|
2007 Women's Softball News
Taylor resigns as softball coach
at Rutgers University-Camden
CAMDEN (Aug. 8, 2007) – During his 12 seasons as the head softball coach at Rutgers University-Camden, Carl Taylor established a winning tradition unmatched in the history of the school’s athletic program.
After a dozen years, four straight berths in the NCAA tournament, three New Jersey Athletic Conference titles and one national championship, Taylor has resigned as the Lady Raptors’ coach.
“I felt like I've done everything I can with the program and I'm looking to move on and accomplish some other things,” said Taylor, who compiled a glittering 249-130-2 record, including the only national championship in Rutgers-Camden history when his team won the 2006 NCAA Division III crown.
 Only five teams in the history of Rutgers-Camden have competed in the NCAA tournament. Taylor coached four of those squads, leading his Lady Raptors into the tournament in each of the last four seasons. Over that stretch, Rutgers-Camden compiled an amazing record of 149-39-1. The only other program in school history to reach the NCAA tournament was the 2002-03 women’s basketball team.
Taylor’s team captured three of the last four NJAC titles, winning in 2004, 2006 and 2007. They also won the conference’s regular-season title in 2005 and 2006.
Taylor earned NJAC Coach of the Year honors in 2004 and 2006. Taylor and his staff of assistant coaches Celeste Chinappi, Megan Johnston and Brian Wolverton also were honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association after leading the Scarlet Raptors to the Division III national title in 2006. The Rutgers-Camden staff was named as the Speedline/NFCA Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year, and was honored Friday, Dec. 8, at the 2006 NFCA National Convention in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to those coaching honors, Taylor was named as the Rutgers-Camden Coach of the Year four times (2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006) and was the school’s Co-Coach of the Year in 2007.
During the last three seasons, Taylor’s squad also has produced the only First Team All-American players in program history. Pitcher Michelle Schlichtig won the honor in 2005 and 2006, while right fielder Autumn Millett was a First Team All-American in 2007.
During Taylor’s 11th season coaching the Rutgers-Camden softball program, his team accomplished the greatest athletic achievement in school history. On May 22, 2006, the Lady Raptors edged two-time defending champion St. Thomas (Minn.), 3-2, to capture the NCAA Division III national title. The win capped a 47-5 campaign which saw Rutgers-Camden win both the NJAC regular-season and playoff titles before posting a 7-0 record in the NCAA tournament.
Taylor’s championship team set a program record with a 29-game winning streak while winning 37 of its last 38 games. During the season, Taylor earned his 200th victory with the Lady Raptors as Schlichtig hurled a perfect game in an 11-0 win over New Jersey City University April 25.
Taylor capped his amazing four-year run with one of his finest coaching performances in 2007. Despite the loss of his two-time All-American pitcher and several other key players, Taylor led the Lady Raptors to a 31-15 mark, another NJAC title and a fourth consecutive NCAA berth.
Taylor led his Raptors to the NCAA tournament in 2005, capping a campaign in which Rutgers-Camden went 35-8-1 and won the regular-season NJAC title. They also recorded the short-lived school record for all sports with 26 consecutive wins, peaked at No. 2 in the national poll and finished at No. 11. Those were the highest NCAA rankings for any Rutgers-Camden sport until the 2006 team finished at No. 1.
The 2005 Raptors also produced the first All-American in program history when Schlichtig was named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America First Team, one of only two pitchers in the nation to earn that honor.
After spending the early part of his Rutgers-Camden career rebuilding the softball program, Taylor’s teams posted a phenomenal 234-87-2 mark his last eight seasons.
Rutgers-Camden’s 2005 season came on the heels of a banner 2004 campaign, which earned Taylor honors as the NJAC Softball Coach of the Year. That team produced an old program-record 36-11 mark. It won the program’s first NJAC championship, and qualified for the first NCAA softball tournament in school history. The Lady Raptors advanced to the winner-take-all regional final before losing to host Salisbury University, which went on to finish third in the country.
The Lady Raptors’ banner season not only earned Taylor his NJAC Coach of the Year honor, but produced the program’s first NJAC Softball Player of the Year in Schlichtig. The Lady Raptors placed a program-record six players on the All-NJAC First Team: Schlichtig, Baney, Chinappi, Millett, Stacy Haas and Becky Johnson. They won eight more games than the previous program record, which was set during their 28-11-1 season in 2003.
The Raptors also temporarily produced the school’s best NJAC mark at 12-6. That mark was shattered by the Raptors’ 12-3-1 NJAC run in 2005 and toppled again by the 18-0 national championship team in 2006. The Raptors’ 2004 success was built around the incredible pitching of Schlichtig and Becky Johnson, who combined to lead the nation in team ERA (0.59). The team’s 36-11 record allowed Taylor’s program to improve its record for an unbelievable seventh consecutive year, and set a program record for victories for the fifth straight season.
The 2004 season improved on the banner accomplishments from 2003, when Taylor earned his 100th collegiate coaching victory, helped the program qualify for its first NJAC playoffs berth since it became a four-team event, set short-lived program records for best overall (28-11-1) and NJAC (11-6-1) records, and reached the ECAC South Softball Championship final. By posting a 2-2 mark in the 2003 ECAC South tournament, the Lady Raptors set their old program record for most post-season wins. That mark was quickly shattered in 2004 when Rutgers-Camden posted a 7-3 post-season mark in NJAC and NCAA tournament play, and destroyed by the team’s 11-1 post-season run to the national title.
Taylor’s milestone 100th victory came May 11, 2003 with a 1-0 win over Drew University in the ECAC South Softball Championship semifinals. That win was the 28th of the season for the Lady Raptors, allowing them to break their 2002 school record of 27 victories. The 2003 season allowed Taylor to climb over the .500 level for his career, erasing the hole created in his first four years when he was building the program.
During the 2002 season, Taylor’s Lady Raptors played their first season at Rutgers-Camden Community Park, and saw pitcher Sarah O’Malley lead the nation in ERA, posting a 0.47 mark to top all NCAA Division III hurlers.
In addition to his tenure as the Lady Raptors softball coach, Taylor served as an assistant coach with the Rutgers-Camden women’s basketball program during the 2004-05 season, and served as the head coach of the Raptors’ volleyball team during the fall 2006 season, posting the best record in the program’s seven-year history at 6-17.
Taylor has coached several levels of ASA Travel Softball, producing three ASA Fastpitch New Jersey state champions and two NSA Fastpitch New Jersey state champions. His teams also have earned one Northeast Regional ASA championship and one USSSA Fastpitch national championship.
Taylor also has coached football at Winslow Township High School, and coached high school baseball at Northern Burlington, Cinnaminson and Edgewood. He has been an instructor at several area baseball camps, including the Phillies’ camp, and has participated in numerous clinics. He played South Jersey semi-pro baseball for years.
Taylor played four years of football, baseball and basketball at Maple Shade High School, graduating in 1976. Following two years at Camden County College, where he played baseball, he attended New Mexico Highlands University. He played baseball and football for the Cowboys, earning all-conference honors as a pitcher. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the 1979 amateur draft, but did not sign.
Taylor graduated from New Mexico Highlands in 1982, earning his B.A. in Physical Education and Health. A Physical Education and Health teacher for grades K-12, Taylor works at Winslow Township High School.
Rutgers-Camden’s Millett, Baney
add ECAC Metro softball honors
CAMDEN (July 26, 2007) – Two months after they completed their brilliant collegiate softball careers, Rutgers University-Camden stars Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) and Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) added one last honor for the spring season.
Both players were named to the 2007 ECAC Division III Metro Softball All-Star Team when the ECAC announced its spring sports honors.
Right fielder Millett and catcher Baney finished their four-year careers as the all-time leaders in games played at Rutgers-Camden with 187 and 186, respectively. They also established numerous other records while leading the Lady Raptors to the most successful four-year run in school history for any sport.
During their four seasons at Rutgers-Camden, from 2003-07, the Lady Raptors produced a 149-39-1 record, won three New Jersey Athletic Conference championships and two NJAC regular-season titles. They played in the NCAA tournament in all four seasons, the only NCAA tournament berths in the history of Rutgers-Camden’s softball program, and captured the 2006 NCAA Division III national title. Only one other Rutgers-Camden team, the 2003 women’s basketball squad, has reached the NCAA Division III tournament in school history.
The ECAC honor closed a brilliant senior season for both senior captains. Millett was named to the 2007 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-America First Team, captured All-NJAC First Team recognition and added Louisville Slugger/NFCA East Region First Team honors. She was a three-time NJAC Player of the Week (March 19, April 16 and May 14) and added ECAC Division III Metro Player of the Week honors March 20 and April 17. She also was named the school’s Raptor of the Week March 12 and May 14.
Baney added season honors on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA East Region First Team and the NJAC Second Team.
Millett produced the finest offensive season in school history this spring, hitting .464 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs, 39 runs, 65 hits, 117 total bases, 50 RBIs, 17 walks, a .525 on-base percentage and an amazing .836 slugging percentage. Along the way she set single-season program records for hits, RBIs, home runs and total bases. Four of her home runs were grand slams. She produced hitting streaks of 15 and 11 games and hit in 37 of her 42 starts, including 30 of 32 before being slowed by a late-season leg injury which forced her to play injured the last 14 games of the year.
Despite her injury, Millett still managed to produce the sixth-highest single-season batting average in program history. At the time of her injury, she was hitting .515, which was the second-best season mark in program history.
In the final NCAA Division III national statistics, Millett ranked 30th in batting average, 26th in home runs per game (0.28), 17th in slugging percentage and 39th in RBIs per game (1.09).
Millett’s senior season included a 4-for-4 game against Northwestern College (Game 2, March 16) in which she ripped two home runs and had 10 total bases, both marks tying the program’s single-game record. She had seven RBIs in that game, one shy of the single-game record. She also had a pair of six-RBI games during the season, which included grand slams against Webster (March 9) and Rutgers-Newark (Game 1, April 28).
Millett’s monster season allowed her to finish her sterling four-year career with program records for games (187), at bats (549), hits (194), runs (151), total bases (345), RBIs (146), home runs (36) and walks (82). She finished fourth in doubles (33) and tied for fifth in stolen bases (30). She also compiled a .353 batting average, a .442 on-base percentage and a .628 slugging percentage for her career.
Millett was an All-NJAC First Team player in 2004, 2006 and 2007. She was named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament team and the All-ECAC Division III Metro squad in 2006.
Baney completed her brilliant senior season hitting .392 with 49 hits, nine doubles, 17 RBIs, 11 runs, 18 walks, a .464 slugging percentage and a .466 on-base percentage. She finished second on the team with 192 putouts and compiled a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage for the second consecutive season. Despite her role as the Raptors’ catcher, with so many total chances, she finished her career with an amazing streak of 101 consecutive errorless games over two-plus seasons. Her last collegiate error came against William Paterson University in the NJAC playoffs on May 6, 2005.
Among NJAC leaders in 2007, she finished fifth in on-base percentage, sixth in batting average, tied for sixth in walks, and tied for eighth in hits. She also tied for second with two sacrifice flies.
In addition to Baney’s 2007 honors, she was named All-NJAC First Team in 2004, 2005 and 2006. She captured NFCA East Region First Team and ECAC Metro all-star honors in 2005, when she also won the NJAC Player of the Week twice (April 4 and April 25) and was named the ECAC Metro Player of the Week on April 26.
Baney finished her career hitting .334 with a .413 slugging percentage and a .390 on-base percentage. Her career fielding percentage of .99399 is by far the best mark for any four-year player in program history and trails only the one-year career mark of .99418 by Janine Kelley in 2003. Baney had a school career record of 1,498 total chances, while Kelley had 172 chances in her one season.
Baney also holds the program career mark with 1,370 putouts and is tied for second in double plays (12). Offensively, she’s the program career leader with six sacrifice flies. She’s second in games (186), at bats (545) and hits (182), third in doubles (35) and total bases (225), tied for third in sacrifices (19), fourth in RBIs (88) and fifth in hit by pitches (7).
Baney’s single-season records include the top two seasons in program history for total chances with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage (418 chances in 2006 and 225 in 2007). Before the 2007 season, when Kathleen Dreitlein set a program mark with 403 putouts, Baney had the top three putout totals in school history: 398 (2006), 391 (2005) and 389 (2004). Baney was hit by five pitches in 2006, tying for second on the single-season charts, one behind Alaina Giles’ 2006 record. Her total of three sacrifice flies in 2004 also is tied for second, one behind Megan Farrell’s 2006 single-season mark.
Baney’s career-high 13-game hitting streak in 2004 is tied for the fifth-longest string in program history. Among single-season records she also is tied for first in games played (50 in 2006), is seventh in at bats (147 in 2006), tied for seventh in hits (49 in 2007) and is tied for 12th in doubles (10 in both 2005 and 2006).
Baney collected 17 putouts twice during the 2004 season (March 19 in the opener against Ripon and April 8 against Swarthmore), tying for fifth on the program’s single-game putout list. Her four walks (May 6, 2005 against William Paterson) and six at bats (also against Paterson in the second game May 7, 2005) are tied for the program’s single-game records.
Rutgers-Camden’s Millett earns
NFCA All-America First Team
CAMDEN (May 17, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) capped her banner career in style.
Millett was named to the 2007 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-America First Team Thursday night. The All-America team was announced at the pre-tournament banquet for the 2007 NCAA Division III Softball Championships in Salem, Virginia.
Millett, who holds numerous career and single-season records at Rutgers-Camden, becomes the Lady Raptors’ third First Team All-American in three years. Pitcher Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) was a two-time All-American in 2005 and 2006.
Millett produced the finest offensive season in school history this spring, hitting .464 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs, 39 runs, 65 hits, 117 total bases, 50 RBIs, 17 walks, a .525 on-base percentage and an amazing .836 slugging percentage. Along the way she set single-season program records for hits, RBIs, home runs and total bases. Four of her home runs were grand slams. She produced hitting streaks of 15 and 11 games and hit in 37 of her 42 starts, including 30 of 32 before being slowed by a late-season leg injury which forced her to play injured the last 14 games of the year.
Despite her injury, Millett still managed to produce the sixth-highest single-season batting average in program history. At the time of her injury, she was hitting .515, which was the second-best season mark in program history.
In the latest NCAA Division III national statistics, through games of May 6, Millett ranked 44th in batting average, 25th in home runs per game, 19th in slugging percentage and 40th in RBIs per game.
Millett’s senior season included a 4-for-4 game against Northwestern College (Game 2, March 16) in which she ripped two home runs and had 10 total bases, both marks tying the program’s single-game record. She had seven RBIs in that game, one shy of the single-game record. She also had a pair of six-RBI games during the season, which included grand slams against Webster (March 9) and Rutgers-Newark (Game 1, April 28).
On the way to her All-America honor, the senior captain captured All-NJAC First Team and Louisville Slugger/NFCA East Region First Team honors. She was a three-time NJAC Player of the Week (March 19, April 16 and May 14) and added ECAC Division III Metro Player of the Week honors March 20 and April 17. She also was named the school’s Raptor of the Week March 12 and May 14.
Millett’s monster season allowed her to finish her sterling four-year career with program records for games (187), at bats (549), hits (194), runs (151), total bases (345), RBIs (146), home runs (36) and walks (82). She finished fourth in doubles (33) and tied for fifth in stolen bases (30). She also compiled a .353 batting average, a .442 on-base percentage and a .628 slugging percentage for her career.
During Millett’s four years at Rutgers-Camden, the Lady Raptors produced a 149-39-1 record, won three NJAC championships and two New Jersey Athletic Conference regular-season titles, and captured the 2006 NCAA Division III national title. They played in the NCAA tournament in all four seasons, the only NCAA tournament berths in the history of Rutgers-Camden’s softball program. Only one other Rutgers-Camden team, the 2003 women’s basketball squad, has reached the NCAA Division III tournament.
Millett was an All-NJAC First Team player in 2004, 2006 and 2007. She was named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament team and the All-ECAC Division III Metro squad in 2006.
During her senior year, Millett set single-season program records for hits (65), RBIs (50), home runs (13) and total bases (117), while leading the team in batting (.464), slugging (.836) and on-base percentage (.525). She finished her career with all-time Rutgers-Camden records for games (187), at bats (549), hits (194), runs (151), total bases (345), RBIs (146), home runs (36) and walks (82).
The slugging outfielder hit .316 during her junior year in 2006, while tying for the team lead with a school-record 50 games played. She also set a single-season program record of 47 runs scored, while her 28 walks were two shy of the club mark. She led the team in both categories, tied for the team lead with eight home runs and finished second with 38 RBIs, 85 total bases and six stolen bases. Her 0.56 walks per game placed her 50th in the country among all NCAA Division III leaders.
One of the four captains on the Lady Raptors’ 2006 championship squad, Millett had her first big game of the year against the two-time defending national champion St. Thomas, going 3-for-3 with one RBI in a 4-3 Raptor loss March 17. Ironically, two months later, the Raptors posted back-to-back wins over St. Thomas to win the national title.
Millett earned the school’s Raptor of the Week award on April 24, 2006 after going 6-for-12 (.500) with six runs, nine RBIs and three home runs.
During her sophomore season in 2005, Millett slugged seven home runs, hit .326, collected a team-leading 35 RBIs and tied for the team lead with 11 stolen bases. She also finished second on the Lady Raptors with 15 walks and a .543 slugging percentage, and was third with 29 runs and 70 total bases. She had six at bats in the 15-inning May 7, 2005 marathon against Paterson to tie the program’s single-game record.
Millett also continued her outstanding defensive play, collecting three assists and notching one double play from the outfield, despite the fact that fewer teams took liberties with her arm after she notched 12 outfield assists as a freshman.
Millett’s sophomore season helped her earn honors on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA East Region Second Team. She earned a pair of NJAC Player of the Week awards (March 14 and May 9, 2005) and was named the ECAC Metro Player of the Week on May 10.
Millett also had six at bats in the 15-inning May 7, 2005 marathon against Paterson to tie the program’s single-game record.
Millett’s sophomore season followed a huge freshman year in 2004, when she clubbed eight home runs, hit .305, collected 23 RBIs, and tied the old Rutgers-Camden single-season record with 36 runs scored. She added 22 walks, a .411 on-base percentage, two triples and tied for the team lead with 47 games played on her way to earning First Team All-NJAC and First Team ECAC Metro honors.
Millett finished second on the team with a .570 slugging percentage, 10 stolen bases and her eight home runs, which at the time was the second-highest single-season total in club history. She also played outstanding defensive ball in right field, collecting 12 assists, including one double play. She had three assists and two putouts against Ursinus College (Game Two, April 15, 2004), while adding a solo home run, a walk and a sacrifice. She also had a pair of assists in a victory over Montclair State in the NJAC Championships (April 30).
Millett earned a pair of NJAC Rookie of the Week honors (March 29 and May 10) and a berth on the NCAA Regional all-tournament team as a freshman. Millett was named Rutgers-Camden’s Raptor of the Week on April 5.
NFCA Div. III All-America teams
Millett’s Rutgers-Camden statistics
G AB R H 2B 3B HR SB/A HBP BB SO TB SLG S SF OBP RBI BA
2004 47 128 36 39 6 2 8 10/12 1 22 34 73 .570 2 0 .411 23 .305
2005 44 129 29 42 5 1 7 11/15 3 15 20 70 .543 3 2 .403 35 .326
2006 50 152 47 48 9 2 8 6/8 3 28 23 85 .559 5 1 .429 38 .316
2007 46 140 39 65 13 0 13 3/3 1 17 19 117 .836 0 0 .525 50 .464
Career 187 549 151 194 33 5 36 30/38 8 82 96 345 .628 10 3 .442 146 .353
Rutgers-Camden’s Millett nabs
third NJAC Player of the Week honor
CAMDEN (May 14, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) has been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Week for the third time this season.
Millett, who completed her stellar four-year Rutgers-Camden career on Friday in the NCAA Fayetteville Regionals, completed her NJAC Player of the Week hat trick after hitting .500 (4-for-8) with one RBI in her final two games last week. Included in those games was a 3-for-4 day against Christopher Newport University in the Raptors’ first NCAA tournament game May 10.
Millett also earned NJAC Player of the Week honors on March 19 and April 16, and then added ECAC Division III Metro Player of the Week honors each week. She also was named the school’s Raptor of the Week March 12 and May 14.
Millett completed perhaps the greatest offensive season in program history, hitting .464 with a .836 slugging percentage, a .525 on-base percentage, 13 doubles, 39 runs and 17 walks.
Millett set single-season records with her 65 hits, 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and 117 total bases. She finished her brilliant career with club records for games (187), at bats (549), hits (194), runs (151), total bases (345), RBIs (146), home runs (36) and walks (82).
Those statistics helped Millett capture All-NJAC First Team honors this season. She added a berth on the 2007 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-East Region Team.
Millett also was an All-NJAC First Team player in 2004 and 2006. She was named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament team and the All-ECAC Div. III Metro squad in 2006 on the way to helping Rutgers-Camden win the Division III national title.
Rutgers-Camden places trio
on East Region softball team
CAMDEN (May 11, 2007) – Three members of the Rutgers University-Camden softball team have been named to the 2007 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-East Region Team.
Senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) and senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) were each named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA East Region First Team. Junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) earned honors on the East Region Second Team.
The three players helped Rutgers-Camden post a 31-15 record, earn its third New Jersey Athletic Conference title in four years and reach its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament.
Millett capped her record-setting career with an amazing senior season, setting single-season program records for hits (65), RBIs (50), home runs (13) and total bases (117), while leading the team in batting (.464), slugging (.836) and on-base percentage (.525). She finished her career with all-time Rutgers-Camden records for games (187), at bats (549), hits (194), runs (151), total bases (345), RBIs (146), home runs (36) and walks (82).
Millett was an All-New Jersey Athletic Conference First Team player in 2004, 2006 and 2007. She was named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament team and the All-ECAC Div. III Metro squad in 2006 on the way to helping Rutgers-Camden win the Division III national title.
Millett finished her career with a .363 batting average, a .628 slugging percentage and a .442 on-base percentage.
Baney hit .392 in her senior season with 11 runs, nine doubles, 17 RBIs and 18 walks. She also compiled a 1.000 fielding percentage for the second consecutive year to give her the top two seasons in program history with the most total chances and a perfect fielding percentage. She had 225 chances this season and 418 in 2006.
Baney finished her career with program records of 1,370 putouts and six sacrifice flies. She also completed her stellar four-year career with a .334 batting average, 47 walks, 35 doubles (third on the career charts), 186 games (second, one behind Millett’s record) and 182 hits (second).
Baney also produced a .994 career fielding percentage, the top career mark among any Lady Raptor playing more than one season in her Rutgers-Camden career. (Her average of .99399 is slightly behind the one-year career mark of .994186 by Janine Kelly in 1994. Baney had 1498 total chances, far more than Kelly’s 172).
During her four years at Rutgers-Camden, Baney earned All-NJAC First Team honors in 2004, 2005 and 2006. She was All-NJAC Second Team this season. Baney was a member of the NFCA East Region First Team and the ECAC Div. III Metro squad in 2005.
Dreitlein had another banner season for the Lady Raptors, hitting .346 with 30 runs, 10 doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBIs, a .574 slugging percentage and a .419 on-base percentage. She set a single-season club record with 403 putouts, breaking Baney’s mark of 398 from 2006, and a single-season mark of 10 double plays. She hiked her career program record to 19 double plays and became only the second player in program history to pass 1,000 career putouts. With 1,007 putouts, she trails only Baney’s program record.
Dreitlein, who owns a .310 career batting average, earned a berth on the NFCA East Region First Team in 2006, when she also was an All-NJAC First Team player and was named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team. This season she was a member of the All-NJAC Second Team.
Marietta walks away with 3-2 win
to eliminate Rutgers-Camden at NCAAs
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (May 11, 2007) – Marietta College freshman pinch-hitter Maggie Daubenmire (Thornville, OH/Lakewood) worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to force home the winning run as the second-seeded Pioneers eliminated third-seeded Rutgers University-Camden, 3-2, in the losers’ bracket of the NCAA Fayetteville (NC) Softball Regionals here Friday.
Rutgers-Camden, which entered the NCAA Regionals as the New Jersey Athletic Conference champion and the defending Division III national champion, closes its season at 31-15.
Marietta stays alive in the double-elimination regional and advances to Saturday’s 10 a.m. game. The Pioneers, 33-11, will play top-ranked Methodist in another losers’ bracket game. The Monarchs lost a 2-1 winners’ bracket game against Emory University.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Pioneers’ sophomore second baseman Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire, OH/Bellaire) lined a leadoff single up the middle and was sacrificed to second by sophomore third baseman Christina DeMoss (Bellville, OH/Clear Fork). Senior catcher Jesse Hutchison (Reynoldsburg, OH/Reynoldsburg) coaxed a walk off of Lady Raptor senior hurler Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) and the Pioneers loaded the bases on a bloop single to center by sophomore designated player Erin Faulkner (Wheelersburg, OH/Wheelersburg). Daubenmire followed with her game-winning walk in the 1:55 contest which was played in 90 degree heat.
Farrell and Marietta senior hurler Kristen Quintana (Denver, CO/Littleton) both hurled complete games, with Quintana scattering seven hits and one walk over eight innings, while allowing two earned runs. She struck out nine to raise her record to 22-8. Farrell worked 7.1 innings, allowing 11 hits, three earned runs and four walks. She struck out five to end her senior season at 13-7.
Both teams scored in the second inning, with the visiting Raptors plating a run following a leadoff single by Farrell. She scored when freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) doubled down the left field line.
Marietta bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. DeMoss ripped a one-out double and pinch-runner Courtney Reid (Canton, OH/McKinley) scored one out later on a double by Faulkner. Faulkner scored when junior right fielder Brandy Jacob (Wellington, OH/Keystone) reached for an 0-2 pitch and poked an opposite-field double down the right field line for an RBI double.
Rutgers-Camden tied the game in the sixth after junior designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) dropped down a perfect bunt for a leadoff single. Freshman Kate Braun (Audubon, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) ran for Parker and scored from first on a double to left by Farrell.
For the game, Farrell and senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) each ripped two hits, with Baney collecting a pair of doubles.
Marietta received a 3-for-3 game from senior shortstop Jenny Carroll (Lisbon, OH/Beaver Local), while Faulkner went 3-for-4. Jacob added a pair of hits.
#4 Salisbury 2, #8 LaGrange College 0
Salisbury (37-8) scored two unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning on a two-out, two-run double by winning pitcher Stacy Davis ( Westminster, MD/Westminster). That was enough to pin another tough loss on LaGrange sophomore Amanda Daniel (Yatesville, GA/Upson-Lee), who also lost a first-day 1-0 game against top-ranked Methodist.
#5 Emory 2, #1 Methodist 1
The Eagles scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning after the first two batters reached on shortstop errors. Emory (30-6) scored the tying run on a single by sophomore catcher Rachel Blume (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul W. Bryant) and plated what proved to be the winning run on a sacrifice fly by freshman designated player Caitlin Fitzgerald (Warren, NJ/The Pingry School).
#7 Lynchburg 6, #6 Christopher Newport 3
Sophomore first baseman Tara Campbell (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County) hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie and spark the Hornets to the win. Campbell also had a first-inning RBI on a fielder’s choice for Lynchburg (35-11).
RAPTOR NOTES: The Scarlet Raptors have compiled a 13-6 record in four NCAA tournaments over the last four years…Head Coach Carl Taylor closed his 12th season at Rutgers-Camden with a 249-130-2 career record…Senior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) finished her career with a program-record 250 assists, one more than the old mark of 249 by Michelle Schlichtig (2004-06)…Junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston), had five putouts in the final game to break Baney’s single-season putout mark of 398 set last year. Dreitlein, who entered the game tied with Baney’s record, hiked the mark to 403…With a pair of double plays, Dreitlein extended her season and career double play records to 10 and 19, respectively…Baney finished her career with program records of 1,370 putouts and six sacrifice flies…Center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) finished her sophomore season with 99 career hits…Senior second baseman Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) set a single-season program record this year with 99 assists…Senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) completed one of the greatest single seasons in program history, hitting .464 with an .836 slugging percentage, a .525 on-base percentage, 13 doubles, 39 runs and 17 walks. She set single-season records with her 65 hits, 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and 117 total bases…Millett finished her brilliant career with club records for games (187, one more than Baney), at bats (549), hits (194), runs (151), total bases (345), RBIs (146), home runs (36) and walks (82).
2007 NCAA FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, REGIONAL
Thurs. 10 Game 1: #1 Methodist University 1, # 8 LaGrange College 0
Game 2: #5 Emory 5, #4 Salisbury 4 (9 innings)
Game 3: # 6 Christopher Newport 10, #3 Rutgers-Camden 3
Game 4: #7 Lynchburg 12, #2 Marietta 1
Fri. 11 Game 5: #4 Salisbury 2, #8 LaGrange 0
Game 6: #2 Marietta 3, #3 Rutgers-Camden 2 (8 innings)
Game 7: #5 Emory (29-6) 2, #1 Methodist 1
Game 8: #7 Lynchburg 6, #6 Christopher Newport 3
Sat. 12 Game 9: #2 Marietta (33-11) vs. #1 Methodist (33-9) 10 a.m.
Game 10: #4 Salisbury (37-8) vs. #6 Christopher Newport (34-9) 12 p.m.
Game 11: #5 Emory (30-6) vs. #7 Lynchburg (35-11) 2 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 4 p.m.
Sun. 13 Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 1 12 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13 2 p.m.
Mon. 14 Game 15: (if necessary) Same teams as Game 14 10 a.m.
Big sixth inning lifts Christopher Newport
to 10-3 NCAA win over Rutgers-Camden
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (May 10, 2007) – The Christopher Newport University softball team exploded for eight runs on six hits in the top of the sixth inning, overcoming a one-run deficit, and went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 10-3, in the opening game of the NCAA Division III Fayetteville Regional here Thursday.
The loss drops third-seeded Rutgers-Camden (31-14) into the losers’ bracket, breaking the Raptors’ nine-game winning streak. They will play Friday at noon against No. 2 Marietta, which lost to No. 7 Lynchburg, 12-1.
In other first-day action, top-seeded host Methodist University edged No. 8 LaGrange (GA) College, 1-0, and No. 5 Emory outlasted No. 4 Salisbury, 5-4, in nine innings.
The Lady Captains sent 13 batters to the plate in the sixth inning, which started with an infield single by freshman first baseman Kristin Nickloy (Woodbridge, VA/Hylton) and ended on a single from freshman left fielder Jamie Jansen (Manassas, VA/Osbourn), which scored one run and saw a second runner thrown out at the plate.
The biggest hit of the frame was a two-run single by Christopher Newport junior catcher Margit Severin (Reston, VA/South Lakes).
Severin and Nickloy each went 3-for-3 to pace the Lady Captains’ 14-hit attack against a pair of Lady Raptors pitchers. Freshman designated player Lauren Plevich (Chesterfield, VA/Manchester) and freshman shortstop Mary Kennedy (Midlothian, VA/Midlothian) each had two hits apiece for Christopher Newport, which improves to 34-8.
The Lady Captains scored a run in the top of the first inning on three hits, including a ground single past second base by Plevich. The hit by Plevich plated Kennedy, who had reached on a leadoff bunt, stolen second and advanced on a ground out.
Rutgers-Camden bounced back in the bottom of the third, plating two runs to grab a 2-1 lead. Senior third baseman Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) sparked the frame with a leadoff walk. Sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) and senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) followed with singles, with Millett’s hit scoring Giles. Senior pitcher Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) plated Van Cleef with a single.
The Lady Captains tied the game in the fourth, sparked by back-to-back singles from Nickloy and junior right fielder Becky Bond (Springfield, VA/West Springfield). After a sacrifice advanced the runners, the tying run scored on a ground out by freshman left fielder Jamie Jansen (Manassas, VA/Osbourn).
Rutgers-Camden regained the lead at 3-2 when senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, extending her career program mark to six sacrifice flies. She delivered Giles, who had walked to open the inning.
Giles collected one assist on the day to set a new Rutgers-Camden career record with 250 assists. She broke the mark of 249 set by Michelle Schlichtig (2004-06).
Junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston), meanwhile, had 11 putouts to tie the single-season program record of 398 set last season by Baney. She also raised her career putout mark to 1,002, joining Baney as the only players in Rutgers-Camden program history to compile over 1,000 career putouts. Baney holds the career record, currently at 1,363.
#1 Methodist University 1, #8 LaGrange College 0
Sophomore pitcher Lesley Hewitt (Garner, NC/West Johnson) hurled a five-hit shutout, walking none and striking out four, to lead the top-seeded Monarchs (33-8) over #8 LaGrange (GA) College (26-19). The game’s only run was a sixth-inning home run by senior left fielder Kristen Kennedy (Greensboro, NC/Ragsdale). Sophomore shortstop Sara Poling (Rocky Point, NC/Heide Trask) had two of the six Methodist hits.
#5 Emory University 5, #4 Salisbury University 4 (9 innings)
After losing late-game leads of 2-1 and 4-2 on outfield errors, Emory pushed across the tie-breaking run in the top of the ninth inning on a pair of singles and an infield error. Sophomore first baseman Kim Bandy (Duluth, GA/Duluth) had three hits for Emory (29-6).
#7 Lynchburg 12, #2 Marietta 1
The Hornets ripped 15 hits, including a 4-for-5 day by sophomore leadoff hitter Brittany Allsop (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law), their center fielder. Allsop scored four runs and drove home two as Lynchburg raced to a 5-0 lead after two innings en route to its win.
NOTES: The Scarlet Raptors are now 13-5 in four NCAA tournaments over the last four years…Head Coach Carl Taylor owns a 249-129-2 record in his 12th season…Senior second baseman Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) collected one assist to raise her single-season record to 99…Van Cleef’s third-inning single was her 99th career hit…Millett’s RBI in the third inning raised her own program records to 50 this season and 146 for her career.
2007 NCAA FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, REGIONAL
Thurs. 10 Game 1: #1 Methodist University 1, # 8 LaGrange College 0
Game 2: #5 Emory 5, #4 Salisbury 4 (9 innings)
Game 3: # 6 Christopher Newport 10, #3 Rutgers-Camden 3
Game 4: #7 Lynchburg 12, #2 Marietta 1
Fri. 11 Game 5: #8 LaGrange (GA) College (26-19) vs. #4 Salisbury (36-8) 10 a.m.
Game 6: #3 Rutgers-Camden (31-14) vs. #2 Marietta (32-11) 12 p.m.
Game 7: #1 Methodist (33-8) vs. #5 Emory (29-6) 2 p.m.
Game 8: #6 Christopher Newport (34-8) vs. Lynchburg (34-11) 4 p.m.
Sat. 12 Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7 10 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8 12 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 2 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 4 p.m.
Sun. 13 Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 1 12 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13 2 p.m.
Mon. 14 Game 15: (if necessary) Same teams as Game 14 10 a.m.
Rutgers-Camden’s Farrell, Skroski
capture weekly NJAC softball honors
CAMDEN (May 8, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden senior pitcher Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) and freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) each captured weekly honors from the New Jersey Athletic Conference today after the Lady Raptors won their third NJAC title in four years on Sunday.
Farrell was named the NJAC Pitcher of the Week, while Skroski earned her second honor of the season as the NJAC Rookie of the Week Farrell also added honors as the ECAC Metro Division III Pitcher of the Week.
Farrell turned in a phenomenal performance at the NJAC Softball Championship, posting a 4-0 record and a 0.75 ERA while pitching all 28 innings for Rutgers-Camden. She helped the team sweep through the tournament with a pair of wins over Ramapo College, sandwiched between victories against William Paterson University and Rowan University. She hurled a two-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over Ramapo May 5, and allowed only one earned run in her other three wins. Overall, she allowed 17 hits, three earned runs and four walks, while striking out 17.
Farrell also led the Raptors with a .556 batting average, a .714 on-base percentage, 20 assists and five RBIs during the NJAC playoffs. She tied for the team lead with two doubles and two runs, and posted a 1.000 fielding percentage (20 assists, one putout).
Skroski, meanwhile, hit .364 with two runs and two RBIs. She had a .545 slugging percentage and a .385 on-base percentage in the NJAC tournament. She had her biggest game in the 4-0 shutout over Ramapo, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs.
Skroski also won the NJAC Rookie of the Week honor on March 19.
The Lady Raptors are 31-13 heading into the NCAA Division III Softball Championship, where they will be the third seed in the Fayetteville, North Carolina, regional. Rutgers-Camden plays No. 6 seed Christopher Newport at 4 p.m. Thursday in an opening-round game as it attempts to defend its 2006 Division III national title.
In addition to the two NJAC honors that Skroski has earned this season and the one Farrell captured today, Rutgers-Camden has received three other conference honors. Sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) was named the NJAC Player of the Week on March 5. Senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) captured that honor on both March 19 and April 16, and then added ECAC Metro Division III Player of the Week honors each week.
For the season, Farrell owns a 13-5 record and a 2.06 ERA in 115.2 innings. She also is hitting .318 with seven doubles, two home runs, 25 runs scored and 20 RBIs.
Skroski’s rookie season has produced a .328 batting average, 24 runs, 12 doubles, six home runs and 26 RBIs.
Rutgers-Camden set to travel
for NCAA softball tournament
CAMDEN (May 7, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team is ready to hit the road as it begins the defense of its 2006 NCAA Division III national championship.
The Lady Raptors, 31-13, earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament Sunday by capturing their third New Jersey Athletic Conference title in four years. Rutgers-Camden has been tabbed as the third seed in the NCAA regional in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Raptors will face No. 6 seed Christopher Newport (33-8) Thursday at 2 p.m.
The Scarlet Raptors will be playing in their fourth straight NCAA Tournament. They went 7-0 last season in their run to the national title, and are 13-4 in NCAA play over the last three years. They were the regional runnerup in both 2004 and 2005.
Rutgers-Camden swept through the NJAC tournament over the weekend, and enters the NCAA regionals with nine straight wins. The Raptors received a stellar effort from senior pitcher Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) in their conference tournament. Farrell went 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA while pitching all 28 innings for Rutgers-Camden. She also hit .a team-high .556 and led the Raptors in the NJAC playoffs with five RBIs.
Rutgers-Camden’s offense has been paced all season long by First Team All-NJAC star Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional). The senior right fielder is hitting .462 with 39 runs, 13 doubles and single-season program records of 61 hits, 13 home runs, 49 RBIs and 113 total bases. She also holds the program career records for games (185), at bats (541), hits (190), runs (151), total bases (341), RBIs (145), home runs (36) and walks (82).
Senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) hit .395 for the season, including .500 (6-for-12) in the NJAC playoffs. She is the program’s career record-holder with 1,358 putouts and five sacrifice flies, and is second only to Millett in career games (184), at bats (539) and hits (180).
Heading into the NCAA tournament, the Lady Raptors are within several milestones. Head Coach Carl Taylor, in his 12th season, is one victory shy of his 250th win. He owns a 249-128-2 mark heading into the tournament.
Senior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) has tied the program career record of 249 assists, set by Michelle Schlichtig (2004-06), so her next assist will establish a new Rutgers-Camden record. Giles also is two sacrifices away from the career mark of 25, held by Celeste Chinappi (2002-05).
Junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) is hitting .359 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs. She also has 387 putouts on the season, only 11 shy of the single-season record Baney set last year. Dreitlein already owns single-season and career marks for double plays with eight (this year) and 17, respectively, and she is nine putouts shy of joining Baney as the only players in program history to reach 1,000 career putouts.
Senior second baseman Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson), meanwhile, has set a single-season assist record with 98, needing only two more to reach the century mark.
Christopher Newport posted a 33-8 record, including a 12-1 mark in the USA South under Head Coach Keith Parr, who earned the conference’s Coach of the Year honors. The Lady Captains, who won the regular-season title in their conference, are led by USA South Pitcher of the Year Janet Fairchild (Ashburn, VA/Stone Bridge), a junior who posted a 14-1 record and a 1.51 ERA in 97.1 innings. She allowed 76 hits and 28 walks, while striking out 60, and held opponents to a .205 batting average.
Christopher Newport also featured a trio of USA South First Team players in junior catcher Margit Severin (Reston, VA/South Lakes), junior outfielder Becky Bond (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) and freshman designated player/catcher Lauren Pleveich (Chesterfield, VA/Manchester).
Severin led the team with a .430 batting average, 16 doubles and 42 RBIs, while adding two triples, three home runs and 22 runs. She also led the team with her .669 slugging percentage and .510 on-base percentage.
Pleveich hit .372 with 17 runs, five doubles, 33 RBIs and a team-high five home runs, while Bond hit .321 with five doubles, two triples and 16 RBIs.
Another offensive force is freshman shortstop Mary Kennedy (Midlothian, VA/Midlothian), who earned USA South Honorable Mention after hitting .429 with a 24-game hitting streak.
Christopher Newport is playing in its fifth NCAA Tournament and its first since the 2001 season.
Rutgers-Camden and Christopher Newport have played only one common opponent this season, and that was powerful Methodist University, which is currently ranked No. 23 nationally and is the top seed and host of the Fayetteville Regional. The Lady Captains split with Methodist during the USA South regular season, posting a 4-3 win and an 8-2 loss on February 27, then lost to Methodist during the conference playoffs, 9-5, April 14.
Rutgers-Camden lost a pair of early-season games against Methodist, dropping an 8-0 six-inning decision March 2 at the Atlantic vs. East Challenge and losing 5-1 on March 10 in the NFCA Div. III Leadoff Classic.
NCAA Fayetteville Regional bracket
Rutgers-Camden repeats
as NJAC softball champions
LITTLE FALLS (May 6, 2007) – During its run of excellence in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the Rutgers-Camden softball team had posted numerous accomplishments, but there was one thing the Lady Raptors hadn’t achieved.
Until Sunday.
For the first time in program history, the Lady Raptors swept through the NJAC Softball Championship as they successfully defended their conference title with a 4-1 victory over Rowan University. The victory gave Rutgers-Camden its third NJAC championship in four years, a span which also saw them win the title in 2004 and 2006, and finish as the conference runnerup in 2005.
Despite that incredible run, Rutgers-Camden had to play a winner-take-all game on the way to its previous two NJAC titles, even with last season’s team which went on to capture the NCAA Division III crown. The 2007 Lady Raptors, however, completed their four-game sweep through the NJAC’s as senior pitcher Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) tossed a three-hitter. She allowed only one earned run and two walks, while striking out five to raise her record to 13-5.
During the Raptors’ four NJAC playoff games, Farrell went 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA while hurling all 28 innings.
The conference title gives Rutgers-Camden the NJAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, where it will try to defend its 2006 national title. The Lady Raptors will play Thursday at 2 p.m. in the NCAA regional in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They will be the third seed in the regional and will face No. 6 Christopher Newport (33-8).
Rutgers-Camden scored all the runs it needed in the second inning when Farrell reached on an infield single with one out. One out later, junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) ripped an opposite-field shot to right-center for her seventh home run of the season.
The Lady Raptors added another run in the third inning after sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) reached on an infield single, her 98th career hit. She advanced to second on a single by senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) and scored on a two-out double to right by Farrell.
Rowan broke Farrell’s bid for her second shutout in two days with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Senior left fielder Stacy Haas (Florence, NJ/Florence) hit her first home run of the season to cut the gap to 3-1. Farrell, however, hurled shutout ball the rest of the way, allowing only a single and a double by Rowan junior third baseman Kristin Wallace (Glassboro, NJ/Washington Township).
Rutgers-Camden, however, got that run back in the top of the seventh when Van Cleef and senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) reached on back-to-back walks. Baney dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Van Cleef scored on a sacrifice fly by junior designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken).
Farrell and Baney each went 2-for-3 for the Lady Raptors, while Van Cleef scored twice and Dreitlein had two RBIs.
Rutgers-Camden also produced another milestone as senior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) notched two assists to tie the program career record of 249 set by Michelle Schlichtig from 2004-06.
2007 NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Tues. 1 NJAC playoffs First Round (at higher seed)
Game 1: #1 Montclair State 2, #6 Rowan 1 (8 innings)
Game 2: #2 Ramapo 3, #5 Richard Stockton 2
Game 3: #3 Rutgers-Camden 4, #4 William Paterson Univ. 1
Fri. 4 NJAC playoffs (at Montclair State University)
Game 4: #6 Rowan 8, #5 Richard Stockton 0 (Stockton eliminated)
Game 5: #4 William Paterson 5, #1 Montclair State 4 (9 innings)
Game 6: #3 Rutgers-Camden 2, #2 Ramapo 1
Sat. 5 Game 7: #6 Rowan 3, #4 William Paterson 1 (William Paterson eliminated)
Game 8: #2 Ramapo 4, #1 Montclair State 3 (Montclair State eliminated)
Game 9: #3 Rutgers-Camden 4, #2 Ramapo 0 (Ramapo eliminated)
Sun. 6 Game 10: #3 Rutgers-Camden 4, #6 Rowan 1 (Rowan eliminated)
Rutgers-Camden wins 2007 NJAC Championship
Farrell, Skroski lift Rutgers-Camden
to NJAC softball championship game
LITTLE FALLS (May 5, 2007) – Senior pitcher Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) hurled a two-hit shutout and freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) went 4-for-4 with two runs and one RBI as the third-seeded Rutgers University-Camden softball team blanked No. 2 Ramapo College, 4-0, to advance to the title game to the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship here Saturday afternoon.
Rutgers-Camden, 30-13, will play for the NJAC title for the fourth straight season. The Scarlet Raptors won the crown in 2004 and added another conference title in 2006, before going on to win the NCAA Division III national title. They lost in the 2005 NJAC finals to William Paterson University.
Sunday’s title game will pit the Raptors against #6 Rowan University, which advanced by eliminating #4 William Paterson, 3-1. Ramapo, ranked No. 20 nationally eliminated top seed, host and No. 4 nationally-ranked Montclair State, 4-3, before being eliminated by Rutgers-Camden.
Rutgers-Camden will face Rowan at noon. If the Profs win, they will force a winner-take-all game immediately following.
For the second straight day, the pitching matchup pitted Farrell against Roadrunner junior Katie Norton (Livingston, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic), and for the second time Farrell picked up the win. She allowed only a pair of singles in hurling her fourth shutout of the year. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out three in raising her record to 12-5.
Norton, 15-4, worked 6.1 innings, allowing 10 hits, four earned runs and three walks, while striking out four.
Rutgers-Camden scored the only run Farrell needed after Skroski stroked a one-out single in the second inning. She scored on a double to left by junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston).
The Raptors added a third-inning run on a pair of doubles by senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) and Skroski. Skroski’s double plated pinch-runner Mary Beth Foley (Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit).
In the seventh, Rutgers-Camden added two runs after Farrell walked and Skroski doubled. Dreitlein had an RBI single and senior second baseman Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) singled home another run.
In addition to Skroski, sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) went 3-for-5, raising her career total to 97 hits.
Zlupko collected five assists on the day to raise her season total to 96, breaking the program mark of 92 set by Michelle Schlichtig in 2005. Schlichtig’s career assist mark of 249 also is in jeopardy as senior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) notched three assists to increase her career total to 247.
Farrell lifts Rutgers-Camden
past Ramapo in NJAC playoffs
LITTLE FALLS (May 4, 2007) – Senior pitcher Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) and the Rutgers University-Camden softball team aren’t quite ready to surrender their New Jersey Athletic Conference title.
The third-seeded Lady Raptors rode Farrell’s two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning to a 2-1 victory over #2 Ramapo College in the NJAC Softball Championship here Friday. Ramapo College was ranked No. 20 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III poll.
Rutgers-Camden, which won the NJAC playoffs on the way to its NCAA Division III national championship last year, is the only remaining undefeated team in the double-elimination tournament. The Lady Raptors, 29-13 and winners of seven straight games, return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. in the NJAC playoffs. They will face the survivor of the 1:30 p.m. game between Ramapo and top-seeded Montclair State University, the host of the tournament and the nation's fourth-ranked team.
In Friday’s other action, #6 Rowan eliminated #5 Richard Stockton, 8-0, and #4 William Paterson outlasted Montclair State, 5-4, in nine innings.
Ramapo College, which falls to 29-7 snapping a seven-game winning streak, held a 1-0 lead entering the sixth inning of a pitchers’ duel between Farrell and Roadrunner junior Katie Norton (Livingston, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic).
The Roadrunners scored their run in the fourth inning after sophomore catcher Kelly Schriber (Montclair, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic) hit a leadoff double and was replaced by pinch-runner Kendall Patton (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton). Patton advanced on a fielder’s choice and scored on a ground out by senior shortstop Michele Rossi (Emerson, NJ/Emerson).
Rutgers-Camden rallied in the sixth after a leadoff infield single by sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough). Senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) ripped a double to left field and the Raptors loaded the bases when senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) walked. After the Raptors hit into a double play, forcing Van Cleef at the plate, Farrell lined her two-out, two-run single to left center field.
The Roadrunners put the tying run in scoring position in the seventh inning with a leadoff double by Rossi. She reached third base with two outs before Farrell nailed down the win with her third strikeout of the game. She allowed six hits, one earned run and two walks to raise her record to 11-5.
Norton, 15-3, hurled a five-hitter with two walks, two strikeouts and two earned runs.
Rutgers-Camden senior second baseman Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) collected three assists in the game to raise her season mark to 91, one shy of the program record of 92 by Michelle Schlichtig in 2005.
Millett, Baney, Dreitlein, Powell
earn All-NJAC softball honors
CAMDEN (May 3, 2007) – Rutgers University-Camden senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) earned All-New Jersey Athletic Conference First Team honors and the Lady Raptors saw three other stars earn recognition when the conference announced its All-NJAC teams today.
Senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) and junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) each earned NJAC Second Team honors, while sophomore pitcher Natalie Powell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) was named All-NJAC Honorable Mention.
All four players were members of the Rutgers-Camden team which won the Division III national title in 2006.
Millett has had a monster season, hitting .492 with 12 doubles, 13 home runs, 49 RBIs, 38 runs and 60 hits. She has a .910 slugging percentage and a .554 on-base percentage. Four of her home runs have been grand slams, including one in a game against Northwestern March 16 in which she tied single-game program records with two home runs and 10 total bases, while going 4-for-4 with four runs and seven RBIs (missing the single-game RBI mark by one). She also has had hitting streaks of 15 and 11 games this season.
In the latest NCAA Division III rankings (through games of April 29), Millett was tied for ninth nationally in batting average (.500 at the time), was 16th in home runs per game (0.33), 31st in RBIs per game (1.23) and 11th in slugging percentage (.932).
Millett, who also earned All-NJAC First Team honors in 2004 and 2006, set a host of program records this season, including most career hits (189), games (182) and total bases (339). She also is tied with Baney and Celeste Chinappi (2002-05) for most career at bats with 531. Baney and Millett will pass Chinappi Friday when the 28-13 Lady Raptors play a second-round NJAC playoff game against Ramapo College, which begins at 4 p.m. at Montclair State University.
Millett also added to her previous career records and now has marks of 150 runs, 36 home runs and 81 walks.
Millett also set single-season program records this year with her 60 hits, 49 RBIs, 13 home runs and 111 total bases. She also holds the single-season mark of 47 runs scored, set in 2006.
Millett has earned the NJAC Player of the Week twice this season, winning the honor on March 19 and April 17, then tacking on the ECAC Div. III Metro Player of the Week honor each week.
Baney completed her four-year career with her fourth NJAC honor. She was an All-NJAC First Team player her first three years at Rutgers-Camden and earned a Second Team berth this season. She is hitting .387 with 43 hits, 11 runs, six doubles, 16 RBIs, a .441 slugging percentage and a .465 on-base percentage, aided by 16 walks, which tied Millett for the team lead. Even more impressive, Baney hasn’t made an error the last two seasons, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage each season, heading into this weekend’s NJAC tournament play.
In addition to currently being tied for the program’s career lead in at bats (531 with Millett and Chinappi), Baney is the all-time Rutgers-Camden leader in putouts (1,347) and sacrifice flies (5). She owns the top three single-season putout marks in school history, including 398 last season, when she easily set a program record with the most total chances in school history that produced a 1.000 fielding percentage (418 chances on 398 putouts and 20 assists).
Baney also ranked second in career games (181, one behind Millett), second in hits (176), tied with Millett for third in doubles (32, behind co-record-holders Michelle Schlichtig and Sarah O’Malley with 39 each), fourth in sacrifices (18) and third in double plays (11).
Dreitlein is hitting .358 with 44 hits, nine doubles, six home runs, 25 RBIs, a .577 slugging percentage and a .429 on-base percentage heading into Friday’s playoff game. She leads the club with 348 putouts and a single-season record eight double plays on her way to the career program record of 17 double plays. After earning All-NJAC First Team and Louisville Slugger/NFCA East Region First Team honors last year, she added All-NJAC Second Team this season.
Powell earned her first All-NJAC honor after posting a 12-3 record and a 2.03 ERA. She led the team with 69.1 innings and five shutouts, while also striking out 50. She also owns a 1.000 fielding percentage with 46 assists and two putouts. She hurled a no-hitter (one walk, two strikeouts) in a 13-0, five-inning win over Norwich University March 13.
Farrell helps Rutgers-Camden
open defense of NJAC, national title
CAMDEN (May 1, 2007) – Senior Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) hurled a six-hitter and helped her own cause with two hits and a pair of RBIs as the third-seeded Rutgers University-Camden softball team opened up the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs with a 4-1 victory over #4 William Paterson University Tuesday at Rutgers-Camden Community Park.
The Lady Raptors, who won both the NJAC and the Division III national titles in 2006, improve to 28-13 with their sixth consecutive victory. Paterson falls to 23-14.
Action photos
Both teams return to NJAC playoff action Friday, when the double-elimination conference tournament shifts to Montclair State University, the site of the regular-season champion and top-seeded Red Hawks. Paterson faces Montclair State at 1:30 p.m., while Rutgers-Camden will face #2 seed Ramapo College at 4 p.m.
In a game that shaped up as a tight pitchers’ duel between Farrell and Paterson junior ace Diana Schraer (Paramus, NJ/Paramus), the Pioneers struck quickly in the first inning. Paterson’s second batter, senior second baseman April Sardinas-Wyssling (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) ripped the first pitch she saw to left field for her first home run of the year.
That run stood up into the fourth inning as Schraer fired no-hit ball through the first three frames. In the bottom of the fourth, the Raptors’ senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) looped a leadoff single into center field and freshman Mary Beth Foley (Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) ran for her. Junior designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) laced an opposite-field double to right, and Farrell plated the tying run with a single to center. Freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) delivered Parker with the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Rutgers-Camden tacked on a run in the fifth on back-to-back singles by Baney and Parker and an RBI double by Farrell.
The Raptors’ final run came in the sixth on a single by senior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross), a stolen base and a throwing error by Schraer on a comebacker to the mound.
Farrell, 10-5, finished with a six-hitter and no walks, while allowing one earned run. She struck out six. Two of the hits she allowed were singles by freshman left fielder Chelsea Winkelspecht (Sicklerville, NJ/Washington Township).
Schraer, 17-5, allowed 11 hits, one walk and four runs, three of them earned. She struck out two.
The Raptors received two hits apiece from Baney, Parker, Farrell and junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston).
Millett’s power, Powell’s pitching key
Raptors’ sweep over Rutgers-Newark
NEWARK (April 28, 2007) – Senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) set the Rutgers-University-Camden single-season RBI record, tied the program’s season hit record and ripped her fourth grand slam of the season in the opening game, and sophomore Natalie Powell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) won both ends of the doubleheader as the Lady Raptors swept Rutgers-Newark, 15-1 and 5-2, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference softball doubleheader here Saturday.
The doubleheader allowed the Raptors to close the regular season with a 27-13 record overall and clinch third place for the upcoming NJAC playoffs with a 13-5 conference mark. Rutgers-Camden will get a first-round playoff home game Tuesday against the NJAC’s fourth seed. That opponent will have to wait to be determined, as William Paterson University needs only one win in a doubleheader Sunday against The College of New Jersey to clinch fourth place.
Rutgers-Newark closed its season at 12-24 overall and 2-16 in the NJAC.
Game One
In the opening game, Millett went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a sixth-inning grand slam and six RBIs, lifting her season total to 49 RBIs, a new program record. The old mark of 45 was set last season by two-time All-American Michelle Schlichtig.
Millett’s three hits tied Schlichtig’s single-season program record of 59 hits, also established during the Lady Raptors’ national championship season in 2006. The doubles gave her 12 for the season and she stretched her single-season and career home run records to 13 and 36, respectively. The eight total bases raised her single-season program mark to 110 total bases.
Powell, meanwhile, hurled five innings of one-hit ball, allowing one earned run and one walk. The one hit was a leadoff home run by freshman left fielder Elena Morge (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) in the second inning. Powell struck out six before sophomore Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) pitched a scoreless sixth inning for the Raptors. The contest was stopped after six innings by the eight-run mercy rule after the Lady Raptors exploded for nine runs in the top of the sixth. In that eight-hit inning, Van Cleef had a pair of singles and Millett clubbed an RBI double and her fourth grand slam of the season, a shot to left-center field.
Van Cleef went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for the Raptors, who pounded out 16 hits.
Game Two
The second game was a pitchers’ duel between Powell (12-3) and Morge (7-11), with both hurlers crafting a five-hitter. Powell allowed two runs (one earned) and one walk, while striking out one. Morge, who had a no-hitter going until Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) followed a walk with a bunt single to open the fifth inning, allowed five runs (four earned) and three walks. She struck out three.
Four of those Raptor runs came in that fifth inning as Rutgers-Camden rallied from a 2-1 deficit. Senior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) put the Raptors in front for good with a two-run single through the right side of the infield. They added two more runs on RBI singles by freshman left fielder Kate Braun (Audubon, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling).
Giles went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs in the game for Rutgers-Camden, while Morge went 2-for-3 with one run for Rutgers-Newark.
Lady Raptors sweep Rowan
on Rutgers-Camden Senior Day
CAMDEN (April 24, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the opening game, 6-5, for sophomore reliever Natalie Powell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) and won the nightcap 2-1 behind senior Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) as it swept Rowan University here Tuesday in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader.
The sweep lifts the Lady Raptors into sole possession of third place in the NJAC, giving them the possibility of a home game for the opening round of the six-team playoffs May 1. Rutgers-Camden, 11-5 in the NJAC and 25-13 overall, can clinch a home playoff game if it can win one game in its regular season-ending doubleheader Saturday at Rutgers-Newark. The twinbill starts at 1 p.m.
Rowan, 21-13 overall, is 9-7 in the NJAC and locked in a fourth-place tie with William Paterson University. The Profs host NJAC-leading Montclair State University in a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.
Tuesday’s twinbill was the last regular-season home date for Rutgers-Camden and marked Senior Day for five Lady Raptors. The program honored seniors Farrell, Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford), Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross), Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) and Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson).
Game One
Trailing, 5-2, heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lady Raptors staged a big rally on two hits, three walks, an error and a game-winning sacrifice fly by junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston).
Junior designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) opened the frame with a single and advanced on a walk to Baney. Parker was replaced by pinch-runner Mary Beth Foley (Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) and Baney was lifted for pinch-runner Jerika Burgos (Vineland, NJ/Vineland). The runners advanced on a ground out and Zlupko followed by reaching on an infield error, driving home Foley. Sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) walked to load the bases and Millett delivered a two-run game-tying single. Following an intentional walk to freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling), Dreitlein’s sacrifice fly to center won the game.
The frame capped a big comeback for Rutgers-Camden, which saw Rowan score five runs in the second inning on two hits, four walks and a hit batsman. A bad-hop ground ball past shortstop, which rolled all the way to the fence for a triple by freshman right fielder Heidi Smith (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional) plated the Profs’ first run. Following a walk, Smith scored on a ground out and Raptor pitcher Farrell followed with a hit batsman and two straight walks to force home another run. Junior second baseman Lauren Navarro (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) collected an RBI with the bases-loaded walk. Junior third baseman Kristin Wallace (Glassboro, NJ/Washington Township) capped the frame with an opposite field double that kicked up chalk on the right field line.
The Profs sent 11 batters to the plate in the second, which finally ended when Powell entered the game to get the last out. She pitched 5.1 innings of three-hit shutout ball the rest of the way, walking just one, to raise her record to 10-3.
Rutgers-Camden finally got on the board in the fifth off Rowan hurler Amanda Riegel (Millville, NJ/Sacred Heart), who allowed 12 hits, six runs (two earned) and six walks in hurling all 6.2 innings. Riegel (10-7) fanned one. She lost her shutout on back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth by Baney and Giles.
For the game, Skroski, Millett, Parker, Baney and Giles each had two hits for the Lady Raptors.
Game Two
The second game was a pitchers’ duel between Farrell and Rowan sophomore Danielle Lawlor (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn).
Farrell (9-5) hurled a five-hitter, allowing one earned run and two walks. She fanned five.
Lawlor (11-6) scattered 11 hits and two walks, while allowing two earned runs. She struck out four.
Rutgers-Camden scored single runs in the first two innings on RBI base hits by Dreitlein and Millett, respectively. Millett, with her third RBI of the day, raised her season total to 43 RBIs, tying Tara Harris (1988) for second on the single-season program list. The all-time record is 45 RBIs by Michelle Schlichtig last season.
Millett also collected four hits (4-for-8) on the day to run her season total to 56 hits. She is second only to Schlichtig’s 59 hits, also from the 2006 season. The four hits also gave Millett 102 total bases this season, making her the first person to collect over 100 total bases in one season in Rutgers-Camden softball history.
Rowan scored its lone run in the fourth when senior designated player Jen Lake Carney’s Point, NJ/Penns Grove) drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Loren Pashley (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon). Pashley scored on a double by freshman shortstop Jenna DiDonato (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert).
For the game, Dreitlein went 4-for-4 with one RBI to finish the day 5-for-8. Millett and Parker each had two hits.
Rutgers-Camden, Paterson
split NJAC doubleheader
WAYNE (April 21, 2007) – During the last few years, the Rutgers University-Camden and William Paterson University softball teams have waged quite a rivalry in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and among the NCAA’s elite Division III programs.
The two schools continued that competition here Saturday as they split a conference doubleheader. Paterson won the opener, 4-2, and Rutgers-Camden took the nightcap, 5-2.
The split leaves the Raptors at 23-13 overall and 9-5 in the NJAC, while the Pioneers stand at 20-10 and 7-5.
Rutgers-Camden scored single runs in the second and third innings to grab a 2-0 lead. Sophomore left fielder Valeri Bohn (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross) hit an RBI single in the second to plate junior designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken). The Raptors’ freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) scored on a two-out error in the third.
The Pioneers fought back, scoring three runs in the home half of the fourth. A walk, followed by three straight fielder’s choices and an error, gave WPU runners on first and second with two outs. Freshman first baseman Jessica Reibis (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) then hit a rocket that Camden second baseman Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) knocked down on a diving play, but she was unable to shuffle the ball to the bag in time to get Kaitlyn Lang (Newtown, PA/Council Rock-North) at second. That allowed pinch runner Kathleen Wehmann (Harrington Park, NJ/Old Tappan) to score. April Sardinas-Wyssling (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) reached on an error and pinch hitter Ana Abourashed (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) laced the first pitch she saw through the hole on the left side of the infield, driving in two runs to give the Pioneers a 3-2 lead.
Meghan Reilly’s (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) double to straightaway center, followed by an Alicia Albert (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) single up the middle, gave William Paterson a 4-2 advantage in the fifth.
Diana Schraer (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) improved to 14-2, allowing eight hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out three.
Senior Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) fell to 8-5, giving up six hits and four runs (one earned) while registering three strikeouts.
Reibis led the Pioneers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. Skroski was 3-for-4 for the Scarlet Raptors, while senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) went 2-for-3.
|
