MAY 16, 2005
BOB ZIADIE
BIG FIRST INNING LEADS ITHACA OVER KING'S AND A BERTH IN THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
ITHACA, NY -- The King's College softball team saw its dream of advancing to the Division III College World Series come to an end as host Ithaca College scored five first-inning runs on its way to posting a 5-1 victory in the final game of the NCAA Regional Championships Monday in Ithaca, NY.
With the win, Ithaca (29-12) advances to the eight-team Division III World Series slated for May 20-24 at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, N.C. King's, meanwhile, sees its season come to an end with a fine 34-12 mark.
It marked the second straight day Ithaca came out of the gates strong offensively against the Lady Monarchs. Ithaca, which scored six runs in the first two innings in Sunday's 8-0 win over King's, scored all the runs they would need in the first inning.
The game started ominously for King's when senior hurler Sarah Genewski hit leadoff batter Hannah Shalett with a pitch, followed by a four-pitch walk to Jessica Stangarone. Leigh Bonkowski then singled to centerfield to bring home Shalett, before Mel Chinigo drove in Stangarone on a fielder's choice to give the Bombers a 2-0 lead. Madeline Kraemer would then ground out, driving in Bonkowski from third base to push the score to 3-0. Erica Cuspec would then deliver an RBI triple and would score on a King's throwing error as the Bombers led 5-0 after the game's first at-bats.
Genewski, who tossed a two-hitter in a 1-0 win over Ithaca on Saturday, would settle down and held the Bombers scoreless the rest of the way.
King's, however, was unable to sustain the level of execution the team employed over the first two days of the event and failed to manufacture runs at key moments. The Lady Monarchs had their chances, loading the bases three times in the game but came away with just one run. King's managed five hits in the game and but had other potential base hits taken away as Ithaca fielders snared three line-drive shots to help keep the Lady Monarchs off the board.
In the third inning, Genewski singled but was out at second when Cassy Shiffer reached base on a fielder's choice. Kelley Vaxmonsky singled to left, before a Justine Maggio base hit up the middle loaded the bases with one out. But the threat ended when Nikki Kotula struck out and Stacey Preambo flied out to centerfield.
King's had another chance in the sixth when Kotula singled and Preambo doubled, giving the Lady Monarchs runners at second and third with one out. Kristin Brady was intentionally walked to load the bases but Mari Valonis struck out and Kate Shiffer popped out to first base to end the inning.
The Lady Monarchs had one final chance in the seventh when Genewski led off with a walk. Cassy Shiffer would then reach base on an error as pinch runner Annie Drimones moved to second base. After Vaxmonsky walked to load the bases, Ithaca brought in Carly Myers in relief of starting pitcher Nicole Cade. Maggio would pop out to second base for the first out of the inning. Kotula would then ground out to second to drive in Drimones. With two out and runners on first and third, Preambo would ground out to third base to end the game.
For Ithaca, Bonkowski led the way with two of the team's six hits. Cade picked up the pitching victory, allowing five King's hits, striking out six batters while walking four.
Vaxmonsky, Maggio, Kotula, Preambo, and Genewski all had hits for King's. Genewski (13-6) took the pitching loss, allowing all five runs, four which were earned, while striking out three batters and walking two.
Despite the disappointing ending, King's proved it was a far better team than its regional seeding. The Lady Monarchs, who were seeded sixth in field of six teams, advanced to the championship game of the regional tournament for the first time in school history.
King's posted a 4-3 win over third-seeded Western New England and a 2-1 win over second-seeded Cortland State on Friday, before earning a 1-0 win over Ithaca on Saturday to reach the championship round.
Ithaca, which won the 2002 Division III national championship, will make its fifth appearance in the College World Series since 1996.
2005 NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team
C - Kristin Brady, King's
1B - Mari Valonis, King's
2B - Sarah Moisao, Western New England
SS - Kristy Kehoss, Western New England
3B - Kaitlyn Dulac, Ithaca
OF - Leigh Bonkowski, Ithaca
OF - Kim Huson, Cortland
OF - Mel Chinigo, Ithaca
DP/UT - Nikki Kotula, King's
P - Sarah Genewski - King's
P - Carly Myers, Ithaca
C - Hannah Shalett, Ithaca
1B - Kristen Norris, Misericordia
SS - Erica Cutspec, Ithaca
P - Nicole Cade, Ithaca
Finals Tournament Results
Ithaca Regional
Friday, May 13
Game 1 -- Ithaca 5, Misericorida 3
Game 2 -- King's 4, Western New England 3
Game 3 -- Ithaca 3, Union 2
Game 4 -- King's 2, Cortland State 1
Saturday, May 14
Game 5 -- Western New England 5, Union 0
Game 6 -- Misericordia 2, Cortland State 1
Game 7 -- King's 1, Ithaca 0
Game 8 -- Western New England 2, Misericordia 0
Sunday, May 15
Game 9 -- Ithaca 8, Western New England 0
Game 10 -- Ithaca 8, King's 0
Monday, May 16
Game 11 -- Ithaca 5, King's 1
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
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Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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