Best Of The Decade (2000): Softball

BIG RAPIDS - Under the direction of head coach Keri Becker, Ferris State University's softball program has ranked among the best at the NCAA Division II level.

As most coaches will say, however, it's impossible to have great teams without great players doing great things. Becker's early teams, those that competed during the late 1990s, achieved great things on the diamond. A few of those standout student-athletes continued to produce through the 2000 campaign.

It's difficult (if not impossible) to think of some of those great teams and not remember players like Anne Bentley, Nadine Crowl, Jody Gifford and others who took Ferris to the brink of an NCAA Division II National Championship in 1998, back to the national championships in 1999 and to a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title in 2000 on its home diamond.

So, Ferris clearly has had no shortage of great players over the years.

One of the challenges of choosing this team is weighing the strong contributions of players who played most of their career in the 1990s, but competed one season in 2000. On one side, Ferris has had great competitors like Bentley and Crowl who were dominant players in the late 1990s and took the program to unprecedented heights on the regional and national scenes. On the other side, Ferris has had players such as Emily McLean (pictured) and Sarah Mueller, who enjoyed outstanding success, also was a part of a team that advanced to the national championship and played her entire career during the decade.

With that being written, my choice for captain of the Best of the Decade Softball Team is Emily McLean, who has a softball resume that doesn't have to play second fiddle to anyone else's credentials.

Here is the Best of the Decade (2000) Top Six:

Anne Bentley: One of the outstanding utility players to suit up in the crimson and gold for Ferris State University on the softball diamond. The Wyoming, Mich. native played all over the infield and was dependable at any position (whether it was shortstop, second base or first base). If needed, she probably could have pitched, too. Her hitting was solid throughout her career. More than anything, however, it might have been her will to win and drive to be successful that put her ahead of so many of her competitors on the diamond (or on the tennis court where she was one of the best to play for the Bulldogs at her spot in the tennis lineup). Back on the diamond, however, she capped a strong softball career by being named a third-team All-American in 2000. Anne batted .302 with five home runs and 25 runs batted in during the 2000 campaign.

Nadine Crowl: A workhorse of a player who not only got it done with a powerful bat, but also made it happen in the circle where the lefty was a dominant pitcher (particularly during that storybook 1998 season. Down to the end of her career, during the 2000 season that witnessed Ferris win the GLIAC Softball Tournament championship on their home field in Big Rapids, the Coleman native was a key component of that success. She wasn't the most vocal player who has ever suited up for the Bulldogs, but she led by example (a very good example). Throughout her career, she was the model of consistency and efficiency in her production for head Coach Becker. During her final season, in 2000, Nadine was named team MVP as she batted .286 40 hits an six multi-hit games. She tied for the team's lead with 29 RBI and scored 26 runs with 10 doubles, two home runs, a .400 slugging percentage and a .355 on-base percentage

Emily McLean (Captain): She capped her career by being named to the 2006 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region First Team. This was one year after being named the 2005 GLIAC Player of the Year. Emily was a third baseman who was converted into an outfielder to fill a need for the Bulldogs. In a lot of ways, she could have played in a number of different spots on the diamond and achieved a level of success defensively that would also include success at the plate as well - where she swings a strong bat. The native of Rogers City was first-team All-GLIAC two seasons in a row (2005-06). As a senior, Emily led her Bulldogs with a batting average of .399, a career-best 71 hits and team-best totals in hits, RBI (42), home runs (seven). That is just a small part of the resume for one of the best ever to play for the Bulldogs. She had a career batting average of .355 (that is second all time only to Gifford).

Katie Kraai: A player people once doubted could succeed as a college softball player ended her Ferris career as an all-time great (both as a leader and as a player). Katie came to Ferris and turned into the rock over at third base who got the job done at the hot corner with her glove. As a senior, Kraai was a 2008 All-GLIAC first-team pick as she batted a career single-season best .297 and posted 51 hits, 17 doubles, three home runs and 32 runs batted in. Beyond her play on the field, and her tremendous leadership qualities, Katie was a dedicated student who put the student in student-athlete. The Zeeland native was a three-time GLIAC All-Academic Team choice. By the time the final chapter was written on her career, Katie had become the career Ferris leader in doubles (49) and ranked well in several other categories among the all-time greats at FSU. She willed herself and her teammates to great things in softball.

Sarah Mueller: Near the end of the decade, Sarah proved to be the top player for the Bulldogs as an outstanding utility player who was a top-notch pitcher, a great hitter and a strong presence in the outfield. A native of Santa Clarita, Calif., her dedication to softball and her teammates was evidence as she fought through some painful physical issues near the end of her career to come back and try and will her team to success at the close of the 2009 campaign in the NCAA regional tournament. She could hit for power, she could hit for average, she could pitch, she could run ... she could flat out do it all. Multiple times she was named an All-GLIAC First-Team player for the Bulldogs as a the result of her all-around play for Ferris. She had a career batting average of .317, a career slugging percentage of .486, 108 runs scored, 40 doubles, nine triples and 106 hits. As a sophomore, she was named to the 2007 Daktronics, Inc. All-America Third Team.

Nicki Merchant: A highly-recruited player, the Wayland native became a strong infielder for the Bulldogs and an excellent hitter. She was a first-team All-GLIAC pick her senior season after being named a second-team all-conference performer as a junior. As a senior, she led Ferris in hits with a career-best total of 53. She also was tops on the team in runs scored (23), doubles (12), home runs (three) and RBI (25). She batted .340 as a senior. By the time the final chapter was written on great career in crimson and gold, Nicki ranked second among Ferris' career leaders in home runs (14). Coming from an amazing family of outstanding student-athletes, Nicki was fourth in doubles (36), sixth in hits (175), seventh in RBIs (83) and tied for 13th in batting average (.293). To this day, she continues to rank well among the best to ever play the game for Ferris in softball.

Honorable Mention

Jaymee Kent: Came to the Bulldogs from Grand Rapids Community College and immediate paid dividends as a great hitter and solid fielder...
Allison McKibbin: Very good catcher who didn't play long for the Bulldogs, but played well while she was in crimson and gold. Also a very good hitter...
Dana (Peuler) Conklin: Came out of the Grand Rapids area with good credentials and ended her career as a solid player, a great leader and a person of unmatched character...

Amanda Opbroek: Another player of second-to-none character, Opbroek was a strong pitcher and a solid hitter who was a quiet leader during her era...

Melissa Worsley: A strong catcher who helped solidify the Bulldogs' batter combination during her time and also a solid hitter and tremendous leader...

Navreet Gill: One of the better utility players ever to perform for the Bulldogs on the diamond. She was a strong hitter and remarkably consistent...

Laura Crower: A very solid first baseman who was a good hitter. A great student and leader who set a good example...

Amanda Jager: An excellent hitter who could hit for power, had good discipline at the plate and brought great personality to the team...

Krystle Bailey: A rock of stability as a catcher who was an iron woman with the work she did behind the plate game in and game out...

Holly Bruntjens: Another rock of consistency in the pitcher's circle who didn't overpower, but knew how to move the ball. Emerged as a strong hitter and solid outfielder, too...
Lindsay Riskovitch: A quietly efficient middle infielder who has offensive numbers that might surprise a lot of people.

New recruits, old faces returning create optimism

HOUSTON – A veteran group is expected to return next spring to the softball diamond for Ferris State University.

Ferris’ strong junior class is led by all-region players in first baseman Amanda Jager and pitcher/outfielder Sarah Mueller. In addition to Jager and Mueller, the Bulldogs’ veteran group includes 2008 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament Most Valuable Player Holly Bruntjens, a pitcher; and catcher Krystle Bailey. That quartet leads an experienced group of players head coach Keri Becker is expected to lean on next spring.

In addition to the veterans, Ferris (which finished its season 35-18) boasts a solid recruiting class for 2009. Big Rapids High School star Makenzi Peterson, a talented and competitive local product who plays shortstop for the Cardinals; Rockford High School’s Stephanie Dusendang, who is a catcher and outfielder and has prepped for former Bulldog softball star Casey Munger-Dunham; Jenison’s Chelsea Morris, a talented first baseman, third baseman and outfielder from Jenison; and Frankfort’s Allison Webber, who plays third and short, comprise the four signees Becker has commitments from.

“I am very encouraged by our recruiting class,” said Becker, whose team had its 2008 spring season end at the hands of top-ranked Lock Haven by a 3-0 score in an elimination game at the 2008 NCAA Division II Softball National Championships at Memorial Park in Houston on Friday afternoon. “We already have four players who are signed and we could be adding maybe another walk-on or two depending on how some things work out. I think we’re going to have a nice mix of experienced players returning with some good new players coming in.

“The loss of (senior third baseman) Katie (Kraai) is going to mean some big shoes for us to fill,” added Becker. “But, I think we have some good players on our team and some quality players coming in who will compete to try and help us fill in those big shoes.”

SPRING 2008 BLOG 13: Streaking Bulldogs Do It With Offense

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Ferris State head softball coach Keri Becker didn’t have to think long when asked what has been going so right for her Bulldogs since the team’s return from Florida.

Back in Michigan, after more than a week of competition in the Sunshine State in early March, Ferris has hit its stride – particularly offensively. After winning three of four Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference road games over the weekend, sweeping Northwood and splitting with Saginaw Valley State, the Bulldogs looked sharp in a doubleheader against non-conference foe Cornerstone Monday afternoon. Back at the FSU Softball Field, Ferris earned a 5-0 win over the Golden Eagles in the opener and enjoyed a dominating offensive effort to secure the sweep with a 13-2 victory in the nightcap to improve to 16-9 on the season, overall, while remaining 7-1 in the GLIAC’s standings.

The key to Monday’s sweep, and this stretch of 11 wins in 12 games as the big picture, has been the ability to string together hits – especially the big ones.

“Basically, we’ve got offense coming from a lot of different people right now and that has definitely been one of the biggest differences since we got back from Florida,” said Becker, whose team hosts league rival Wayne State in a pair of non-conference games at the FSU Softball Field on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m. “It was nice to get that offense going and it was nice to get a lot of different people in the games to give (those younger players) some valuable game experience.”

Still, this recent string of success started with offense. Even with the wind blowing in, at the FSU Softball Field, the Bulldogs hit the ball hard time and time again. Redshirt freshman outfielder Rachel Wade had a big first game as she finished with two of Ferris’ eight hits including a double and two runs driven in. Senior third baseman Katie Kraai had a pair of hits while rookie outfielder Brooke Lewis batted 2-for-3 with a run scored as she started in right field.

In game two, Ferris’ offense was even better as the team pushed across 13 runs on 10 hits. Freshman second baseman Lynsay Weaver batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one driven in, redshirt freshman first baseman Rachel Mueller was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI, Wade finished 1-for-3 with three RBI, Kraai was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a run driven in while Lewis hit 1-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI.

Of significance, for the Bulldogs, was the ability to string together hits against Cornerstone’s pitching staff – something that had previously plagued the team at times in Florida.

“Our hitting has really improved since we got back from Florida and there are a lot more people who are hitting and hitting with confidence,” said Wade as the Bulldogs also had winning pitching performances from Kayle Stevenson (1-1) and Rhea Flores (1-0). “Our hitting has gotten better since Florida and our defense also has improved a lot to go with our pitching.”

SPRING 2008 BLOG 10: Weather cooperates, bats come alive for Bulldogs

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Leaving behind ideal weather and softball-playing conditions, in Florida, Ferris State found itself back indoors upon its return to Michigan.

The Wayne State Tournament was canceled and bad weather also cost the Bulldogs a home doubleheader against Aquinas, scheduled for Wednesday. Saturday, however, the weather was not perfect, but it was more than good enough to put the softball in play as Ferris welcomed Gannon to the FSU Softball Field to begin Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competition.

“It’s always nice to be able to get back on the field after you come back from Florida,” said Ferris head softball coach Keri Becker as her team is now 9-8 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC. “The weather is something you have to deal with. We actually were able to work on a lot of things inside and we accomplished a lot so when we got back on the field, outside, we were able to get back at it.”

To start game one, the Bulldogs showed some signs of some of the troubles that plagued them at times in Florida. Ferris fell into a 2-0 hole as the Lady Knights capitalized on a pair of Bulldog errors to claim an early lead. This time, however, Ferris showed it has learned from some of the lessons of its time in the Sunshine State.

Junior first baseman Amanda Jager had an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning, but that was just the beginning. Sophomore second baseman Amanda Harrington had an RBI double, Sarah Mueller had an RBI double and junior catcher Krystle Bailey had an RBI double to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead – in a heartbeat.

“It was perseverance,” said Becker as she reflected on her team’s come-from-behind 4-2 win in game one that set the stage for a sweep as the Bulldogs took game two 5-0 to begin league play 2-0. “That’s one of the things about this team that’s so good. They’ve persevered through a lot of things and they realize that there’s too much talent and too much potential on this team not to be able to come out of (the early struggles).”

In game two, senior third baseman Katie Kraai finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two driven in, Jager was 1-for-3 with a run scored and one driven in, Bailey was 1-for-3 with a run scored and one driven in and freshman outfielder Lynsay Weaver also was able to drive in a run.

In the circle, Ferris enjoyed solid pitching performances from game-one junior starter Holly Bruntjens (seven innings, six hits, two runs, two walks and three strikeouts) and game-two junior starter Sarah Mueller (seven innings, two hits allowed, one walk and four strikeouts) to complement a defense that got tougher as the day went on.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 9: Ferris ends on a high note with two wins – now looks ahead

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Ferris State had the look of a team hungry to finish its annual spring softball trip on a high note and that showed Saturday at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.

A strong finish was important for the team. A 4-2 start turned nightmarish as the Bulldogs fell to three games below .500 at just 5-8 entering their final day of the trip to central Florida. Adversity – as is so often the case – is a true test of character for a team as Ferris discovered on Saturday. It was decision-making time for the Bulldogs who had to decide on what note they wanted their Florida trip to end with games against St. Xavier and New Haven left.

Ferris answered the loud call, however, and played some of its best ball of the week as the team secured wins of 8-4, against St. Xavier, and 8-0, against New Haven to end the trip just an eyelash below the .500 mark at 7-8.

Perhaps, most importantly of all, head coach Keri Becker’s team now has a point of reference to figure out where they want their season to go from here.

Here is an early evaluation of the Bulldogs:

INFIELD: Ferris has a veteran presence on its infield with Amanda Jager, an experienced junior, playing first base; Amanda Harrington, a sophomore, solidifying the team up the middle from second base; McKenzie West, a junior, who returns at shortstop with starting experience; Katie Kraai, a senior, who has become a cornerstone at third over the years; and Krystle Bailey, who has been a rock-solid presence behind the plate as the starting catcher. Becker also has used redshirt freshman Rachel Mueller, at first base, and freshman Lynsay Weaver, at shortstop, to mix things up during portions of the trip.

OUTFIELD: This was the area where the Bulldogs knew they were going to be a little youthful with a lack of experience. Juniors Sarah Mueller and Holly Bruntjens are pitchers who have had some time in the outfield in the past. Another pitcher, Kayle Stevenson, also has been inserted into the outfield, mostly in right, this spring so far. Becker also has mixed true freshmen like Weaver, Colleen Roney, Brooke Lewis as well as redshirt freshman Rachel Wade – among others – in the outfield. There is some potential out there on the grass, for the Bulldogs, but gaining confidence and experience will be a big key for Ferris.

PITCHERS: Ferris has a deep roster of pitchers and all saw action during the week in the circle for Becker. Mueller, Stevenson, Bruntjens, Rhea Flores and Jager all had opportunities to prove themselves as Ferris continues its evaluation for the upcoming Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule that begins not long after the return to Michigan. Like the rest of the squad, the pitchers had their highs and lows, but when they were on their game they were awful tough. On Ferris’ final day, which featured games against St. Xavier and New Haven, the Bulldogs enjoyed strong pitching efforts from Mueller and Bruntjens as the offense also came through for a pair of wins.

OFFENSE: Ferris, at times, blinded opponents with flashes of offensive brilliance as it used the long ball, at times, and used the short game, at other times, to find success with run production. One of the early bright spots was the production of the lower half of the order which showed some potential to put a lot of runs on the scoreboard as Bruntjens, Weaver and Roney had their bright spots delivering hits and driving in runs. Jager has been off to a hot start swinging the bat and working her way on base via the walk or as a result of being hit by pitches. Bailey, hitting in the No. 3 spot, had a big final day as she batted 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI against St. Xavier and then 1-for-2 with a run scored and a run driven in against New Haven.

DEFENSE: This is an area of concern for the team, but when the focus was present the Bulldogs were solid behind their pitching staff. When the defense and pitching clicked together, with a little bit of scoring, Ferris proved tough to handle. Over the course of the week, Ferris started to cut down on some of the errors that had plagued them at times.

ANALYSIS: The team is not in its ideal position, with a record of 7-8, but they do now have a point of reference from which to look ahead. Ferris must continue to cut down on errors (mental and physical errors), find ways to string hits together a little better and stay mentally tough and together from start to finish. The pieces are in place – as proven by the team’s preseason No. 25 national ranking and how high the Bulldogs were picked to finish in the GLIAC.

Now, it’s time to just do it.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 5: Another Important Day Begins With A Fresh Start For The Bulldogs

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Facing Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, the defending NCAA Division II national softball champion is tough enough, but facing the Cougars on a three-game losing streak is even tougher.

Still, that was precisely the position the Bulldogs found themselves in as they took the field at Fortune Road Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. as part of their schedule at the Rebel Spring Games. That was just to start a pivotal day of softball, however, as the Bulldogs then had to face the challenge of Southern Indiana. Then, on top of all that, Ferris came face to face with the realization SIUE and USI are regional opponents in games that could – ironically enough as it is still March – loom large at the end of the season when regional bids are awarded in May.

The challenge for the Bulldogs was to rediscover a higher energy level, remember that softball is fun, and clean up those little mistakes that appear large in the middle of a big game. It was evident – fairly early in the morning game against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville – the Bulldogs were closer to playing their brand of softball – well ahead of their performances the day before in a tripleheader that featured a heartbreaking loss to American International followed by decisive losses to C.W. Post and regional rival Indianapolis.

Thursday, the Bulldogs also had to face SIUE’s top pitcher Kaitlin Colosimo – a thrower they and a lot of other opponents have had a tough time with over the years. Colosimo pitched eight innings, allowed 10 hits, four runs (one earned run), walked one and struck out six. She had a solid effort as she did her best to bend – with those 10 hits and four runs allowed – without totally breaking. Colosimo was mostly matched, however, by Ferris’ Sarah Mueller, a junior pitcher, who allowed eight hits and four runs (only one earned) in eight innings with six strikeouts.

Ferris trailed 3-1 entering the seventh inning when a 2-run single by Amanda Jager knotted the score at 3-3 on the scoreboard and ultimately forced extra innings. It was one of those clutch hits the Bulldogs have desperately sought in key situations during several games so far this spring.

In the eighth, with International Tiebreaker rules in effect, SIUE picked up one run on an RBI triple to left field and another on a sacrifice fly to right to grab a 5-3 lead.

Junior Holly Bruntjens singled in a run for the Bulldogs, but that was all the offense Ferris could muster – in the eighth – as SIUE shut the door and held on for the 1-run win.

In the day’s second contest, those key hits finally came around as the Bulldogs grabbed a rare early lead going up 3-0 on Southern Indiana – right off the bat – in the first inning. Third-year catcher Krystle Bailey singled and doubled, senior third baseman Katie Kraai drove in a run on a fielder’s choice and then one more on a single. Junior first baseman Amanda Jager was credited with an RBI on a single.

The loss to USI could be a confidence builder for Ferris as the Bulldogs proved to themselves that they could come through in big games.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 5: A Lesson Learned By The 2008 Bulldog Softball Team

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A rare tripleheader for the Ferris State softball team began with promise, in Clermont, Fla., but ended as a nightmare of sorts on Wednesday afternoon in Kissimmee, Fla.

Ferris’ morning began with a trip to the National Training Center for an added game against American International College in Clermont. After beginning with a 3-0 lead, Ferris’ nightmare began as AIC rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning to force some extra softball. After the Bulldogs were held scoreless, in their half of the eighth, with International Tiebreaker rules in effect, American International ended the contest as Kellie Brown blasted a 2-run walk-off homer for a 5-3 victory. The day was only in its infancy, however. Still, a return to Osceola County Softball Complex proved little better for the Bulldogs as the team was blanked 9-0 in five innings, by C.W. Post, before Ferris fell by a 7-1 score to Indianapolis.

Ferris’ 0-3 day dropped the team’s record to 4-5 on the season and left the squad searching for answers to reverse what began as a promising season that included a national ranking. That ranking is gone, but the Bulldogs still have a whole lot of softball left to be played – in Florida and beyond. The quest for answers continues for a talent-rich Ferris team that ended Wednesday under the lights learning about how fun softball can be from a group of young girls playing on Thacker Field near Osceola High School in Kissimmee – the place where Ferris’ softball trip started on Friday.

A long day of softball ended with the Bulldogs attempting to reconnect with their roots – to learn how fun a game softball can be for young girls they spent time into the darkness under the lights after a three-loss day of college softball action.

There was a lesson to be learned. Sure, college softball is in many ways a high-stakes business for schools, coaches, players and parents. But, in a lot of other ways, it’s still that once-innocent and fun game so many people fall in love with at a young age. Wednesday night was about rediscovering the roots of what it means to participate in sports and appreciating the privilege of what it means to compete as a college softball player. Sure, it’s a business of sorts with money, scholarships and pressure. But, as head coach Keri Becker attempted to show as she put her kids in the company of a much younger group of girls, the high-pressure world of college softball does not have to be a fun-free activity.

Wednesday’s opening loss to American International spoiled a solid pitching effort by Amanda Jager, who threw eight innings, allowed five hits, five runs (four earned), walked two and struck out three. The big hit of the contest was Brown’s 2-run blast that ended the game in the eighth. It also spoiled her day at the plate as she had two hits in three trips as did Sarah Mueller, who also scored two runs scored, batted in two runs, hit a triple and belted a home run.

After that, however, Ferris’ offense dried up in a major way. Amanda Harrington had the lone hit in the Bulldogs 9-0 loss to C.W. Post while Katie Kraai and Harrington had the only two hits in the 7-1 loss to Indianapolis to wrap up the day.

A tripleheader that began with promise ended in heartache.

But, the Bulldogs can learn from the young girls they had a chance to spend time with following their day of disappointment on the diamond: Softball is highly competitive, but it’s also a game – a game that can still be fun.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 4: Overcoming Adversity Is A Lesson Learned By The Bulldogs

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The art of learning how best to handle adversity – and some people would contend that it truly is an art form – is a trick all teams in all sports must come face to face with at some point.

Generally speaking, however, battling back from adversity typically is necessary in the face of defeat – as was the case for Ferris State University, on the softball diamond, on Monday. The Bulldogs rode a wave of momentum to a 6-0 lead against Upper Iowa at the Rebel Spring Games inside the Osceola County Softball Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. Then, in almost a puff of smoke, the six-run lead vanished as the Bulldogs’ bats went ice cold and their defense suddenly struggled. As a result, combined with some more confident plate appearances, Upper Iowa surged back to escape with a 10-9 win at the expense of a clearly and visibly shaken and disappointed Ferris squad.

After that loss, the Bulldogs were faced with an almost must-win scenario against Pfeiffer in the day’s second and final game in central Florida. And, as has been the case much of the spring, there was no shortage of drama as Ferris rallied from a two-run deficit to snag a 4-3 win, in eight innings, over Pfeiffer to improve its record to 4-2.

The come-from-behind victory – which helped the Bulldogs hold their record above .500 on the season – proved to be yet another lesson in the value of maintaining consistency in level of play.

“I thought we kind of let ourselves get down in the first game and (Upper Iowa) took advantage of our lack of intensity and came back on us,” explained senior third baseman Katie Kraai, who was pleased to see her Bulldogs bounce back from a bitterly-disappointing defeat. “In the second game (against Pfeiffer), we definitely came out with a much stronger defense and the most important thing was we had a higher intensity level than we had at the end of that first game.”

Surrendering what seemed like a solid six-run lead proved an eye-opening experience for the Bulldogs who battled through extra innings but ultimately fell short in an effort to steal back a win.

“I think one of the biggest lessons we learned in this game is you can’t ride the roller coaster when you’re out there in games,” said Kraai, who had two hits in five trips to the plate with two runs scored, against Upper Iowa, and had a double and single in the win over Pfeiffer. “We found out we have to keep our intensity at a high and even level and make sure we fight through the mistakes and the tough hitting times.”

This lesson will be an important one.

With a majority of teams from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference having traveled to Kissimmee (including Grand Valley State, Wayne State, Saginaw Valley State, Northwood, Lake Superior State, Ashland and others), the last two weeks, many of the teams have had a chance to conduct an early scout session on much of the competition. In addition to what appears to again be a tough GLIAC race shaping up, the region has an early appearance of being up for grabs as the Bulldogs hope to be in the mix. That, among other reasons, is why the loss to Upper Iowa – a squad Ferris was confident it should have defeated with a 6-0 lead – was a painful reminder of one of the enduring lessons of sports. That lesson is a team must stay intense and focused at all times to stay ahead of the competition.

And, as Kraai said, with the strong competition the Bulldogs are likely to face in the months to come, working out the bugs in Florida is more important than ever.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 2: ‘Just a matter of time’ before Ferris’ offense comes to life

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Its understandable if first baseman Amanda Jager and her teammates felt a little concerned as their offense sputtered a bit during their first day of competition at the Rebel Spring Games inside of the Osceola County Softball Complex.

For the first six innings of their opening game, the Bulldogs struggled to do much of anything against St. Joseph’s (Ind.) starting pitcher Sara Somogyi. There was, however, no panic button pressed. Then, at practically the proverbial 11th hour, Ferris’ offense finally came to life – albeit aided by fielding miscues from the regional rival Pumas. Ferris’ hitting confidence returned and soared and the rest was – as some people like to say – history. The Bulldogs escaped with a 4-3 nine-inning big regional win, over St. Joseph’s, and ended the day in style with another important victory against a regional foe – a stunningly-easy 10-2 triumph over Northern Kentucky in just five innings.

“It did take us a while to get our bats going (Saturday), but then again we were also facing a good pitcher (Somogyi) and that had something to do with it,” said Jager, who has moved over to first base this spring to take over for Laura Crower, who had become a mainstay for the Bulldogs at that corner. “Then, after struggling to hit the ball in the first game … we really got it going in the second game.”

That was indeed the case as the Bulldogs confidence soared in its second game of the day – against a Northern Kentucky team that, perennially, has ranked among the best teams in the region and in the nation. The Bulldogs rolled to a decisive rout of the Norse, in just five innings due to the mercy rule, to begin the spring 2-0. While Florida has been a place where the offense has struggled to get going early, over the years, Saturday’s nightcap was the perfect ending to the first day of competition on the diamond for Ferris.

With the GLIAC shaping up to be one tough doubleheader after another, the Bulldogs now understand they must have their “A+” game from start to finish to match last year’s achievements (reaching the NCAA Division II Tournament) or perhaps go even beyond that. That “A+” game looked good on Saturday against NKU. In the circle, steady junior pitcher Holly Bruntjens’ patented drop ball was practically unhittable as she ended up with seven strikeouts and kept the Norse off balance from start to finish while she was out there.

At the plate, Ferris was at least as impressive swinging the bat with 10 runs on 12 hits, three players with more than one hit. On top of that, the Bulldogs got help from one of their rookies as freshman outfielder Lynsay Weaver belted a 2-run homer to fire up her teammates a little more. Junior catcher Krystle Bailey, senior third baseman Katie Kraai and junior shortstop McKenzie West all had at least two hits – including Bailey’s 3-for-3 effort with the bat.

“It felt amazing when we finally got it going against Northern Kentucky,” Jager said as she finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored in the win over NKU after she scored the winning run in the day's opening win over St. Joseph's. “We have good pitchers and going against them everyday in practice has been making us better and giving us even more confidence. We felt like, even though we struggled in the first game, that it was only a matter of time before we adjusted to what was happening and really started to hit the ball the way we know that we can hit it.”

Hopefully, for the young Bulldogs, it’s just a sign of more good times to come.