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| Photo by BEN RUEHLMANN Senior Stephen Hatcher reaches for a throw from the outfield, resulting in an out. |
After winning 20 of its last 22 games, the Marlins baseball team fell twice to Salisbury but held strong until the end, beating Lynchburg College to clinch the regular season spot as champions of the ODAC.
"We accomplished our first goal of the season by winning the conference," said senior shortstop Paul Johnson. "As we enter the tournament, we need to do everything we've been doing, but better. And never let down." Tied for first in the ODAC, the Hornets did not make anything easy for Wesleyan. After earning the win in the first game 5-3, Lynchburg came back within one run of the Marlins in the last inning of the second game from a seven-run deficit. However, the Marlins never gave up, because that was the last run Lynchburg would score in the 2004 season, as Wesleyan won the thriller 7-6.
"The game should have never gotten to be that close," said junior pitcher Jason Jarrett. "We were up the whole game, but somehow they came back at the very end of the game. However, it just goes to show that we are a team that never gives up, no matter what the situation." It was an impressive showing for senior pitcher Derrick Rawlings in the second game, as he improved his record to 6-0. He pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits and one earned run and striking out nine batters.
"Derrick did a great job shutting Lynchburg down," said senior Stephen Hatcher. “Going into the postseason, we need to bring it all together. It seems all year that the pitching and hitting have offset each other. If it all comes together, we will dominate the tournament." Sophomore Brandon Hill and junior Mike Supa led Wesleyan's offense with three hits each to add to an 11-hit offense. Johnson hit a triple and freshman Ryan Ellis had three singles to lead Wesleyan's hitting in the first game.
"Hitting in those two games was great,” said Hill. “Some things just didn't fall, but we came out with a win." It has been a bittersweet season for the Marlins. They have won the regular season title for the fourth time in the past five years. However, they had to do it without their teammate and friend, Michael Snapp, who lost his life in September. Dedicating this season to life, friendship and the love for the game has driven the team to another season of success. "We are doing exactly what Snapp would want us to do, and that would be to win," said Hill. As they go into post-season play, the men will ask themselves one thing: "What is love?" As Snapp had written in his baseball cap, they answer, "It is playing every game like it is your last.”
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| Photo by CHRISTINA LONG First-year Meagan Ptucha narrowly avoids being tagged out in the semifinal game versus Roanoke College. |
The Wesleyan softball team was only one strike shy of becoming the Old Dominion Athletic Conference regional champions "It was hard to take in," said senior and co-captain Devin Allen. Ranked fifth in the ODAC, Wesleyan swept through the first half of the tournament, upsetting top-ranked teams. "We were hyped," said junior Kim Mulholland. "Second year in a row our team went into the ODAC's ranked 5th and left runner-up.” The Lady Marlins’ first opponents were the defending champions Emory & Henry College. A close game to the end, junior Jamie Marsh singled to bring in sophomore Becky Sowell for the game-winner. Marlins won 2-1. That same day, Wesleyan faced off against number-one seed Lynchburg College. The Marlins limited Lynchburg runs to take a 5-1 victory.
The score, which was tied 1-1 until the sixth inning, had both teams on their toes. This all changed when Wesleyan catapulted into the lead by driving in four more runs. While some thought it was a major upset lost by Lynchburg, the Lady Marlins didn't. "We knew all along we were the team to beat in the conference," said Allen. "We weren't able to play to our potential in the first half of the year, but we knew it would come together at the end of the season." The next so-called “upset” took place on the April 24 when the Lady Marlins beat Roanoke College in the winners’ bracket final. The Lady Marlins never fell behind during the contest. Wesleyan then went on to beat the Roanoke Maroons 3-2 in the double elimination tournament. The next morning, the Lady Marlins played Roanoke College. Roanoke defeated Wesleyan 5-2. Wesleyan led most of the second game between Roanoke until the last inning. But, needing only one more strike for Wesleyan to take the victory, Roanoke cracked five hits in a row to score a few runs. Unexpectedly, Roanoke took the first game.
Nevertheless, Wesleyan had one more chance. Roanoke’s win forced a game-three between the two teams in order to determine the winner of the tournament. "I felt down after our first game," said freshman Tina Journigan. "But I didn't lose any confidence in my team.” Once again, the Lady Marlins fell one run short, resulting a 4-3 loss in their final season championship game. "It was tough to keep everyone focused after our first game," said Allen. "I kept composure to lead our team by example.” The Lady Marlins ended their season with dignity.
"I was proud how we bounced back in the second game to only lose by one run," said Allen. Throughout the year, Wesleyan was a rising team. A good portion of the players of in the team's line-up were freshmen. Also, three first-year players played in the last game. In the end, the team came together to finish a strong season. Also, there were key players who played a vital role to the team's success. Honors went to sophomore pitcher Nichol Moeller, who bounced back from last year's losing season, ending her season with a record of 13-7. Second team honors went to Marsh, Journigan, and Allen.
But the softball program is not taking a seat for the off-season. Coach Conrad Parker and Assistant Coach Josh McElheny are on their way to finalizing 46 prospects. "We will only have two seniors returning next year," said Parker. The Marlins proved this season that young players who are given the chance to grow could develop chemistry between the veteran and new players.
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1. The women’s lacrosse team had its best finish in school history, 15-3, making it to their first conference championship game. 2. The baseball team finished the regular season as conference champions for the sixth time in eight years. 3. The softball team unexpectedly made it to the final game in the conference tournament for the second year in a row. 4. Anne Marie Nash, a senior women’s lacrosse player, broke the school record for career goals with 217. 5. The men’s tennis team finished second in the conference; its best ranking since 1992. 6. Megan Parris, a junior women’s lacrosse player, was named ODAC player of the week. 7. The men’s tennis team had three individual conference runner-up finishes including two double teams led by freshmen. 8. Tyler Sothoron, a freshman men’s lacrosse player had 21 saves versus Randolph-Macon College; a school record. 9. Larry Antinozzi, a senior on the golf team, finished third in the conference tournament. 10. The sports teams of Virginia Wesleyan, to date, have produced five regular season conference championships, one conference tournament championship, six conference tournament runner-ups, three advancements to the national tournament and four national rankings in the top 20 for the 2003-2004 school year. |
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