May 6, 2006

ELMS COLLEGE WINS 2006 NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

Tournament Bracket

CHICOPEE, MA, May 6, 2006 - Elms College senior pitcher Kristi Guzzo (Springfield, MA) threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout and the Blazers posted a 2-0 win over Thomas College in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Softball Tournament championship game on Saturday afternoon at Dooley Field.

With the win, Elms College improved to 27-10 and earned its second NAC Tournament title in the last four years, and with it, the conference’s automatic qualifier into the upcoming NCAA Division III Championship.

Thomas (21-21) had advanced to Saturday’s title game with a 1-0 win over Castleton State College (17-17) in the consolation bracket final earlier in the afternoon. Senior pitcher Joy Ireland (Clinton, ME) drove in the game’s only run in the bottom of the seventh with a RBI single to left field.

Ireland also threw six shutout innings and allowed just two hits and struck out five. Sophomore relief pitcher Nikki Smith (Bucksport, ME) struck out all three Castleton players she faced in the top of the seventh.

The Blazers, who now advance to the upcoming NCAA Division III Championship for the first time since 2003, await the pairings to be announced by the NCAA on Sunday night, May 7.

Elms College advanced to Saturday’s championship game after posting a 6-4 come-from-behind win over Lesley University in the first game of the double-elimination tournament on Friday afternoon, then followed with a thrilling 1-0 eight-inning win over Thomas later that day.

In Saturday’s championship victory over Thomas, the Blazers plated the game’s only two runs in the first inning on an infield error and a RBI sacrifice bunt by senior center fielder Lauren Stauch (East Nassau, NY).

Guzzo, who was named NAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, finished with four strikeouts en route to her 22nd win of the season.

Smith allowed no earned runs in three-plus innings and Ireland struck out four in 2.1 innings.

2006 NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Maureen Mikos (Lesley University)
Courtnie Leakeas (Lesley University)
Jennifer Gadouas (Castleton State College)
Angie Carpenter (Castleton State College)
Joy Ireland (Thomas College)
Kayla Beaudoin (Thomas College)
Nikki Smith (Thomas College)
Joelle Smith (Elms College)
Jamie Parslow (Elms College)

NAC TOURNAMENT MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Kristi Guzzo (Elms College)

Box Scores
Game 1:Elms 6, Lesley 4
Game 2:Thomas 2, Castleton State 0
Game 3:Castleton State 3, Lesley 1
Game 4:Elms 1, Thomas 0 (8inn)
Game 5:Thomas 1, Castleton State 0
Game 6:Elms 2, Thomas 0

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May 5, 2006

ELMS ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL OF THE NAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

 

CHICOPEE, MA, May 5, 2006 - Elms College senior pitcher Kristi Guzzo (Springfield, MA) threw a pair of complete-game victories as the Blazers defeated Lesley University 6-4 and Thomas College 1-0 in Friday’s double-elimination North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Softball Tournament at Dooley Field.

With its two wins on Friday, Elms College (26-10) advanced to Saturday afternoon’s 3:00 p.m. championship game to face the winner of the 1:00 p.m. consolation final between Castleton State College (17-16) and Thomas (20-20).

In Elms College’s 1-0 win over Thomas, freshman left fielder Danielle LaPlante (Randolph, VT) delivered a RBI single to plate senior first baseman Jamie Parslow (Pownal, VT) with the game’s only run.

Guzzo and Thomas sophomore pitcher Nikki Smith (Bucksport, ME) battled in a classic pitching duel, as Guzzo allowed just one hit and issued four walks, while Smith struck out nine, yielded five hits and issued only one walk.

In the first game of the day, Elms College rallied from a 4-1 deficit with three runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth to punch its ticket into the winner’s bracket.

In that three-run fifth, the Blazers received RBI singles from Guzzo, freshman third baseman Amanda DeSimone (Providence, RI) and freshman second baseman Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA).

Elms College then capitalized on an infield error to regain the lead at 5-4 before DeSimone added her third hit and third RBI of the game with a RBI infield single to give the Blazers a 6-4 lead.

Lesley had taken a 4-1 lead with a four-run fifth inning that included freshman center fielder Gianna Spaziante’s (Hawthorne, NY) two-run double and a RBI double by freshman third baseman Sarah Wilson (Lowell, MA).

Thomas advanced to the winner’s bracket with a 2-0 win over Castleton by plating the game’s only two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman left field Brittany Oxley (Vassalboro, ME) delivered a RBI double and freshman shortstop Brittany Morin (Winslow, ME) followed with a RBI single to plate the Terriers’ two runs.

Thomas senior pitcher Joy Ireland’s  (Clinton, ME) bid for a no-hitter was ended with two outs in the seventh when Castleton freshman shortstop Anita Dixon (Limington, ME) singled. Ireland finished with nine strikeouts and issued just one walk en route to the victory.

Castleton sophomore pitcher Angie Carpenter (Sharon, VT) allowed just the two earned runs on five hits and struck out five as the hard-luck loser.

In the consolation bracket, Castleton broke away from a 1-1 tie on junior third baseman Jennifer Gadouas’ (Alburg, VT) two-run home run to center field. Sophomore pitcher Megan Robitaille (Milton, VT) allowed just one earned run and struck out two in the complete-game victory.

Lesley sophomore pitcher Christina Anzilotti (Pelham, NY) yielded two earned runs on seven hits in the complete-game loss.

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May 4, 2006

Elms To Host NAC Softball Tournament Championship

Elms College senior pitcher Kristi Guzzo fired a complete-game, one-hit shutout and the Blazers used a four-run fifth inning to pull away to a 7-0 win over Becker College in Thursday’s North Atlantic Conference (NAC) softball quarterfinal game at Dooley Field. With the win, Elms College (24-10 overall) advances to host the double-elimination portion of the NAC Tournament beginning on Friday, May 5 and continuing on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7 (if necessary).

The Blazers will play the opening game of the tournament on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. against Lesley College. The Lynx upset Lasell College, the  #1 seed in the East Division, in the NAC Quarterfinal game in Newton 5-1.  Thomas will meet Castleton State in Game 2 on Friday scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. The Terriers defeated host Maine-Farmington 4-0 in eight innings. Castleton State got past host Mount Ida 5-3 in quarterfinal action.

Maureen Mikos and the Lesley defense held Lasell to one run on 7 hits.  Lesley took the early lead, scoring 2 runs in the first inning on a throwing error by Lasell. Lesley scored 2 more in the 3rd and one in the 7th.  Mikos struck out 10 batters in the victory.  Lasell was able to produce only 1 run in the 5th inning.  Losing pitcher Amanda Corey struck out 4 for the Lasers. Sarah Wilson led the offense for Lesley, going 2-4 at the plate and Katie Bennett had 2 RBI. 

Elms took a 2-0 second-inning lead on a RBI single by sophomore shortstop Tammie Tremblay and a RBI walk by freshman left fielder Danielle LaPlante. The Blazers extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth on a RBI sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman Kerrie Bowden then sealed the game with a four-run fifth, highlighted by Guzzo’s RBI infield single and freshman third baseman Amanda DeSimone’s two-run single up the middle.

Quarterfinal contests were delayed two days until Thursday, May 4 due to weather. The losers of Friday's first two contests will meet at 2:00 p.m. with the winners playing at 4:00 p.m. Game five is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday with Game 6 following at 3:00 p.m. Game 7, if necessary, will be played Sunday, May 7 at 12:00 p.m. All contests will be held at Dooley Field at Elms College.

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April 30, 2006

Pairings Announced for NAC Softball Championship

After completing conference play, Lasell and Elms earned the top seeds in their respective divisions in the upcoming North Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament. The top four teams from each division qualify for the NAC Championship. Teams are reseeded entering the semifinals.

Lasell ended the regular season with a 7-3 mark in conference play, 22-14 overall. As the East division top seed, the Lasers will host Lesley (15-15 overall, 5-5 NAC) when tournament play begins this Tuesday, May 2. East division second seed Maine-Farmington (21-10 overall, 7-3 NAC) will host East division third seed Thomas (18-19 overall, 6-4 NAC).

West division fourth seed Becker (7-17 overall, 5-7 NAC) will travel to West division top seed and defending NAC Champion Elms (21-10 overall, 12-0 NAC). Mount Ida (13-25 overall, 8-4 NAC) earned the third seed in the West and will travel to second seed Castleton State (15-15 overall, 9-3 NAC).

The top four teams from each division qualify for the NAC Championship. Predetermined tiebreaking procedures were used to seed teams. Teams are then re-seeded entering the semifinal round based on similar seeding criteria. The top seed will host the tournament with contests beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 5. Game times are subject to change. The NAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.