By Timothy Bold
The Scene staff
A wildly successful softball season for the Lady Archers softball team ended abruptly at the NCJAA Division II national championships in May in Clinton, Miss. After compiling a 40-4 record and No. 6 ranking nationally, the team lost both its qualifying games.
Going into the tournament, the Lady Archers were on a roll, winning 19 straight games and earning a No. 6 seed in the bracket. It was STLCC’s first ever appearance in the big dance.
A rainy spring locally didn’t do them any favors. They played only four games in the month before the tournament. “We gave them a week off for finals and practiced indoors a lot because of the weather conditions,” co-coach Joe Swiderski said.
“We didn’t swing the bats well because of the lack of playing time,” Swiderski said. “Higher temperatures with humidity caused lots of problems, including balls slipping out of players’ hands.”
A team normally known for good defense committed eight errors in the two losses, accounting for six unearned runs.
The Lady Archers lost their opening round game 8-1 to the 11th seeded Sinclair Community College Athletics of Ohio. The Athletics jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning and never looked back. The Lady Archers got eight hits and three walks but couldn’t produce runs. Sophomore Jennifer Leubbert scored the Archers’ only run in the third inning on an errant throw.
STLCC lost its elimination game 9-4 to the 14th seeded Cuyahoga Triceratops of Ohio. The Lady Archers got off to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with Kacy Bergfeld doubling in Jennifer Luebbert and a sacrifice fly by Haley Schmutz. The Triceratops scored three times in the second inning before the Lady Archers tied the game in the bottom half on Tori Siebum’s sacrifice fly.
Cuyahoga held a 4-3 lead until the sixth, when the Triceratops scored four times, highlighted by freshman catcher Megan Mulhan’s three-run homer. Mulhan went four for five with six RBIs.
Referencing the high number of errors, Swiderski said, “The softball fields were hard. Ground balls came up faster than normal, and players were used to playing on a softer surface.
Despite the disappointing finishing, “we far exceeded our expectations,” Swiderski said. The team eclipsed 40 wins for the first time.
They’re the first Division II team to win the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference, going 15-1 in conference play. The team also won the Region 16 and District P championships.
Co-coach Kristi Swiderski was voted the Region 16 and MCCAC coach of the year.
Sophomores Bergfeld and Hannah Marquardt and freshmen Miranda Hudson and Schmutz earned first team all-region and all-conference awards.
Sophomore Sarah Shepard earned second team all-region and all-conference. Freshman Siebum received first team all-region and second team all-conference. Sophomore Abby Lively earned second team all-region.
Seven sophomores are continuing softball at four-year schools. Bergfeld, (Columbia College in Missouri); Molly Darner, (St. Thomas University in Florida); Shepard (Ave Maria University in Florida); Luebbert, (Webster University); and Maddison Stanley (California Lutheran University).
Chloe Johnson and Abby Lavely are still considering offers. Marquardt is going to the Iowa State School of Medicine and might try out as a walk-on.
Seven regulars, including three pitchers, are expected to return next season and the recruits look promising.
“Some can just flat out play and others can run. It’s a good variation,” Joe Swiderski said. Among the recruits are three top-notch pitchers.”
The coach coaching staff feels like the team next season could repeat its success. “We’re not going to sneak up on anybody anymore,” Swiderski said.