Volume CXXXI, Number 23 April 26, 2002 f

Softball standing tall after successful week
REBEKAH METZLER AND HILARY SMITH
STAFF WRITERS

Senior captain Kristie Miller, who led the Bowdoin softball team offensively this week by hitting two home runs in Tuesday's game against Bates, boldly stated recently, "I had no shame about my game on Tuesday."

Indeed. The Bears, as a team, have no shame either. They currently stand tall with a 21-8-1 record.

Last weekend was full of play as Bowdoin went 3-1 in the Colby tournament, facing Brandeis, Colby, and St. Joseph's twice. Their only loss came at the second meeting with St. Joe's.

Senior Jessie Poulin pitched a complete game-a three-hit shutout-against the Monks from St. Joe's on Saturday. Kristi Royer '03 went two for four, continuing to light it up for the Bears at the plate.

Jordan Alper '02, Emily Rizza '02, and rookie Gillian Stevens '04 all scored runs for Bowdoin in the victory. Stevens was responsible for the first run, and scored on a fantastic dirt-in-the-skirt dive to home plate through the catcher's legs. Her desire for the win was evident and fueled the team with plenty of fire.

In the second game of the afternoon versus Brandeis, senior Katie Sheridan launched the ball deep over the outfield fence for her first collegiate home run. "She made the mistake of throwing one of those meatballs right down the middle instead of the outside," Sheridan said.

Sophomore pitcher Erin Hanley was stellar on the mound, allowing only two runs on four hits. Rizza and Alper again accounted for scored runs in the 4-2 victory.

On Sunday, the Bears took a tough loss from St. Joe's, but rebounded strongly against rival Colby in a 3-2 win.

Poulin led an intense team to victory over the White Mules. Her focus and strength were evident when the game was on the line, and proved too much for Colby to handle. Her record now stands at 9-3.

Most recently, the Bears faced Bates. They handed the Bobcats two losses in a doubleheader on Tuesday, pushing the Bates record to a dismal 5-22 (1-5 in NESCAC East competition).

Both of Miller's home runs came in the first matchup of the afternoon. The first rocketed over the center field fence and the second went over in right field.

Miller had been advised to sing the familiar children's tune "Puff the Magic Dragon" to herself while at back. She picked up four RBIs in the game and the Bears won, 6-3. She says, "Go Puff."

In the bottom half of the doubleheader against Bates, Hanley again went the distance for the win, bringing her record to 6-3. Miller notched another RBI and Royer knocked in two more with a single in the fourth inning. Bowdoin won the game (which was called in the 6th for darkness) by a score of 7-1.

The advent of Miller's home run hitting, on the heels of the Sheridan knock, elicited a little talk of slugger rivalry among two. However, when asked what she thought of Sheridan's blast, she reported, "I think it's great."

While this was an abnormally short response to a question for Miller, it is assumed that she has the best interests of the team at heart. "I don't think that anybody cares about how they are playing in relation to someone else, I think everybody just tries to do their best," Rizza chimed in.

Having said that, Rizza did suggest that Sheridan "might steal all the extra large helmets and Kristi will have to go up having her head squeezed way too tightly."

While Sheridan never confessed to any plans of foul play, she did comment that "Miller's head is too big.

"I kind of make her look good, because I'm usually on base when she gets up," Sheridan continued. "Then she doesn't get solo home runs, she gets multiple RBI home runs, thanks to me. I feel like my getting on base motivates her to get me in."

She went even further. "I think I am partially responsible for her [Miller] getting home runs. I'm actually disappointed that she hasn't said anything to me about it….But we are a team and I'm going to look beyond that and be the bigger person, metaphorically speaking."

Comments like that assure that this team is indeed all about the big picture rather than individual stats, and unity is obviously a key goal.

"I think that our team is doing well in coming out with the W's," Rizza said. "We are doing well and I think that everyone has confidence in their teammates."

These are certainly key factors as the Bears gear up for a tough four-game stretch and head toward a berth in the NESCAC tournament. Bowdoin has two games tomorrow against Trinity and another two on Monday against Colby.

"I think we have a tendency to make things difficult for ourselves, but I think that we are ready to go into a big weekend with Trinity and take care of Colby right away on Monday," Sheridan said. "We're ready to take on the powerhouses of NESCAC and come out on top."