team's leading pitcher posting a record of 21-1 with 164 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.66. Danielle Shields is 11-1 with 110 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.14.

Indiana (Pa.) enters the conference championships with a record of 21-13, 13-6 in the PSAC West, and as the number two seed from the Western Division.

The Indians are led by Sarah White who is batting .398 with seven home runs and 32 RBI's. Carolyn Fendrich is batting .367 with seven doubles.

Jodie Swavely has led the team on the mound this season pitching to a record of 15-3 with 140 strikeouts and ERA of 1.54.

Kutztown enters the tournament with a record of 26-20, 13-11 in the PSAC East, and as the number three seed from the Eastern Division.

The Golden Bears are led by Stacy Bricker who is batting .398 with 14 doubles and 30 RBI's. Adriane Willmer is batting .365 with a team-high 58 hits and four triples.

On the mound, Stacey Denlinger is 9-6 on the year with 86 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.84. Cheryl Griffith and Rachel Weidensaul are each 8-6 this season.

The tournament will continue through Saturday with the championship game being played at 1 p.m.