34th Season Of Clark Softball Set To Begin March 4
Worcester, Mass. – The schedule for the 2012 Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic has been released and the Clark University softball team will take on ten teams – including a pair of opponents from last year's trip and four of who won 24 games or more – over five days in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Cougars, who finished 16-17 overall in 2011, will open action on Sunday, March 4 with games against the Rochester Institute of Technology (24-12) and Dominican (Ill.) University.
Clark and Dominican played in the event last season with the Stars (24-15) prevailing 5-3 on a 3-for-4, three RBI day from Sarah Budz. Budz, who was named both a NFCA All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2011, returns after hitting .485 with 11 homeruns and 53 RBI.
Day two will feature another team from 2011 with Wilmington (Ohio) slated for game one of the day. The Cougars and Quakers (13-21) played a 1-0 game last year, with Clark getting an RBI single from Tatiana Chunis (Sutton, Mass.) in the top of the sixth. The nightcap will see the Cougars square off with a Wittenberg (Ohio) team that returns a trio of All-NCAC performers.
Later in the week on Wednesday, the Scarlet and White are scheduled for a meeting with Geneva (Pa.) College. The Golden Tornadoes will be making their debut as a NCAA Division III team but won 27 games a season ago and had fourth place finish in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) tournament.
On Thursday, Clark will face a Finlandia (Mich.) University team that won 25 games last year and returns senior Brittany Garland. In 2011, Garland led the nation in RBI per game (2.08), had a .500 batting average, crushed 14 homeruns and drove in 75 runs.
Once the Cougars return north, a demanding non-league schedule awaits them. Clark will open its home slate with a twinbill against Bridgewater State on Friday, March 16 and will also face Nichols College (Tuesday, March 27), Worcester State (Tuesday, April 3), Roger Williams (Tuesday, April 17) and Brandeis University (Saturday, April 21).
As usual, the NEWMAC will present several challenges, including home dates against the league's top three teams from a season ago – Coast Guard (Friday, April 6), Springfield (Saturday, March 24) and Wellesley (Saturday, April 14).
Led by captain Erin Murphy (Boxborough, Mass.) who had a career-year in 2011 after switching from catcher to third base, the Cougars have one of the most experienced teams in the NEWMAC.
Murphy, along with four others – Maya Allen (Concord, Mass.), Maureen Coakley (Worcester, Mass.), Meghan Lennon (Charlton, Mass.) and Mel Melkonian (Worcester, Mass.) – started all 33 games a season ago. In fact, Murphy (104), Melkonian (69) and Lennon (61) have extended consecutive start streaks, while Coakley (94) and Stefanie Kettenacker (Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y.) (89) have seen extensive playing time as well – giving the Cougars a seasoned outfield trio.
Murphy definitely benefited from moving away from behind the plate as she set career-highs in batting average (.283), hits (30), homeruns (6), RBI (24), total bases (52) and slugging percentage (.451).
Allen, meanwhile, was as steady as you could've asked from a freshman, leading the team in batting average (.327) hits (33) and field percentage (.967), earning second-team All-NEWMAC honors from her spot at second base.
Melkonian transitioned from third base to shortstop and ended the season second on the team in batting and led the team in runs scored (26) and hits (33) for the second consecutive season. Excellent on the basepaths, she is a perfect 12-for-12 in career stolen bases and at the plate could reach the 100-hit plateau this season.
Clark also got significant contributions from rising sophomores Shawna Amatucci (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Chunis. Amatucci took over for Murphy behind the plate and excelled defensively - throwing out a league-best nine runners - and blossomed offensively. She started 32 games and finished third on the team in batting average (.283), second in homeruns (4) and helped manage a pitching staff that finished fourth in the league in ERA. A true power hitter, Amatucci blasted several tape measure homeruns in 2011 and was second on the squad in RBI (17).
Chunis, meanwhile, started 27 games at first base in her inaugural season and did well, posting a .965 fielding percentage in 167 chances. She was solid at the plate as well, hitting .265 with three homeruns and 16 runs batted in.
The infield has been solidified with the arrivals of newcomers Molly Clark (North Kingstown, R.I.) and Kiah Murphy (Westport, Mass.).
Junior Nicole Meuse (Hudson, Mass.) returns to the circle as the Cougars' top hurler. She had seven wins a season ago, recorded three shutouts and totaled 75 strikeouts.
Joining her on the pitching staff will be Lennon, who made three appearances in relief a season ago, sophomore Heather Figula (Brick, N.J.) and newcomer Hayley Buckheit (Camden, Maine).
Entering her 24th season at the helm of the Cougars, Linda Wage (383-270) is on the verge of collecting her 400th career victory from the Clark dugout – and the 2012 team has enough talent to make it happen.
