May 1, 2004
The Endicott Softball Team was crowned Back-to-Back Commonwealth Coast Conference Champions this afternoon with a 1-0 win over the Curry Colonels. The win improves the Gulls record to 28-8-1 overall and gives them an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The game was a pitchers duel with no runs scored until the 10th inning, when right fielder, Laura Mangini hit an RBI single to the opposite field to score catcher Megan Young for the winning run.
Curry advanced to the finals earlier in the day by defeating Anna Maria, 6-3. As winners of the losers bracket, the Colonels would have had to defeat the Gulls twice to claim the CCC Title. Curry's record drops to 36-7, and they will now await a possible ECAC Division III New England Tournament bid.
CCC Rookie of the Year, freshman Robyn Savitske, struck out 11 batters, walked one, allowed 6 hits and no unearned runs in the 10 inning game. Her record improves to 14-3 overall. This is Savitske's 11th shutout of the season. She has won all 3 games for the Gulls in tournament play. Freshman Allyson Bruder was just as impressive on the mound for the Colonels, allowing only 4 hits, striking out 5 batters and walking one, while also not allowing any earned runs.
Young started on second base in the bottom of the 10th inning due to international tiebreaker rules, which automatically places a runner on 2nd base to start the inning. Shortstop Elyse Colby flew out to the catcher, before first baseman Megan Huckins stepped up to the plate. Bruder walked Huckins, her first and only walk of the game. Young and Huckins then stole bases to advance to 3rd and 2nd. Left fielder Laura Schack then struck out. With 2 outs and the winning run on 3rd base, Mangini hit between center and right field to score Young and win the Championship game.
The Gulls came up with a big play in the top of the 7th inning to prevent a Curry victory. Centerfielder Shena Simon started out the inning with a double. Simon went 4-4 for the day (2 doubles and 2 singles). Ashly Lasko pinch ran for Simon. First baseman Jamie Goldman then sacrificed bunt, advancing Lasko to 3rd. Designated hitter, Kimberly Sturgis walked and then stole 2nd. With one out in the inning, Curry had base runners on 2nd and 3rd. Catcher Megan Young attempted to throw out Sturgis who had taken a big lead off of second base. Short stop Elyse Colby then made a heads up play, catching Young's throw, she immediately threw back to Young who tagged out Lasko attempting to steal home on the throw to Sturgis. With two outs Megan Young then helped end Curry's hope for a victory diving to catch a foul ball hit by catcher Kathleen Fallon.