Junior Sierra Van De Keere struck out 34 batters in 20 1/3 innings pitched this week.

CLERMONT, Fla. – It took a very young Goshen College softball team a few games to get its feet wet, but the Maple Leafs came together quickly, winning four of their final five games for a 5-5 record on their Spring Break trip to Florida.

Largely against veteran teams, Goshen was shut out three times and managed just four runs in its first five games of the trip (1-4 record).  Behind two shutouts and 31 runs over the next five games, though, the Leafs caught fire to even their record at .500 for the trip and season.

Day 1 (2/22)

Davenport 10, Goshen 0 (Stats)

Junior pitcher Sierra Van De Keere was dueling early with the Panthers Brianna Carpenter as neither ace allowed a run through four innings.  Davenport finally busted out with four runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and four more in the seventh.  Goshen’s offense was not able to solve Carpenter as they tallied just two hits on the day, both off the bat of junior Leah Lehman as the Leafs dropped their season opener.

Day 2 (2/23)

Concordia (MN) 9, Goshen 0 (Stats)

For the second-straight game, junior Leah Lehman recorded the only Goshen hit as the offense struggled to get jump started.  Meanwhile, the Maple Leaf defense committed seven errors allowing Concordia to run away with the game 9-0.  Freshman left-handed pitcher Maria Koshmider gave up just two earned runs and struck out four in her four innings of work.

Goshen 3, Concordia (MN) 1 (Stats)

The Maple Leafs reversed fortunes against Concordia on the back end of a double header as they used their own dominating pitching performance to go on to their first win of the season.  Freshman Ame Blankenship retired 10 straight at one point and fired a complete-game two-hitter.  Blankenship faced just three over the minimum as Concordia got its run on a pair of errors in the sixth.  Freshman left fielder Bethany Kern led the Maple Leaf offense with a 2-for-2 game as Goshen scored twice in the first and once more in the fifth.

Webber International 3, Goshen 1 (Stats)

In the day’s final game, Florida native Webber International got an early 3-0 lead and was able to hold the Maple Leafs off late.  Goshen got its only run on a Kelsey Morris RBI single in the seventh.

Day 3 (2/24)

Webber International 3, Goshen 0 (Stats)

For the second time in a row, the Warriors of Webber International scored early and simply did not give Goshen a chance to come back.  Webber tallied two in the third and one in the fourth, while allowing just two Maple Leaf hits as they shut Goshen out to open play on Wednesday.  Freshman Maria Koshmider and sophomore Jessica Reed combined to give up two earned runs on six hits.

Goshen 5, Webber International 3 (Stats)

The Maple Leaf offense finally showed some life in their final game against Webber International.  After giving up a pair of runs in the top of the first, freshman Stacey Klein and Kat Berg both tripled in the bottom of the inning.  Klein was brought home by an Anne Lehman bunt and Berg scored on an RBI single by Jessica Reed.  The score remained knotted at 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth when Klein, Berg, and Reed all singled to put Goshen up one.  The knock out blow came on a two-run double by freshman Kelsey Morris.  Sierra Van De Keere did the rest in the circle as she earned the win after allowing just two earned runs and striking out 10.

Goshen 7, Concordia (MN) 0 (Stats)

Rolling on all cylinders now, the Maple Leafs finished day three with a 2-1 mark after a dominating 7-0 performance over Concordia.  Goshen tallied runs in the first on a Jessica Reed RBI single and the fourth as Kathryn Schlaback knocked in a run before exploding for five runs in the sixth.  Freshman Ame Blankenship was 3-for-4 with three doubles in the game, while classmate Kat Berg had a two-run triple.  Blankenship also took care of business in the circle, where she finished off her second complete game by scattering just three hits and striking out four.

Day 4 (2/25)

Davenport 7, Goshen 0 (Stats)

A strong Davenport University squad beat Goshen for the second time, while also snapping the Leafs two-game winning streak with a 7-0 victory to start Thursday’s action.  The Panther’s Brianna Carpenter was again too much for Goshen as she allowed only four singles.  Davenport, meanwhile, scored in each of the first four innings of the win.

Goshen 7, Concordia (MN) 0 (Stats)

The Maple Leafs immediately responded with another solid all-around effort to shut out Concordia (MN) for the second time on the trip.  In the circle, junior Sierra Van De Keere was on fire.  She allowed just two hits and struck out a season high 14 to earn her second win in as many days.  At the plate, Goshen pounded out 10 hits, including four of the extra base variety.  Freshman shortstop Kat Berg and sophomore first baseman Jessica Reed each went 3-for-4, while freshman Stacey Klein also had two hits for Goshen.

Goshen 12, Augustana 11 (Stats)

It was a wild finish to the week as the Maple Leafs outlasted Augustana College (Ill.) 12-11 to move to .500 for the first time in 2010.  After giving up a single run in the top of the first, the Leafs fired back with three in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI triple by Kat Berg and an RBI double off Jessica Reed’s bat.  Goshen jumped to a 7-1 lead in the second with four runs on RBIs by Ashley Hasbrouck, Anne Lehman, Berg, and Reed.  Goshen, then maintained its lead at 9-3 after the team’s traded runs in the fourth.  It was in the fifth, though, that Augustana made its move.  They took advantage of three Goshen errors in the inning before coming out of it with seven runs to to take a 10-9 lead.  The Leafs tied the score in the bottom of the frame and the teams each tallied single runs in the sixth to head to the seventh tied at 11-11.  Goshen got the walk off win in the seventh as they pounded out three hits in the inning, including Reed’s RBI single to win it.  Reed finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Van De Keere came out of the bullpen to throw 2 1/3 innings and earn her third win of the season.

2010 Goshen College Softball Team

GOSHEN, Ind. ­– Each of the past three preseasons have been significantly different for the Goshen College softball team.

Two years ago, uncertainty over a season that did not happen sparked a two-plus year rebuilding process that continues today.  Last season, the Maple Leafs took to the field again with very few expectations and more unknowns than anything.

As the program continues its drastic transformation under second-year head coach Lee Mast, Goshen now looks for ways to fine tune its game as they look to keep progressing up the Mid-Central College Conference standings.

“In order for us to be successful in the always tough MCC, we will have to cut down on the mental errors and be more aggressive at the plate,” Mast explains.  “With more speed on the team this year, we will also have to be much more aggressive on the base paths.”

After finishing 11-30 in 2009, Mast continued to build his roster by bringing in 13 freshmen, many who will find themselves in the starting line up right away.  The team gets things started next week as they head south for an 11-game trip to Clermont, Fla.

“This type of trip will allow us to give everyone a chance and see players perform,” Mast said.  “This should give me a sense of how competitive we will be this year.”

“We want to be very competitive during the season and be peaking at the end of the year to be ready for the conference tournament,” Mast concluded.

Infield Overview

Junior Leah Lehman

The Maple Leafs will have almost an entirely new look infield when they take the field for the first time in 2010.  The biggest loss from a year ago comes after the graduation of shortstop Amy Clem.  Clem was a one-woman wrecking crew at the plate, leading the team with a .412 average (.479 in MCC play), four triples, 11 home runs, and 38 runs batted in.  Also graduating from the infield was Krystal Duensing who started 23 games at second base after Anne Lehman suffered a broken hand.  Goshen will also be without Stormy Holder (.226, 18 RBI) who started most of the season at third base and Ashley Walker (.176) who started 30 games at first and behind the plate.

While it will definitely be a new look, Mast is excited about the talent and versatility of this year’s crop.  Mast has converted catcher Ashley Hackman into his starting third baseman.  Hackman batted .350 with seven doubles, three home runs, and 27 RBIs at Decatur’s Bellmont High School.  Taking Hackman’s spot to the left vacated by Clem will be a combination of freshman Jana Beitler and sophomore Jessica Reed.  Reed batted .250 with five home runs and 23 RBIs last season, primarily as a designated hitter.

On the right side of the infield, freshman Britta Abney and sophomore Anne Lehman will battle it out early in the season.  Lehman was a solid defensive option last year before her injury, while Abney also has familiarity with Mast having played for him at Goshen High School.  Rounding out the infield at first base will be junior Leah Lehman.  Lehman hit .315 last season with 11 doubles and 17 RBIs, while seeing action at third, first, and left field.  Mast has additional options at first base in senior Jessica Carney and freshman Ame Blankenship and Stephanie Osborn.

The biggest difference in this year’s Maple Leaf roster from year’s past will be depth.  Mast has options off the bench and can rotate players based on who has the hot bat.

Outfield Overview

Sophomore Danae Nafziger

Depth is also a strength in the outfield where Mast has a lot of flexibility with a versatile group.  Early on, look for freshmen Kat Berg to start in left field with classmate Stacy Klein in center and sophomore Danae Nafziger in right.  The trio has incredible speed and may be the quickest outfield grouping in the conference.

The best part for Mast, though, will be the ability to change the outfield rotation based on needs.  He has power options in sophomore Liz Berg (3 HR as a freshman) and Bethany Kern, experience in senior Kathryn Schlabach, and competitive winners Jordan Ritchie, Brittany Moser, and Ashley Hasbrouck.  All of them will get their chances and could be called upon at any time to give the Maple Leafs a lift.

Catching/ Pitching Overview

Junior Sierra Van De Keere

Apart from Clem, the biggest loss from a year ago was the graduation of Haly (Williamson) King, who is now in her first season on the coaching staff.  Williamson was in the circle for 10 of Goshen’s 11 wins last season, while posting an impressive 3.64 earned run average and 83 strikeouts in 148 innings pitched.

After redshirting last year and playing at IUPUI the season before, junior Sierra Van De Keere will take Williamson’s role as the Maple Leafs staff ace.  The two-time all state selection at local Jimtown High School, Van De Keere tossed eight no-hitters and two perfect games in her high school career.  As a senior, she led the Jimmies to a 23-9 record with a sparkling 0.92 earned run average.

Jessica Reed returns for her second season in the circle for Goshen in 2010 as well.  She posted a 5.44 ERA in 81 innings of work last year after a standout career at Centreville High School in Michigan.  The Leafs will also have an outstanding option from the left side in freshman Maria Koshmider.  The Garaway High School (Sugarcreek, Ohio) standout recorded 26 wins and more than 300 strikeouts over her junior and senior seasons.

As with every other position on this year’s roster, Mast also has options and flexibility in the pitching rotation.  Freshman Ame Blankenship, Jordan Ritchie, and Bethany Kern will also see important innings for the Goshen staff.  Senior Dianna Stanley has injuries that have her out of the pitching circle and onto the bench as a student assistant coach.

Freshman Kelsey Morris won the starting catcher role in the fall and will see significant time behind the plate.  Also looking for time behind the dish will be freshman Kat Berg and Brittany Moser.

Morgan Broderick

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College coaches Jim Routhier (volleyball) and Lee Mast (softball) teamed up to bring in coveted two-sport star Morgan Broderick, the athletic department recently announced.

The Huntington North High School standout was an all conference selection as a libero for the volleyball program in the fall and will enter her third year of varsity softball this spring.

As a senior, Broderick set a new Viking single-season record for digs with 656.  She tallied 10 or more in 28 of the team’s 33 matches and had as many 42 in a September contest against Fort Wayne Snider.  Her 6.48 digs a game led the North Central Conference, which resulted in First Team All NCC honors.  In three varsity seasons, Broderick racked up 1,201 digs, which also put her atop the Huntington North record book.

“We are very fortunate to have signed a great player like Morgan,” said Routhier who will head into his second season next fall.  “She is a tremendously talented libero and is a wonderfully positive individual.  Her work ethic is outstanding. Morgan will fit in well in our program and will help us in our championship run next year.”

The reflexes needed to be a successful libero have also served Broderick well on the softball field.  As a corner infielder for the Vikings, Broderick committed just two errors in nearly 200 attempts (99% fielding percentage) as a junior.  She also batted .314 with 22 hits, 11 RBIs, and four doubles last season.

“I am really excited to have Morgan join our programs,” said Mast.  “The times I have seen her play, she really impressed me with her knowledge of the game, great hand-eye coordination, strong footwork, and speed on the bases.  She also has a super personality, which is something that I always look for in a player.”

Broderick has some additional familiarity in the Maple Leaf program through a former teammate.  Current freshman softball player Stacey Klein played grew up playing with Broderick on the high-level Fort Wayne Fire travel team.

After Broderick finishes her high school career this spring, she will join a growing and talented recruiting class for Maple Leaf volleyball which already includes a pair of Ohio standouts, Stacy Wyse and Chelsea Schmucker.  Heading into the spring, Mast has already added several players to go alongside Broderick in the 2011 class before his 2010 team has even stepped on a field.

Christine Stubblefield

GOSHEN, Ind. – Following his first season at the helm of the Goshen College softball program, head coach Lee Mast knows what it will take to take his Maple Leafs to the next level.

After bringing in the largest and most talented class in program history this summer, Mast waited little time adding his first 2010-11 recruit as California standout Christine Stubblefield recently signed a national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at Goshen College.

Primarily a corner infielder, Stubblefield is versatile enough to play any position on the field.  She will graduate from Ruben S. Ayala High School in Chino Hills (Calif.) in the spring before heading to Indiana to help Mast and the Maple Leafs reach the next level.

“Christine has great footwork and is a very strong defensive player,” Mast explained.  “She has great mechanics and will be a huge addition to our team.  I have no doubt that she will make an immediate impact and will be a strong leader on this team in the years to come.”

Southern California is a hotbed for softball talent and Stubblefield has played for the highly competitive California Rage for the past two years.  In the year-round program that has produced players for programs across the country like the University of Nebraska and the University of Hawaii, Stubblefield recently posted an impressive .380 batting average.

Stubblefield’s Ayala High School teams have also had tremendous success, winning Sierra League Championships in both her sophomore and junior seasons.  She was an all league honorable mention pick following her sophomore season in which the Bulldogs went 21-11.

A standout off the field as well, Stubblefield has maintained a grade point average of over 3.8 throughout high school.  She plans to study American Sign Language (ASL) at Goshen with the hope of becoming an interpreter. Stubblefield has served in several leadership roles in her high school ASL club, including being vice president this past year.

While Stubblefield will not join the Maple Leafs until the 2010-11 season, this year’s version of the team is just months away from the start of their season.  They will begin with a trip south for a Spring Break Tournament in Clermont (Fla.) on February 19-28.

After leading the Maple Leaf softball program to its first 10 win season since 2003, Mast has laid the ground work for even more success. The latest group of signings are a testament to his work in the local softball arena. Britta Abney – Second Base
Goshen High School (Goshen, Ind.)

A standout softball, basketball, and volleyball player at local Goshen High School, Britta Abney has signed to play for the Maple Leafs in 2009-10.

“I have been looking for the local factor and Britta’s signing could be the stepping stone,” said Mast, who coached Abney during his tenure at the high school. “Not only are we getting an outstanding athlete, but also a quality student.”

Britta is the daughter of Greg and Charlene Abney and will study secondary education with a focus in mathematics at Goshen College.

Ritchie singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh while earning the win in the circle for West Noble in the section championship game and will now bring that winning attitude to Goshen College in the fall.

“Both Jordan and Brittany (Moser) are great leaders, having passed their great work ethics on to the younger players,” high school coach Jared Knepper said. “Both are great role models.”

Jordan is the daughter of Scott and Nila Ritchie and has yet to decide on her field of study.

Another local star, Brittany Moser helped West Noble to a 22-10 record and its first-ever sectional championship.

“It is rare to get two players of this quality from the same high school,” Mast said. “They can come in and help our program.”

The daughter of Matt and Robin Moser, Brittany will study nursing at Goshen College beginning in the fall. Kathryn Berg – Utility
LHSS (Langley, British Columbia)

The sister of current Maple Leaf softball player Liz Berg, Kathryn will join her sister with the Goshen College softball program in 2009-10.

“Kathryn plays with no fear and is a very versatile player who can play anywhere in the infield or outfield,” Mast explained. “She has played a lot of travel ball in Canada and up and down the West Coast so she has a lot of experience that will help improve our program.”

An outstanding athlete, Whitney Gulley will play both softball and basketball at Goshen College in 2009-10.

“Whitney has great outfield skills and being a lefty with speed really got my attention,” Mast said. “She can hit for power as well as bunt and slap. She is a great fit and I am looking forward to having her in our program.” Stacey Klein – Middle Infielder
Snider High School (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Part of an outstanding program at Fort Wayne Snider High School, Stacey Klein, a middle infielder will join the Maple Leafs in the fall.

“Stacey has great softball IQ,” Mast said. “She has great speed out on the base paths, can bat lefty or righty, and has exceptional bat control.”

At Snider, Klein has been part of four conference championship teams and a 4A section title in 2008 as a junior.

A Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Winner, Stephanie Osborn will join the Maple Leaf sin 2009-10. In addition to varsity softball, Osborn has played four years of basketball and two each of golf and volleyball at Angola High School.

“Stephanie is just a great kid and is very active in her community and loves to help others,” Mast added. “She has a very good bat and hits with a lot of power.”

Very active in the community, Osborn in part of the National Honor Society, Circle of Friends, and Kids on the Block. The daughter of Theresa and Jack Osborn, Stephanie will study secondary education with the hopes of becoming a middle school math teacher.

After leading the Maple Leaf softball program to its first 10 win season since 2003, Goshen College Head Coach Lee Mast has now officially announced the addition of eight student-athletes to the 2009-2010 roster. Recently, Mast announced the signings of Sharayah Fike, Jana Beitler, Kelsey Morris, and Maria Koshmider to letter of intents. Ashley Hackman – Third Base/ Catcher
Belmont High School (Decatur, Ind.)

After smashing a team-record 28 home runs in 2009, the Maple Leafs have added another strong and consistent bat in Belmont High School graduate Ashley Hackman.

As a junior, Hackman pounded out 41 hits, seven doubles, three home runs, and 27 RBI’s, while batting an impressive .350. She also slugged .504, while striking out just 10 times in 117 at bats. Midway through her senior campaign, Hackman had stepped it up even more, posting an outstanding .425 batting average.

“I am really excited to have Ashley coming to Goshen College to continue her softball career,” Mast said. “She is a good power hitter, a great student, and will fit well here.”

“Ashley is a good student of the game of softball,” Mast explained. “She can play just about anywhere and has great speed, which is what I was looking for out of her.”

Ashley, a graduate of Centreville High School and the daughter of Jim and Katrina Hasbrouck, will study nursing at Goshen College when she arrives in the fall.

“She can slap as well as lay down bunts,” added Mast. “I can see her playing catcher a little as well as covering a lot of ground in the outfield with her speed.”

“Bethany will be a big help to our pitching staff and may play some at first base,” explained Mast. “She has a strong bat, but has also handled most of the pitching duties at Triton.”

The daughter of Albert and Kay Kern, Bethany is a 2009 graduate of Triton High School. She will study music at Goshen College.

A 2009 graduate of Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City (Ohio), Blankenship will step in immediate to help solidify the Maple Leaf pitching staff.

“Amy will really help our pitching rotation as she is very strong and hits her spots,” Mast explained. “We are very excited to have Amy coming to Goshen College to further her education and join the softball program.”

Amy – the daughter of Robert and Mari Blankenship – has pitched in every one of her high school team’s games this season and has helped Jonathan Alder to a 17-6 record.

One of the top hitters in the state of Michigan, Sharayah Fike of Coleman High School was batting .436 through mid-May. An athletic catcher, Fike also boasts four varsity letters in volleyball and one in basketball.

“Sharayah impressed me with her overall leadership behind the plate, strong throwing arm, and has a very good bat,” Mast said. “Her personality fits in well with our softball program and I am looking forward to having her behind the plate.”

The daughter of Paul and Kristi Fike, Sharayah is planning on majoring in nursing and has aspirations to be a pediatric nurse at either St. Jude’s or Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospitals. “Along with the visit to the softball team, the college was a major pull on me,” she explained. “Anyone should get the feeling that this was their new college and home. I know I did.”

A strong defensive infielder, Jana Beitler has helped lead South Adams High School to three straight winning seasons. As a sophomore Beitler led her team with a .969 fielding percentage, was second on the team with 12 stolen bases and third in RBI’s (13) and runs scored (23).

“Jana will bring infield experience and a lot of speed from the left side of the plate along with a quick and strong arm,” explained Mast. “We are looking forward to having her join our softball program. She will play shortstop or some outfield.”

A standout off the field as well, Beitler has been part of the National Honor Society, is her class valedictorian, and has been active in community service projects such as Habitat For Humanity and the American Red Cross. Kelsey Morris – Catcher
Mooresville High School (Mooresville, Ind.)

A standout at Mooresville High School in Southern Indiana, Kelsey Morris has signed with the Maple Leafs for the 2009-10 season.

“I was really impressed right away with Kelsey’s catching and blocking skills,” Mast explained. “She has quick footwork, a strong arm, and a great personality that fits well with our other players.”

“She is very focused on what is going on around her, knows where the runners are and communicates to everyone on the field,” Mast added. “She has great leadership abilities and will have an immediate impact on our program.”

Dominating left-handed pitchers are hard to find, but Mast snagged one with the signing of Maria Koshmider. Through her junior season, Koshmider had racked up 20 wins, 244 1/3 innings pitched and 281 strike outs for Garaway High School in Sugarcreek, Ohio.

“Maria has great form and plays her position really well,” Mast explained. “She has command with a lot of different pitches and is throwing much harder in her senior year.”

Her 14 wins and 150 strikeouts as a junior are program records as Koshmider also threw the program’s first-ever perfect game in that season. Through mid-May, Koshmider already boasted 12 wins and more than 120 strikeouts as a senior. She has been awarded all district, all conference, and the Team Leadership award.

“Now that the ladies are done with exams, we can really focus on softball for a few days,” said head coach Lee Mast. “They are really excited and I think we are going to really surprise some people.”

While wet, rainy weather put a wrench into each round of the double-elimination tournament, the Maple Leafs waited out the rain before putting together some of their most solid play of the season.

Unfortunately, against national-title contender Bethel College, that was not quite enough to pull out a victory. Goshen dropped its opening game of the 2009 MCC Tournament 2-1 to the top-seeded Pilots Tuesday afternoon.

Bethel was able to tally two runs in the bottom of the third inning as they pounded out four hits in the first three frames.

Meanwhile, Pilot starter Rachel Zirille – who came in with an E.R.A. of under 2.0 in conference play – was on her game early. Zirille held the Leafs hitless until the seventh and final inning when sophomore Leah Lehman broke through with a triple. Senior Amy Clem quickly added a single up the middle to put Goshen on the board and one run away from a tie.

The Pilots and Zirille, however, shut the door and Goshen fell by a 2-1 count. Freshman Jessica Reed came in out of the bullpen to give up just one hit over three innings as her and senior Haly Williamson combined to hold a powerful Bethel lineup to just five hits and two runs on the day.

Now in the loser’s bracket, the Maple Leafs would try to fight off elimination against a very strong Huntington University squad, who was seeded #4 in the tournament.

This time around, Goshen jumped to the lead as Clem blasted a solo home run to lead of the second inning. For Clem it was her 11th homer of the season as she extended her single-season Goshen College record. Clem would ultimately finish her career with 15, which places her second all-time behind 2002 graduate Candy Feare with 18.

Goshen jumped to the early lead against Huntington University on Wednesday as senior Amy Clem extended her single-season home run record with a leadoff shot in the second inning.

Down by a single run, the Foresters rallied for a single run in the third before taking their first lead with another single tally in the sixth. While the Leafs committed only two errors in the contest, they both were costly as both Forester runs were unearned.

Senior Haly Williamson had a strong finish to a outstanding collegiate career as she fired five and one-thirds innings, while giving up just four hits and no earned runs on the day. Her 10 wins in 2009 ranks fourth all-time for a single season, while her 83 strikeouts is the second-highest single-season total.

While Goshen was unable to find a win in the two-day event, the Leafs did leave with the respect of the conference. First-year head coach Lee Mast has quickly turned the program around from not fielding a team in 2008 to an 11-30 season surpassing the win total from the past three years combined.

Goshen was first to jump out in the bottom of the second inning. Despite a fractured hand, junior Jessica Carney cleared the left-field fence breaking into the game with the first home run of the day.

“[Carney] refused to quit,” said the Leafs head coach Lee Mast. “She told me she would take care of it after softball.”

Purdue answered back in the following frame with a pair of singles to right field landing runners on first and third base. The third hit of the inning was drilled deep into center field bringing in a run for the Panthers. Another hit quickly followed as Purdue- North Central took a 2-1 lead. Goshen managed to put a quick end to Purdue’s efforts as Leah Lehman caught a fly to left field stopping the Panthers in their tracks.

Lehman further displayed her versatile skills as she smashed the second home run of the day over the center-field fence to bring in two runs for the Maple Leafs taking a 3-2 lead on Purdue.

Determined to put up a fight, the Panthers tied up the game 3-3 scoring on a sacrificed fly in the top of the fourth. The Leafs immediately stopped Purdue from breaking the deadlock as sophomore Ashley Walker did the splits at first base for the third out dashing the Panthers efforts.

Goshen managed to break the tie to pull ahead in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on second and third, Goshen scored on a wild pitch. Sneaking in a few more insurance runs, the Leafs took the win over Purdue 6-4.

Despite their efforts, Goshen failed to use this momentum in game two. Purdue took immediate control scoring two runs in the first two innings. However, Goshen stayed on the Panther’s heals with a solo home run in the third.

This was not enough to push Goshen through to the end as Purdue extended their lead 12-2 by the top of the fifth. In an effort to chip away at the deficit, senior Amy Clem cleared left field for another home run to bring in two runs. However, the Maple Leafs fell just short of avoiding the eight-run mercy score as the game ended in a 12-4 loss moving Goshen to a record of 11-28 overall.

“We’re still on the right track,” said Mast. “We had a good effort overall. I think [the conference] will find out we’re not going to be a push over in the tournament.”

Goshen will wrap up their season this Tuesday and Wednesday entering the MCC tournament against Bethel College on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University.

- By Brandon Long
GC Sports Information

Freshman Liz Berg

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – With finals week weighing heavily on their minds, the Leafs felt the pressure of what it means to be a student-athlete as they traveled to the campus of Spring Arbor University on Wednesday. Despite Goshen’s efforts to stay focused on softball, the number three-ranked team in the Mid-Central College Conference swept the Leafs 6-1, 7-3.

“I never wanted to play that game during exams,” said Goshen’s head coach Lee Mast. “My first priority is to get my kids educated.”

According to Mast, the bus ride was nothing he had ever seen before.

“Everyone just sat quietly with their laptops studying,” said Mast. “They just were not in the softball frame of mind.”

Loading the bases with no outs in the top of the first inning, it appeared Goshen might score an early lead on the Cougars in game one. However, their attempt at scoring fell short as Spring Arbor tightened their defense and put an end to the Leaf’s turn at bat.

“When we couldn’t score with the bases loaded, I knew we were in trouble,” said Mast.

Spring Arbor broke into the game knocking in two runs in the bottom of the second. With Goshen struggling to drive runs in of their own, the Cougars managed another run in the bottom of the fourth. Looking to close the deficit, the Maple Leafs jumped out late in the game with one run in the top of the sixth.

Despite the encouraging score, Goshen could no longer hold Spring Arbor, who added three more runs to end the game 6-1.

Hoping to salvage a split, Goshen immediately jumped into game two with two runs while holding the Cougar’s bats at bay. Senior Amy Clem reinforced her batting reputation with her ninth home run to break the program’s single season record. However, Spring Arbor was determined to take all or nothing on their home field.

Breaking into the game in the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars pulled in four runs to double the Maple Leaf’s score. Three more runs in the fifth turned up the pressure on the Maple Leafs to close the deficit. However, Goshen could not pull through managing one more run before falling to Spring Arbor 7-3.
Regardless of the loss, Mast is not concerned about the team’s upcoming conference tournament.

“This will have no impact on the tournament,” said Mast. “With exams coming to an end, tomorrow will be a great indicator about the remaining season.”

Due to Goshen’s performance despite not having a season last year, Mast foresees an exceptional future ahead.

“I feel Leah Lehman’s batting is coming around, Jessica Reed is coming into her own, and Stormy Holder is starting to be more consistent at the plate,” said Mast.

Though Maple Leaf softball shows promise for the years to come, three Leafs will not return next season. Seniors Amy Clem, Krystal Duensing, and Haly Williamson will be graduating leaving the other girls to lead Maple Leaf softball.

“The type of senior leadership we’ve had is outstanding,” said Mast. “It’s the type of leadership that you want in every clubhouse.”

With a current conference record of 4-12 and 10-27 overall, Goshen will be hosting Purdue University North Central at home before wrapping their season with the MCC tournament.

- By Brandon Long
GC Sports Information