April 18 , 2006
SPORTSThunderbird softball gaining momentum before playoffs
Shaking off a rough start to the 2006 season, the MCC softball team has gotten into a good groove as of late and are playing outstanding ball.
The Thunderbirds have moved into second place in the ACCAC’s Division A standings after surpassing Glendale Community College with an overall record of 33-15-1.
And even though the team isn’t in first place right now, the players feel they are strong contenders to go to the national tournament in May according to first baseman Cassandra Clark.
“There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it, we’re going to Nationals,” the sophomore said.
MCC is on track to make the conference playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.
The pitching staff has been the glue of the team and important in 2006.
The ace of the staff has been transfer Amanda Hess, who had complied a 17-7 record and ERA of 1.62 by the start of April. She currently has more than 200 strikeouts for the season.
Joining her on the staff are sophomores Evonne Corona and Anna Walle and Lauren Duda, who is freshman from Virginia.
Besides mowing down batters, Hess also does damage while at the plate. She is the team’s leader in hits, RBIs and homeruns, which she has more than 10 of.
In fact there are several standout players at the plate.
Right-fielder Jennifer Salter has a solid batting average that is over the .400 benchmark.
Salter, who is a freshman from Casa Grande, is confident in the Thunderbird’s abilities and goals for the rest of this season.
“There is no reason that our goal shouldn’t be to win Nationals,” she said, “We have a lot of good leaders to help us as well.”
A couple of the leaders she referred to were freshman catcher Natalie Bejarano, who has been handling the pitching staff and sophomore Rhoe Yancy, who leads off the batting order.
Another hot-hitter of late is Clark. She backed-up her talk about going to Nationals with a recent hot streak in which she went 16 for 22 at the plate.
Currently the Thunderbirds are ranked No. 12 in the NJCAA Division II softball poll after moving up from No. 15.
They are chasing Phoenix College, who has a 41-6 record and have been the No. 1 team in Division II for more than a year now.
Other teams that MCC has to compete with the rest of the year besides GCC and PC are Division I foes Central Arizona College, Pima Community College and Arizona Western College. Central is the No. 1 Division I team in the nation.
The team has three games remaining before the playoffs begin on May 5-6.
Volume 43, Issue 13. Today is
MCC pitcher Amanda Hess winds-up for a pitch against
Eastern Arizona College on April 11. Hess blanked EAC and led MCC to a 2-0
victory.
Shortstop Valerie Villela of MCC prepares to catch the
pickoff throw as she covers second base during an Eastern Arizona College
steal attempt.
photos by Robert Neal