Lady Bobcats turn heads

GC&SU’s softball team was picked to finish fourth out of 10 teams in the Peach Belt Conference on a pre-season poll released by the Peach Belt Conference coaches last week.

The three teams that placed in front of the Lady Bobcats are: the University of South Carolina Upstate-, the favorite with six first place votes; in second, Columbus State University with four votes; and in the third place, Francis Marion University.

GC&SU’s Head Coach Ginger Miller, who led the team with an overall record of 24-17 last year, is beginning her second year in command of the Lady Bobcats and said she expects to have a great season.

“As there are many freshmen and new coming girls from junior colleges on the team this year, we are working on getting everybody together and (acquiring) team spirit, which is very important in any team,” said Miller.

This season, the Lady Bobcats will not count on only two important players as they may have done in the past. Fourth year player and pitcher Brook Harrison (7-6, 1.61 ERA) who graduated last year, and the transfer of one-time All-Peach Belt Conference right-hander Jenna Kubesch (15-9, 3 saves, 1.89 ERA) meant the loss of two key players for the Lady Bobcats.

“We have a younger team this year but we are still very strong,” said senior outfielder Aundrea Baker.

Baker also said the fact that they were placed fourth in the Peach Belt Coaches’ poll is an extra motivation for them to work even harder in order to finish first in the conference.

Miller said the conference poll does not mean that the Lady Bobcats are the fourth strongest team in the conference, and she is confidence with this year’s squad.

“Our biggest improvement from last year is our speed,” said Miller. “I think we are capable to win the conference, which is our goal for this season.”

The Lady Bobcats opened the 2006 season at home with the Lady Bobcat Classic on Feb. 10-11. The team posted back-to-back shutouts. GC&SU opened the tournament with a 10-0 win over Mars Hill College and ended the tournament with a 12-0 victory over Pfeiffer University.

Pitching was the key in the tournament as sophomore pitcher Libby Kidd shined with a three hit shutout against Mars with four strikeouts in six innings. Freshman pitcher Mandy Chandler kept the flow going with a one-hit five-inning shutout with nine strikeouts in her collegiate debut against Pfeiffer. Outfielder Aundrea Baker supported the pitchers with a home run in each game.

The team continued their winning streak by sweeping Georgia Southwestern State University in a non-conference doubleheader Monday. GC&SU dominated the first game by breaking away in the later innings to win 8-0. The Lady Bobcats scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to seal the victory.

In the second game GC&SU squeaked by with a score of 6-4. The Lady Bobcats rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning as Outfielder Deidra Baitey blasted a three-run homer over the center field wall to nail the win.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 17 2006. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry