SportsSoftball

Softball reclaims conference crown

Sophomore Amanda Jones is safe after Redlands’ third baseman missed the ball, Saturday at Wheeler Park. The Leopards swept the University of Redlands in a doubleheader with scores of 2-0 and 4-0, after losing to the Bulldogs, 2-0, Friday in Redlands. / photo by Jenna Campbell
Sophomore Amanda Jones is safe after Redlands’ third baseman missed the ball, Saturday at Wheeler Park. The Leopards swept the University of Redlands in a doubleheader with scores of 2-0 and 4-0, after losing to the Bulldogs, 2-0, Friday in Redlands. / photo by Jenna Campbell

by Chrissy Zehrbach
Sports Editor

The University of La Verne re-established itself as a softball powerhouse last weekend, taking the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title with two shutout wins over the University of Redlands, 2-0 and 4-0.

After a second place finish last season, the Leopards reclaimed the top ranking with their fourth SCIAC championship in five years.

“A lot of people didn’t expect a lot out of us,” junior catcher Amber Guerra said. “We surprised a lot of people and that makes it great.”

Head coach Robin Haaker was excited to have guided the Leopards to their seventh title in the program’s history in her first year as head coach.

“There is no better feeling. They believed in each other and believed everybody could do it out there,” Haaker said.

It came down to the wire in the second game of the doubleheader against Redlands Saturday at Wheeler Park.

With the conference championship on the line, ULV took the game, 4-0. The Bulldogs finished conference just one game behind the Leopards, who finished the regular season 27-12 overall, 15-3 in SCIAC.

“It was a do or die situation and we got it done,” Haaker said.

The Leopards pulled out four runs in the game, headlined by a two-run homerun from Guerra. Sophomore Jessica De Giacomo was also strong offensively, hitting 3 for 4 in the contest.

“That was the pitcher nobody hit off yesterday. The fact that we all came through and got around on it shows how bad we all wanted it,” De Giacomo said. “We just didn’t come out and play our game (yesterday), but I knew once we came out strong and hit the ball they wouldn’t beat us again.”

The Leopards took game one of the doubleheader, 2-0, snapping a three-game losing streak that included a 2-0 loss in Redlands Friday, and two losses to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps the weekend prior.

“It was really a wake up call for us,” senior Elaine Martinez said about the first loss to Redlands. “Going into the game we thought we would win.”

Martinez, an outfielder and pitcher, is the teams only graduating senior. Saturday was her last game at Wheeler Park.

“She’s been a steady player,” Haaker said. “She had some big shoes to fill out there and stepped it up huge.”

Along with concluding the SCIAC season as champions, six ULV players were named to the all-conference team. Sophomore Kelley Silagyi was named SCIAC Player of the Year, De Giacomo and freshman Morgan Dobis were awarded first-team honors and Martinez, Guerra and freshman Mary Olson were placed on the second team All-SCIAC.

As conference champions, ULV has secured a spot in the NCAA Division III West Regional Tournament; time, date and location to be announced.

“We’re not done yet,” Martinez said. “Like Robin said, we’re not going to call ourselves champions until we come back from regionals and nationals as champions.”

Chrissy Zehrbach
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Jenna Campbell
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