SCHEDULE CHANGES: Bombers Hosting Empire 8 Softball Championships
ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca softball team is hosting the 2012 Empire 8 Softball Championships this weekend at Kostrinsky Field. Due to a storm in the area Thursday night, there have been some schedule changes for the tournament. The
tournament schedule includes three games Friday, with the first contest beginning at noon. The tournament will continue Saturday and Sunday if necessary.
The top-seeded Bombers will be joined in the tournament by second-seeded St. John Fisher, third-seeded Stevens and fourth-seeded Alfred.
Live Stats will be available for all games, and broadcast information for select games will be listed at the top of the Live Stats page for that particular game. Tickets for each day are priced at $4 for adults and $2 for seniors, students with ID. Children under the age of 12 will be admitted free. Fans should enter near the newly-constructed building near the right field foul pole.
ABOUT ITHACA
The Bombers are the tournament’s top seed after posting a perfect 12-0 record in Empire 8 games during the regular season. Ithaca has qualified for all 11 Empire 8 Championships and has won seven of the previous 10 tournament titles. Ithaca’s offense is paced by Sydney Folk, with a .431 batting average and team-highs of five home runs and 34 RBIs. Francesca Busa leads the team with 36 runs scored, and is one of four Ithaca players with 40 or more hits on the year. Leadoff hitter Rachel Dell’Orto leads the team with 10 doubles. Ithaca’s pitching duties have been handled by Sam Bender and Jillian Olmstead. Bender is 14-5 in 28 starts with a 2.18 earned-run average. Olmstead pitches primarily in relief, and has a 1.87 ERA, a 13-6 record, and six saves. She ranks in the top-five nationally in saves.
ABOUT ST. JOHN FISHER
St. John Fisher is the tournament’s second seed after going 8-4 in conference play during the regular season. The Cardinals have qualified for all 11 Empire 8 Championships, and won the tournament in 2008, 2009 and 2011. St. John Fisher was 3-3 during the regular season against the other three teams in this weekend’s tournament. Leanne Merchant leads the Cardinals with 45 hits on the year, including a team-leading 13 doubles and 11 home runs. She has driven in 45 runs. Kayla Goodberlet (41) and Jennifer Vanek (42) have also passed the 40-hit plateau for the Cardinals. Fisher has used two starting pitchers. Danielle Leone is 17-3 with a 1.23 earned-run average and Sarah Stefanon is 13-7 with a 2.57 ERA.
ABOUT STEVENS
Stevens is the tournament’s third seed after winning four of its final six Empire 8 games of the season. Stevens is making its second-ever appearance in the E8 Championship, and the team went 2-4 against the other three teams at this weekend’s tournament. The Ducks are led by Danielle DeFeo with a .465 batting average on a team-high 67 hits. She has scored 30 runs. Jamie DeGennaro is batting .380 and leads the team with 32 RBIs, and shares the team lead in home runs with Stephanie Senkevich and Clair Strom. All three players have hit four homers on the year. Kayla Berardi (7-13, 3.24 ERA) and Brianna Sandone (9-8, 3.64 ERA) have shared the pitching duties. Berardi has struck out 170 hitters in 149 innings pitched.
ABOUT ALFRED
Alfred finished tied for third in the Empire 8 with a 7-5 conference record and is 26-12 overall. The Saxons are making their sixth-ever appearance in the E8 Championship, and the team went 1-5 against the other three teams at this weekend’s tournament. As a team, Alfred hit .370 during the regular season, led by the trio of Stephanie Arguello (.485), Angela Netta (.464) and Maressa Mistretta (.456). Breeal Delgado hit .411 with a conference-best 16 doubles and a team-high 43 RBIs. Netta led the squad with five home runs and also had 29 RBIs. Alyson Hampton was tops among the Saxons in runs with 34 and stolen bases with 19. Jessica O’Sullivan was the team’s main pitcher, making 18 appearances and 14 starts in the circle. She went 9-5 with a 2.71 earned-run average and 79 strikeouts in 85.1 innings.