Potuzko named NCAC Player of the Week

Congratulations are in order for Sophomore Catcher Marci Potuzko as she was tabbed the NCAC's Player of the Week for the week ending 3/29. Marci hit .778 with seven hits, and seven RBI (six in one game - tying the school record for RBI in a game) in a sweep of regional powerhouse Mt. Union Sunday.

Thoughts From Our Leaders- Liz Burr

When we arrived back in Meadville after Florida, the weather was a little less favorable, but still decent. We were able to get a few practices in outside on our own field and it felt great!

We opened up regular season play yesterday at Mount Union. We came out really strong and ended up beating them both games 4-1 and 11-9, despite some pretty muddy conditions and a small rain delay. Bessie hit another home run, over the right field fence I might add :). Our bats were amazing during both games. Marci went 7-9 on the day and she tied an Allegheny single-game record by banging in six RBIs in the second game. Maggie finished 6-9 on the day and Rachel 4-7. This was a really exciting day for all of us, because we haven't beat Mount Union since I've been here (a long 4 years) and Coach Sanford informed us after the game that it was her first time beating the team as well.

The team was very pumped to carry our energy in to today's games at Grove City, but a typical random snow in the area caused the games to be cancelled, which means we'll be spending another evening practicing on the blue courts.

Today is also the day that senior comps are due. I am very excited and nervous at the same time to be done with the biggest thing I've ever had to do at this school; it is a bit overwhelming and I'm sure Rachel can attest to that as well.

Despite the small weather set back, the season is in full swing and weare very excited to continue playing this week with games against Oberlin and OWU. - Liz Burr, Senior

Thoughts From Our Leaders- Maggie Bodenlos

After a final Florida tournament record of 5-5 with two wins our final day, we are eager to start our game-playing back here in the Northern dirt. As hard as we have worked and as much fun as we have had the past week, we are ready to get back into practices in preparation for our upcoming games. We were off to get a good rest from our busy week from Saturday through Monday and are excited to get back out there for two days of practice before our next two matches against Grove City this upcoming Thursday. After two competitions with Grove City we will back to practice until Sunday where we travel to Mount Union to face them in two games.

Since arriving in Meadville either Saturday or Sunday, we are all missing the Florida sun and warmth. Although it is a bit colder back here, we are ready to step out on the fields and can only hope for sunny weather for the games this week and as we head into conference play. We also hope for sunny days so that we can maintain our fabulous tan lines!- Maggie Bodenlos, Junior

Spring Break- Day Seven

Today the Gators ended our 2009 Spring Break with a bang, sweeping Westminster and Smith.

In the first game vs. Westminster the Gator offense started off hot, led by Rachel Ryan’s two-run double in the first inning. With a strong defense behind her, Stacey Robertshaw pitched a complete game shutout, allowing the Titans to scatter only six hits. In the end the Gators took the win 3-0.

For the second game vs. Smith College the Gators showed no fatigue despite playing their tenth game in six days. Pitcher Steph Baer hurled a strong game, giving up only four hits on her way to a complete game shutout. The Gator offense exploded in a three-run sixth inning, led by a Marci Potuzko double. The Gators won 3-0 on their way to their first two win day of the week.

As we head back to Meadville tomorrow we'll miss the sunny Florida days, post game pool parties and Helen’s fantastic home cooked meals. Kissimmee, Florida…. See you next year!- Sara Doan, Sophomore

The solution to yesterday’s riddle:

Heat wave

Wave pool

Pool stick

Below is a team picture following the final game at the Rebel Spring Games:

Spring Break- Day Six

Game day four started early with a much desired rematch against Anderson, due to the dropping out of Illinois Springfield, the team we were originally scheduled to play. Anderson defeated us earlier in the week 8-4. Stacey Robertshaw started strong for us on the mound and we jumped to a five run lead. Steph Baer finished up the last few innings of the game for us. We were unfortunately unable to hold the lead and Anderson took the win 10-8. Despite the loss there were many people who performed well for us. Liz Burr went 3-4 hitting, with a triple and two RBI’s. Allison Piper went 2-4 hitting with two RBI’s as well.

With that game behind us we were focused on the next game against Trinity immediately following the first game. Amanda Downey pitched the whole game against Trinity. By the end of the fifth inning our bats started to come alive and two big hits kept us in the game. Bessie Artino’s grand slam followed by Rachel Ryan’s two run homerun cut the 7-0 deficit to 7-6. Despite our battle and “never die” attitude and enthusiasm that filled the dug out, the final score ended up being 7-6, Trinity. Though the games did not go as well as we all had hoped there were some bright spots in the midst of the lows we had today. Marci Potuzko, Sara Doan, and Becca Burns all took one for the team, wore a pitch and got a free base. Rachel Ryan went 2-4 with two RBI’s and a homerun in the second game. Bessie Artino, in the second game went 3-4 with four RBI’s and a grand slam.One a side note Coach Wardwell continues to get increasingly better, with her movement and mobility on her crutches and in her wheel chair throughout the complex.

With the games today being at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM the rest of the day was left open for those players to spend time with the family members that came to see them. There are many parents and family members who travel to Florida and many of our other games. They are a great support system and cheering section for our team. The parents often become very close to one another much like how our team is.

The players referred to as the “orphans” (the ones who had no family to go with) spent the day bonding, lounging and yes studying… we do attend Allegheny.

In the van ride to and from our destinations we often play this word association game. You think of a string of words that all relate to one another. You then tell everyone the first and last word; it is then their job to think of the words in between the first and last word that relate them all together. For example will: mate. Will power, power house, house mate.

So I end my blog with this riddle: heat: stick (2 words in between)- Felicia Gowanlock, Freshman

Spring Break- Day Five

Today was our day off! We went to Busch Gardens in Tampa. We started off our day with a fabulous breakfast made by Helen! As always, it was delicious. We the hopped in our vans and headed on the drive to the park. Our day started with some team roller coaster rides. After Liz Burr’s selection of the ride that includes a 90 degree, 200 foot drop, our stomachs were ready for a break from the rides. The day was filled with safari adventures, lunch at the park, and as many rides as our heads and tummies could handle. With cleared minds we are now excited to head to the fields bright and early tomorrow, hoping to take two, as well as come back against Anderson!- Sharon Dudek, Sophomore

Here is a team picture inside of Busch Gardens:

Spring Break- Day Four

Today we came out strong offensively and defensively to shut out Kean 6-0. Rachel Ryan lead the offense with a two run homerun and the rest of the Gator bats were hot behind her. The defense held strong all seven innings while we kept the intensity fired up.

In the second game against Hope we battled to the end in a tough 4-2 loss, scoring in the sixth and seventh innings. Although a loss, we battled hard with heart and determination showing true Gator pride. After the games we were on a mission to continue a St. Patrick’s Day tradition…. SHAMROCK SHAKES from McDonalds!- Amanda Downey, Sophomore

Here is a short video clip from our pre-game ritual before the Kean game:

Spring Break- Day Three

We started off the day with yet another delicious breakfast prepared by Helen. Then we headed off to the fields for our first game which was at 11:00 against Endicott. Endicott crossed the plate first to make the score 1-0 but we fought back to tie it up at 1-1, which put us into extra innings. Endicott scored two runs in the top of the eighth. In our half of the inning Liz Burr started at second base for the international tie breaker rule. She moved to third base on a pitch hit single by Amanda Downey, so with runners on first and third it was my turn up to bat. I got the suicide squeeze sign and laid down a bunt between the pitcher and first basemen which Liz scored easily. With the score 3-2, Amanda on second and myself on first Maggie Bodenlos stepped up to the plate. She put her aggressive and powerful hitting skills to the test when she ended the game with a three run homerun, giving the Gators the win with a score of 5-3.

We then took our lunch break and refueled ourselves with another pump-up jam session in the vans with the AC blasting. We then came back out to face Anderson for the 3:00 game. Anderson came out of the gates strong and ready to hit. They took an early lead but we didn’t back down, as we chipped away at Anderson’s lead. However, with the hole we put ourselves into, we were never able to gain the lead, and fell to Anderson 8-4.

We then took off to go scout Kean for preparation for a later contest. Finally, it was time to head back to our houses to hurry up and clean up for our family and friends dinner. Although there was a competition over the showers and some of us having to rinse off in the pool. We were served a delicious variety of homemade dishes. This was a great time for everyone to mingle, while eating the delicious food. After taking many pictures to create memories, we headed back to our separate houses to finally relax after a very long and warm day. We can’t wait to get back on the field and come out with two solid games tomorrow! - Allison Piper, Freshman

Here are some pictures from our games and family and friends dinner today:

Spring Break- Day Two

We played our first games in Florida today. It was sunny and hot, some things we are not quite used to yet. We started off a little slow but finished up strong, and ended up one and one for the day. We started the day falling to MCLA, 6-0. It was an eye-opener, but an impromptu jam-session in the vans during our break helped us to refocus. We came out strong in the second game and battled against Millikin, defeating them 3-2, really showing our Gator pride. A few underclassmen really had a day today with Bessie Artino helping the offense with some clutch hits and Stacey Robertshaw pitching a fantastic second game.

After the games it was back home for Sunday dinner, and we all ate our fill of Helen’s cooking. Dinner, however, was briefly interrupted to watch the shuttle launch. We all piled outside to watch Discovery take off and it was a really cool thing to see. All in all, we are going apply the aloe and look for two W’s tomorrow.- Marci Potuzko, Sophomore

Below are pictures from the space shuttle launch:

Spring Break- Day One

We left Meadville this morning to begin traveling to Florida for our Spring Break trip. Our flight left Pittsburgh at about 9:30 AM and we were all excited to leave the cold behind. Most of the girls on the team have flown before, but Bessie was really nervous about it. We had to try to distract her during take off and landing, however she did much better than I thought she would. Once we arrived in Orlando everyone was anxious to get outside and feel the warmth that we haven't experienced in Meadville in a very long time. Before even leaving the airport everyone was already down to their shorts and practice T-shirts. We ate lunch at the airport and then packed up the vans to head to practice.

It was so nice to be out on grass and dirt again after having to return to the blue courts following the Virginia Beach/Maryland trip. After practice we drove to the complex to scout some games. We ended up watching a small bit of W&J and then watched most of the Hiram/Hope game. It was good to see these teams down here and get a feel for what they are like, because we play W&J and Hiram in the regular season and will be seeing Hope later this week. Being at the games made us all kind of antsy to get out and play
ourselves.

We arrived at our houses at about 6:30 PM. All the girls are staying in one big house and the coaches stay in another right next door. We have stayed in these houses since my freshman year and I think it is a much better choice than a hotel. We are able to swim in the pools attached to our homes, have a lot of down time and hang out with each other, and eat amazing food prepared by Coach Wardwell's mom, Helen.

After a tiring day of travel and unpacking we are all ready to get some sleep and head out to the fields tomorrow to open up a great week of softball- Liz Burr, Senior

Below is a picture of the team on the way to the Pittsburgh Airport at 6:00 AM:

Va. Wesleyan, Beach Blast Tournament – March 6 & 7, 2009

Thursday, March 5th
We made the nine (or closer to twelve after practice, dinner and bathroom stops) hour drive to Virginia Beach to open up the 2009 regular season at the Beach Blast Tournament, hosted by Virginia Wesleyan.

About five hours into the trip the team stopped at the first softball field they could find to practice.

It was a relief to have the opportunity to practice on grass and dirt after nearly six weeks of practicing inside on the “blue courts” of the Wise Center.

After a tail gate dinner at the local McDonald’s parking lot we hit the road and arrived at our beach front hotel around midnight. We were excited to find out our rooms overlooked the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. After a quick meeting to discuss the itinerary for the following day it was time for lights out in preparation for opening day.

Friday, March 6th – Opening Day
We woke to a sunny, yet very windy day today. A two hour delay allowed the team to take in breakfast and some time to walk the beach and enjoy the sunshine.

Game one would be a tough one for us. Lynchburg, a 2008 College World Series participant and the preseason #8 team in the country, lived up to their billing. The Gators were able to hold them off for a few innings before their bats awoke and took eight runs. With some sporadic hits we were never able to string anything together and took the loss 8-0.

Game two would not be any easier as they faced perennial national powerhouse Salisbury under the lights in the night cap. Though the Gators were able to keep the score within two early on, the Gulls strung together some hits to make the final 11-2. It was certainly a tough way to start the 2009 campaign but a learning experience, none the less.

Below are some pictures from the first day of competition:

Saturday, March 7th
The Gators came out determined to even our record to 2-2 on the year and did just that. The bats which had been quiet the previous day showed up on Saturday.

In game one versus Stevenson, Junior Maggie Bodenlos started the morning off with a bang by hitting a lead off home run to dead center (the first of her career). Senior, Rachel Ryan followed Maggie’s lead by hitting a deep home run to left a few innings later. Sophomore, Amanda Downey held Stevenson to only one run as the Gators unloaded 13 runs to take the victory.

Freshman, Stacey Robertshaw took the mound in her first career start for the Gators in game two versus Polytechnic University. She got all the runs she needed in the first inning as she recorded a shut out for Allegheny. Once again, the bats showed up with stellar performances by Sophomore Sarah Doan, Rachel Ryan, and Maggie Bodenlos. We evened up our record for the tournament with a final score of 7-0.

Tonight we travel to Frederick, MD for a Sunday double header with Hood College.

Sunday, March 8th

After a 2-2 showing at the Beach Blast Tournament in Virginia Beach, the Gators traveled up to Frederick, MD for a double header aganist Hood College.

In game one the Gators fell to Hood College 5-4 in extra innings. The Gators bats stayed alive from the previous day slugging ten hits. Maggie Bodenlos led the Gators offense with 3 hits.

In game two the Gators came back from the loss and earned a 5-1 victory. Rachely Ryan hit her second homerun in as many days, and Bessie Artino went 2-3 with 2 RBI's. Stacey Robertshaw got her second win of the weekend pitching seven innings and only giving up five hits and no earned runs.

The Gators return to Meadville, PA with a weekend of playing under their belts. One more week of practice before heading down to Florida for Spring Break.

Thoughts From Our Leaders- Rachel Ryan

We are all very excited because in less than a week we will be playing ball outside and competing against other teams. This coming weekend we travel to Virginia and Maryland to play six games. We are all pumped because this means we get to see other teams and we get to play in the dirt. It is always interesting the first time we get outside for a game, and is a great opportunity for us because it is our first chance to see how we compare to other teams. It lets us see where we stand on our play, focus, and execution, and it allows us to see what we need to work on before Florida.

We leave Thursday afternoon for a long drive, hoping to leave the snow behind and enter a much warmer state. In the past years, this has usually been true. The drive home, however, usually is depressing because we get a small glimpse of the dirt, and then we are back inside for another week.

Because we have only had one opportunity to be outside--and that was on our turf football field, it will be so wonderful to be breathing fresh air while playing, and having the sun shine on our faces. The transition from inside to outside has many challenges – from the ball bouncing differently, dealing with the sun in our eyes, and the fact the wind can either create or destroy a hit. Since those are all factors that are part of the game, they are things we are all looking forward to, because we love the game and this game is what we live for!!- Rachel Ryan, Senior

Bessie Artino- Player Profile

Name: Bessie Artino

Year: Freshman

Position: C/1st

Uniform Number: 24

Major: Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Minor: Religious Studies

What made you choose Allegheny College: The environment and atmosphere was so welcoming, and this is a great academic school.

Favorite part of Gator Softball: The family we have made, and being able to play college softball.

Favorite class taken at Allegheny: My Freshman Seminar class, Animals in Art and Life. There were only twelve of us in the class. It was so much fun to be able to learn about animals and their impact in our lives. Also, what a great opportunity to talk about my three wonderful Rottweilers!

Favorite place on campus: My favorite place on campus is my dorm, the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity House that was transformed into a residence hall for freshman. Twelve of us girls are so close and we spend a lot of time together.

What activities are you involved with outside of softball: During breaks I work for an animal hospital near my home town. I also volunteer and help coach whenever I can.

Favorite movies/TV shows/books: My favorite TV shows are, Supernatural, The Young and The Restless, One Tree Hill, and General Hospital. I enjoy reading books that have to do with animals and the supernatural/fantasy genre.

Allison Piper- Player Profile

Name: Allison Piper

Year: Freshmen

Position: 2nd base, outfield

Uniform Number: 8

Major: Science

Minor: Spanish

What made you choose Allegheny College: My brother goes here and I wanted to play softball. I loved the campus when I visited; it was small, had a homey feel and is a good distance from home.

Favorite part of Gator Softball: The closeness of the team and the desire to work hard every minute from every player.

Favorite class taken at Allegheny: My freshmen seminar this semester because it is about baseball and the American Dream. It is interesting to learn the struggles throughout the beginning of the sport and how it is perceived by American society today.

Favorite place on campus: Wise Center

What activities are you involved with outside of softball: FCA: Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Favorite movies/TV shows/books: ESPN, Fox Family, The Notebook