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SDSU D-I softball season a success
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...46/1002/SPORTS
Published: 05/5/05 1:55 am
Last week, the South Dakota State softball team wrapped up its most successful season in eight years. Yet, the players didn't feel like they measured up to their own lofty expectations.
"We weren't satisfied because we knew how much potential we had and what we could have done with the season," sophomore Steph Kuhl said. "We didn't always come prepared to play."
The Jackrabbits went 30-29 in their debut in Division I, the team's first winning record since 1997. They lose just two seniors next year, when the schedule gets a little tougher with more D-I foes, but Coach Shane Bouman liked what he saw for the future."The biggest thing, looking back, was to see the sparkle in some of the younger players' eyes - that they can play at the Division I level," said Bouman, who completed his fourth year leading the program. "We maybe were not as successful against those teams, but you could see the light go on with those players. They have a lot of excitement for next season, even just being done for a few days."
SDSU was 2-13 against established Division I schools this year, with victories coming against Boston University (at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta) and Ball State (at the Hawkeye Classic in Iowa City, Iowa). Still, it was a marked improvement over last year's 23-36 record.Ashley Kalina, one of the team's graduating seniors, noticed the difference. The Jacks improved their team batting average and runs scored from last year while lowering their errors committed and runs allowed.
"Playing Division I competition definitely made us better," said Kalina, who plans to get married and enroll in graduate school at Florida State this summer. "It's a start in the right direction."
Part of Bouman's first recruiting class, Kalina splashed her name all over SDSU's record book. The Elkhorn, Neb., native is first in career games played, home runs, stolen bases and total bases, and she is ranked in every career offensive category.Kalina batted .311 this year with team highs in hits (59), runs (42), homers (eight) and RBIs (34).
"She's maybe the best player South Dakota State has ever had, and that's saying a lot," Bouman said.Kuhl could push a lot of Kalina's records. She hit a team-best .314 this year with five homers. Her 10 homers in two seasons are halfway to Kalina's career mark of 20.
In the circle, the Jacks return all three of their pitchers. Kim Westendorf was 16-19 with a 3.07 ERA after working 2073/4 innings. Fellow freshman Kiley Schwedhelm, selected as this week's Division I Independent Softball Player of the Week, finished 7-1 with a 2.40 ERA.
Kuhl said the lasting memory of the year came Friday, when SDSU beat Winona State for Bouman's 100th career win. The Jacks pulled out a 2-1 victory in 10 innings."That was probably the best we've played in a long time," she said. "I think that was a great way to end the season. We're all looking forward to next season already."
Baseball awards
Baseball outfielder Pat Farrell was named Division I Independent Player of the Week. The senior from Excelsior, Minn., went 8-for-19, including two three-hit games and his first two homers of the season.
SDSU also placed two players on the Division I Independent Baseball All-Academic Team. Sophomore shortstop Chris Iverson from Pierre (3.406 in Spanish), and junior catcher Kyle Sytsma (3.536 in mechanical engineering) were named to the squad, which included 13 other D-I independents.Senior Greg Geary tied Billy McMacken last week for the school's all-time home run mark with the 42nd of his career.
The Jackrabbits (15-29), who are off this week because of final exams, travel to Northern Iowa on Tuesday for a two-game series.
Lowery watch
South Dakotans will get one final chance to watch track star Brad Lowery.
Lowery, a senior distance runner from Pierre, will run a special 1-mile race on Friday at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays."No one has broken the four-minute mark within the borders of South Dakota," said SDSU coach Rod DeHaven, who was voted into the Howard Wood Dakota Relays this year. "Brad is obviously someone who could be capable of it. He'd need a lot of things to fall into place."
After redshirting in the fall, Lowery will run his final year of cross country starting in September. He won the 1,500- and 5,000-meter races at last week's Drake Relays, but has yet to reach the qualifying time in the 1,500 for the USA Outdoor Championships, which will be held in July at Carson, Calif.
WHAT'S NEXT
TRACK AND FIELD: Friday-Saturday at Howard Wood Dakota Relays; May 14-15 at Independent Championships in Davis, Calif.
BASEBALL: Tuesday-Wednesday at Northern Iowa; May 13-15 at Southern Illinois; May 17 at Kansas State.
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...46/1002/SPORTS
Published: 05/5/05 1:55 am
Last week, the South Dakota State softball team wrapped up its most successful season in eight years. Yet, the players didn't feel like they measured up to their own lofty expectations.
"We weren't satisfied because we knew how much potential we had and what we could have done with the season," sophomore Steph Kuhl said. "We didn't always come prepared to play."
The Jackrabbits went 30-29 in their debut in Division I, the team's first winning record since 1997. They lose just two seniors next year, when the schedule gets a little tougher with more D-I foes, but Coach Shane Bouman liked what he saw for the future."The biggest thing, looking back, was to see the sparkle in some of the younger players' eyes - that they can play at the Division I level," said Bouman, who completed his fourth year leading the program. "We maybe were not as successful against those teams, but you could see the light go on with those players. They have a lot of excitement for next season, even just being done for a few days."
SDSU was 2-13 against established Division I schools this year, with victories coming against Boston University (at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta) and Ball State (at the Hawkeye Classic in Iowa City, Iowa). Still, it was a marked improvement over last year's 23-36 record.Ashley Kalina, one of the team's graduating seniors, noticed the difference. The Jacks improved their team batting average and runs scored from last year while lowering their errors committed and runs allowed.
"Playing Division I competition definitely made us better," said Kalina, who plans to get married and enroll in graduate school at Florida State this summer. "It's a start in the right direction."
Part of Bouman's first recruiting class, Kalina splashed her name all over SDSU's record book. The Elkhorn, Neb., native is first in career games played, home runs, stolen bases and total bases, and she is ranked in every career offensive category.Kalina batted .311 this year with team highs in hits (59), runs (42), homers (eight) and RBIs (34).
"She's maybe the best player South Dakota State has ever had, and that's saying a lot," Bouman said.Kuhl could push a lot of Kalina's records. She hit a team-best .314 this year with five homers. Her 10 homers in two seasons are halfway to Kalina's career mark of 20.
In the circle, the Jacks return all three of their pitchers. Kim Westendorf was 16-19 with a 3.07 ERA after working 2073/4 innings. Fellow freshman Kiley Schwedhelm, selected as this week's Division I Independent Softball Player of the Week, finished 7-1 with a 2.40 ERA.
Kuhl said the lasting memory of the year came Friday, when SDSU beat Winona State for Bouman's 100th career win. The Jacks pulled out a 2-1 victory in 10 innings."That was probably the best we've played in a long time," she said. "I think that was a great way to end the season. We're all looking forward to next season already."
Baseball awards
Baseball outfielder Pat Farrell was named Division I Independent Player of the Week. The senior from Excelsior, Minn., went 8-for-19, including two three-hit games and his first two homers of the season.
SDSU also placed two players on the Division I Independent Baseball All-Academic Team. Sophomore shortstop Chris Iverson from Pierre (3.406 in Spanish), and junior catcher Kyle Sytsma (3.536 in mechanical engineering) were named to the squad, which included 13 other D-I independents.Senior Greg Geary tied Billy McMacken last week for the school's all-time home run mark with the 42nd of his career.
The Jackrabbits (15-29), who are off this week because of final exams, travel to Northern Iowa on Tuesday for a two-game series.
Lowery watch
South Dakotans will get one final chance to watch track star Brad Lowery.
Lowery, a senior distance runner from Pierre, will run a special 1-mile race on Friday at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays."No one has broken the four-minute mark within the borders of South Dakota," said SDSU coach Rod DeHaven, who was voted into the Howard Wood Dakota Relays this year. "Brad is obviously someone who could be capable of it. He'd need a lot of things to fall into place."
After redshirting in the fall, Lowery will run his final year of cross country starting in September. He won the 1,500- and 5,000-meter races at last week's Drake Relays, but has yet to reach the qualifying time in the 1,500 for the USA Outdoor Championships, which will be held in July at Carson, Calif.
WHAT'S NEXT
TRACK AND FIELD: Friday-Saturday at Howard Wood Dakota Relays; May 14-15 at Independent Championships in Davis, Calif.
BASEBALL: Tuesday-Wednesday at Northern Iowa; May 13-15 at Southern Illinois; May 17 at Kansas State.