Florida - Day Six - Friday, March 26th

For our last day of play in the Sunshine State we faced two challenging opponents. In our first game against Middlebury College, our strong defense was not enough to hold off Middlebury's steady bats. Although we blasted a few doubles ourselves, we couldn't string enough hits together to get a rally started.

In our second game, we battled DePauw University, maintaining a 1 - 1 tie until DePauw scored late in the game. We went down fighting in the 7th, scoring two more runs.

Throughout the past week we played many challenging opponents, pushing ourselves to play at the top of our game and learn from mistakes. We go into the remainder of our season, continuing to grow and get better everyday.

Tomorrow we head back to Meadville and prepare for more nonconference games against Mount Union and Bethany next week.

Sara Doan '11

Florida - Day Five - Thursday, March 25th

After a last minute schedule change, we took away two solid wins today, stamping out Colby and then Carleton.  In the first game versus Colby, Brittany Rung led the Gator defense with nine strikeouts as Katie Wills and Felicia Gowanlock led the offense both going three for four.

Keeping the momentum going, we kept strong, beating Carleton 6-0.  Stephanie Fort went the distance on the mound, keeping Carleton's offense ineffective and pitching a shutout.  Leading our offense was Katie Wills with two hits (one triple) and Sara Doan with three hits.

Tomorrow is our last day of games, and we are pumped to come away with two more wins to finish off a successful Florida spring training.

Amanda Downey '11

Florida - Day Four - Wednesday, March 24th

After a few long days of cheering, scouting and playing we traded in our gloves for our bathing suits and hit the beach. We started the day on a high note with a lovely breakfast prepared by Helen and the headed off to Daytona Beach for a day of fun in the sun. The fear of sharks in the ocean or the cold, salty water itself that may have kept us from swimming all day but a few brave souls managed to make it waist deep. The pier was filled with shops and restaurants that everyone could enjoy. Many of us learned first hand that throwing a Frisbee is not the same as tossing a softball around. Coach Wardwell and Coach Sanford experienced at least ten dolphin sightings while half of the team learned how to play four square for the first time. With such beautiful weather on Wednesday I'm not sure I could think of a more perfect way to spend our day off.

We returned from the beach and got ready for dinner to hear that Coach Sanford had a surprise in store for us. Thanks to a generous donation from our loyal fan Peggy, we were going to the famous Wolfgang Puck Dining Room for dinner! Many of us experienced some delicious cuisine for the first time such as mouth watering scallops, delicious Duck Napoleon and Wiener schnitzel.


The extravagant meal matched the beautiful atmosphere and wonderful service. We felt very blessed to partake 
in such a magnificent dining experience and we are very thankful.

After a beautiful, long and relaxing day we are ready and excited to get back on the field. We each had time to individually reflect and learn from the first half of the week and refocus so we can finish the second half of the week with some good softball games. So look out other teams, the Gators are back from the beach and they're hungry for some wins.

Brittany Rung '13

Florida - Day Three - Tuesday, March 23rd

Today we had a later wake up time again for our games. We all got ready and went over to the coaches house where Helen had made us all a really great brunch. We left for the first of our two games around 11:30.

Our first game was at 1:30. We played Wisconsin-Whitewater, who are a very strong team. They came out very strong and confident but we never lost our focus. Everyone came strong with their bats and were aggressive at the plate and on base. Our defense was equally as strong with great pitching and making plays that held Whitewater when they had runners on base. We ended up winning 4-2 and it was a great confidence booster. It was an amazing team effort and it showed how good we can be, even as a smaller team.

The second game at 3:30 versus Trinity did not go as well. It showed us what it is like to play with a lack of focus and how it can affect the entire game. Though it did not go our way, we cannot dwell on the game and will move on because we know we can be and are better than how we played. It will be a learning experience that we will look back on to always play to our full potential.

After we finished, we went back to the house to quickly get changed for our Friends and Family dinner at the coaches house. Our families came over and everyone grilled and brought delicious food. We had a blast, took a bunch of pictures and had some nice, relaxing down time. Afterward we had a team meeting and went back to our house to chill and go to sleep.

We ended the day on a high note and always look ahead to the next challenge and not live in the past. We can't wait to get back on the field and show everyone what we can do! Go Gators!!

Sophie Katz '13

Florida - Day Two - Monday, March 22nd

We had an early start this morning. Our first game was at 9:30 a.m. against Bowdoin College. The morning did not come easy to us. Bowdoin was a good team and though we played well on defense our bats did not show up. We had a few bright moments, including Maggie's line drive homerun over a very long fence. We lost 4-1 and though this was an "L" we learned as a team to be confident and play our game.

After the not so thrilling first game, we played Univ. Wisconsin-Stout at 11:30 a.m. This game was exciting and definitely thrilling to the end. Stout is a very good team and we were expecting good competition. Stout scored three runs first, but we came back and scored as well. Pitcher Amanda Downey hit her first-ever homerun over the left field fence with a runner on for two RBI. The look of joy and surprise on her face was priceless. This gave us the momentum to take the game.

We were gaining confidence at the plate and on the field. We knew we could stay with Stout. They took the lead in the 6th but in the 7th we rallied back. With two runners on, Freshman Sophie Katz hit a walk-off single to center field to bring home the victory for the Gators. Coach was jumping up and down along with the rest of the team.

This was a huge game and a great battle. The team gained so much confidence and we are excited to continue the momentum into Tuesday. After the games, we were able to spend the rest of the day with our families. Some people went to the parks and others to watch Gator Baseball play. Katie Wills and I had our grandparents with us so we spent the day with them.

We are excited for our games tomorrow and can't wait to show the other teams that we may be small but we are mighty.

Nicole Rodi '13

Florida - Day One - Sunday, March 21st

We arrived to sunny Florida on Saturday afternoon and shortly after our arrival we headed to the practice fields! After a quick practice we were off to eat a delicious meal cooked by Coach Wardwell's Mom, Helen. Helen travels to Florida with us from Maine and provides us with breakfast, dinner and a supportive "mom" feeling.

We were scheduled to play our first games on Sunday. We got to the fields but after about 40 minutes of our warm up it started to down pour!! Our first game against Plymouth State was canceled and our second game, scheduled for 3:30 pm, was pushed to 7:00 p.m. under the lights versus Eastern Connecticut State University.

Eastern Connecticut started the game off strong, scoring two runs, but we came back quickly, getting both of those runs back. Unfortunately, the game ended with a score of 8-2, favoring Eastern. Though the score may not reflect it, it was great for us. We grew a lot from this game; learned a lot from our mistakes and aside from one bad inning, kept up with a team that went deep into the NCAA Regional Tournament last year.

It was a long, wet day but we were able to get a game in and gain valuable experience. We play again tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. We are a small and young team, and we will get over looked and underestimated. The young ladies wearing the Gator uniform this season have worked harder, and longer, have a great deal of talent and potential. As soon as we apply all of these qualities we will be unstoppable!!

I am excited to see where we go and finish out the trip!

Felicia Gowanlock '12

Gators Participate in the First Annual Student-Athlete Talent Show

Here at Allegheny, and at all NCAA affiliated institutions, we have what is known as SAAC, Student Athletic Advisory Committee. This committee consists of representatives from each sports team. The committee meets twice a month and discusses topics such as how to increase attendance at games, how to sufficiently use economic resources when traveling to and from games, and other various hot topics.

One aspect of SAAC is the public relations committee. This year our PR committee decided to put on an All Athlete Talent Show. Basically players from each team make up their own act and perform it at the show. Though the amount of teams that participated was a little low, the teams that did come out to perform did a really great job!

The show opened with the Men’s Track team; they serenaded their coach with the song “my girl” and then showed us that real men can wear short shorts. Next it was our turn, we decided to bring out our inner hood and perform our very own rap! Coach Sanford even put on her baggy pants and hoodie and made a special guest appearance!
The Tennis team did a movie montage to Austin powers, The Hangover, Step Brothers, A Night at the Roxbury and Napoleon Dynamite.

The Women’s soccer team gave a stunning performance of the Chicken Noodle Soup dance in a wide variety of costumes. Men’s soccer team showed off their sex appeal by dressing classy and dancing seductively. The Golf team danced for us and showed us they can not only handle clubs but umbrellas! Baseball did a hilarious little reenactment of an old spice commercial, and the Football team ended the show with a Chippendale’s tryout and a few songs.

After calculating the scores the first place trophy went to the Golf team. The show was a big success and the members of SAAC who put it together did a really great job! We hope for a bigger turn out and an even better show next year! There is even talk about potentially charging admission for the show and donating the proceeds to a worthy cause, but the specific details of next year still need to be worked out.

Over all the process of meeting with our team and coming up with an act was a lot of fun and really helped to bond our team even more! Though I am disappointed we did not take home first place in the talent show I know that we are focused and ready to take home a more important first place trophy this season!

P.S. here is the rap we performed if you are interested in reading

TEAM
Softball team is in the house
We’re gonna show you what we’re all about
Team of eleven with so much skill
Winning conference title? Oh Yes we will!
It’s time to introduce the team that’s gonna own
I’m gonna pass my mic on over to Doan

SARA DOAN
Sara Doan here and left field’s where I’m at
You should see what I can do with a bat
Diving catches is what I am about
Try for an extra base I’ll throw you out!

STEPH FORT
Stephanie Fort from Richmond V.A.
And short stop is the position I play
Got the softest hands and I bring the intensity
All y’all other players can’t measure up to me

BRITT RUNG
B-Rung here I’m a freshman this year
On the best team around, you can find me on the mound
Step into the box if you wanna face me
But prepare to take a seat cause I bring strike three

FELICIA GOWANLOCK
Felicia’s back this year and my finger’s all healed
You’ll see me behind the plate out on the field
I throw mad heat and black mad balls
I make it rain on that diamond like Niagara Falls

MAGGIE BODENLOS
My names Maggie and I may be small
But at third base I’m always a wall
Don’t be fooled you know I got guns
Last year led the team in home runs

KATIE WILLS
Katie Wills here co-captain of this team
Try and go against me in and pain you’ll scream
Second base is the position I play
And when I come to the plate you better back away

DARIAN OUZTS
My name is D, I got so much heart
I’m a small dog but you know I gotta big bark
I may be little but I’m no joke
When I’m pitching at you, your gonna choke

NICOLE RODI
My name’s Rodi and from Philadelphia
I play outfield and I’ll be coming after yah
I’m louder on the field than anybody else
I hit so hard it will leave you with welts

SOPHIE KATZ
Infield out field I play everywhurrr
Sophie Katz hurr and you should be scurred
I run the bases quicker than a cheetah
The number is two and I’m a natural born leadah

AMANDA DOWNEY
Amanda Downey and ten is my number
Watch me pitch I’m like the 8th world wonder
In just 3 pitches ill take you down
Don’t try to beat me here cause this is my town!

BREANNA APPLEBY
Bre’s the name; center field’s where I’ll be
When I steal second you can’t catch me
So much power and so much desire
My passion for this sport burns hotter than fire

COACH SANFORD
Coach Sanford here and I run this show
You better give it up for me cause it’s my birthday yo!
Played for UCONN back in my prime
Watch out for us Gators cause this is our time!

TEAM
Quality over quantity is what we say
And we‘re gonna crush every team that we play
We are small and mighty and we always bring the pain
We’re gonna cut through you like Oxyclean cuts through a stain
You think we can rap? You should see us play
‘Cause the Gators are here and we are here to stay!

Felicia Gowanlock – Sophomore