Scots to Host MWC Softball Tournament

Release Date: May 2, 2000


MWC Softball Tournament Brackets

Friday, May 5:

10 a.m. -- Game 1: Ripon vs. Lake Forest
12 a.m. -- Game 2: Monmouth vs. Carroll
 2  p.m. -- Game3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
 4  p.m. -- Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Saturday, May 6:

10 a.m. -- Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
12 p.m. -- Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
 2 p.m. -- Game 7 (if necessary): Repeat Game 6

Tournament winner advances to NCAA Tournament

The Monmouth College Fighting Scots are hosting Ripon (21-12), Carroll (13-15) and Lake Forest (15-17) at the Midwest Conference Softball Championships Friday and Saturday at the campus diamond. To fully appreciate the season that Monmouth’s had, one can look at two items.

First, take a glimpse at the Fighting Scots’ record book, which has had to be updated a few times already this season, including longest winning streak (11). Other records, including games won in a season, could fall this weekend. The Scots enter the tournament at 18-13 as they seek their first-ever 20-win campaign.

Second, look at the season preview written earlier this spring. Yes, the Scots returned several starters, but they lost all three of their All-MWC selections from last year, including four-year pitching star Sherilyn Daniels. In Daniels’ place was an untested group of three freshmen.

"I think our pitching staff had a lot of weight on their shoulders at the beginning of the year," said coach Vanessa MacCallum, who has guided the Scots to the league playoffs in each of her two seasons and has a 33-31 record. "They’ve responded very well to the pressure. The defense behind them has made incredible strides. The pitchers have a lot of confidence in the defense, and the defense has confidence in our pitchers, too."

Shelly Orwig’s record is an impressive 10-7 with a 2.73 ERA, while Jessie Taylor, who usually starts the nightcaps of doubleheaders, is 6-4 with an identical ERA. Orwig was especially dominant during MWC action, going 5-0 with a save and a 1.75 ERA.

"Shelly’s made incredible strides," said MacCallum. "She’s just a workhorse. It’s nice to have someone out there who you know is going to be mentally tough the whole game."

Now that "crunch time" is here, MacCallum said she wouldn’t hesitate to give Orwig the ball for every inning of every tournament game.

The two other starters lost to graduation were perhaps the next two most important on the diamond – shortstop and catcher. But Olivia Newton has filled the role as captain of the infield, while MacCallum has been able to replace her current assistant coach, Beth Stannke, behind the plate with a "catcher by committee."

"Olivia has been a very solid presence at shortstop," said MacCallum. "She has definitely proven herself. At catcher, we play Lauren Wesolowski and Missy Hartman, and each of them have their own strengths. Lauren’s very quick and has been a solid hitter for us, and Missy provides experience behind the plate and calls a very good game."

The other positions have been filled regularly by Jody Schaill at first base, Sandy Ryner at second, Vanessa Madison at third, Erin Fink in left field, Natalie Hacker in center and Jen Witmer in right. Schaill and Witmer are the team’s two hottest hitters, and they each won MWC South Division Player of the Week honors in April. Schaill is hitting .420 for the season and Witmer is right behind at .345.

Although the Scots had their 11-game win streak stopped Monday at MacMurray, MacCallum feels her team is mentally on the right track for the MWC tourney.

"It’s never okay to lose," said MacCallum, "but if nothing else, I think it’s made us determined to be better prepared for the tournament."

It’s a tournament in which there’s no clear-cut favorite, as each of the teams is just happy not to have to face three-time defending champion Lawrence and its ace, Sarah Schye.

"It’s anybody’s tournament," said MacCallum. Indeed, none of the teams won a title in the 1990s, and Ripon and Carroll have never won one. "In that sense, it’s really exciting. The competition level is going to be awesome. I hope a lot of people come out and support not only Monmouth, but fastpitch softball as well. The opportunity to see a tournament like this in Monmouth doesn’t come around often."

The Fighting Scots have not hosted the tournament since 1984. Their only other hosting experience came in 1979 when they won the first of their two MWC titles.

Ripon edged Carroll twice by identical 2-1 scores during the season to give the Red Hawks the North Division title despite a tie atop the standings with the Pioneers. Carroll’s claim to fame was sweeping Lawrence 4-0 and 1-0 to knock the Vikings out of contention.

Ripon is led on the mound by junior Jenny Lauer (15-9, 2.57 ERA), who tossed a no-hitter earlier in the year. Their leader in the field is senior shortstop Teri Hepler (.455), who combines power (5 HR, 26 RBI) and speed (17 steals).

Carroll’s workhorse is Beth Kottke (11-8, 1.58 ERA). Erin Erickson is the Pioneers’ top batter, as she’s hitting .419. Carroll typically plays low-scoring games, as the team has only averaged just over three runs per game. That, along with some fielding woes, explains Kottke’s high loss total despite her fine ERA.

Cari Poznansky and Kim Magee are the main players to watch for Lake Forest. Poznansky is 7-8 with a 2.16 ERA, while Magee leads the team in hitting (.347) and steals (21).

Other players to watch, according to MacCallum, are Lake Forest first baseman/pitcher

Chris Laurine and Carroll catcher Eva Klamann.

The tourney opens Friday with a 10 a.m. game between Ripon and Lake Forest, and Monmouth tangles with Carroll at noon. The first-round losers play at 2 p.m., (which will eliminate one school), with the winners meeting at 4 p.m.

Play resumes Saturday with a 10 a.m. contest in which the loser will be eliminated. The winner of that game will play the winner’s bracket survivor for the championship at noon. If necessary, there will be a second championship game at 2 p.m., as the tourney is played in a true double-elimination format.

For the first time ever, the MWC champ will receive an automatic bid to the Division III National Tournament. Monmouth has never been to softball’s "Big Dance," and that’s one more piece of history that could be added to this storybook season for the Fighting Scots.