Softball Will Compete in the First Ever Ohio Collegiate Charity Classic – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oct. 3, 2000
THIS WEEKEND’S EVENT
The Ohio State softball team is playing host to all Division I softball teams in Ohio in the first Ohio Collegiate Charity Classic. The tournament is being held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, Oct. 6-8. Tickets for the event are $5.00 per day, which allows for one re-entry into the stadium, with all proceeds going toward breast cancer research.
“We are very excited to compete and represent The Ohio State University in this tournament,” head coach Linda Kalafatis said. “It’s definitely easier in practice when you have something like this to look forward to.”
BUCKEYES WIN INVITATIONAL
OSU hosted the Buckeye Invitational last weekend at Buckeye Field in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won the tournament after sweeping Robert Morris, Shawnee State, Miami Valley and Grand Slam five games to none.
The tournament was held as a showcase for the new players on the team.
“We’re about where we need to be this time of year.,” Kalafatis said. “Our margins of victory were not as big as I had hoped, but we seem to have a sense of what needs to be done for the remainder of the fall season.
MORE COACH’S THOUGHTS
Despite the Buckeyes winning the tournament this past weekend, Kalafatis was careful to give too much credit to her team. Realizing the fall season has just begun and the spring season will provide a different field of competition, she was optimisitic about the improvements she expects to see in the near future.
“We have to be a little better each time we go out to play to get to the level of competition we need to get to,” Kalafatis said. “But, this past weekend, we played a lot of different people and it was difficult to get a rhythmn.”
BIG `Ks’ FOR KRISTI
One of the new players expected to make an impact this season got off to a grand start this past weekend. Kristi DeVries (Fr., Corona, Calif./Corona) hurled 15 strikeouts in Saturday’s game against Robert Morris to lead her team to a 2-0 win. On Sunday, she threw another 11 K’s in a 3-0 win against Shawnee State. IT’S OUTTA HERE
Newcomer Breana Pozzi (Fr., Petaluma, Calif./Casa Grande) hit the team’s first home run of the fall season. In the bottom of the fourth inning, she hit a solo shot over the center field wall to give the Buckeyes a 3-0 lead over Miami Valley. Ohio State went on to win the game, 8-0.
CHAIN CONTINUES TO SHINE
Pitcher Katie Chain (So., North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) continued from where she left off last season pitching in three of Ohio State’s five wins. In her first outing of the weekend against Miami Valley, she allowed just one hit and threw eight strikeouts through the first four innings.
In her game against Robert Morris Sunday, she allowed just five hits and threw another eight K’s.
OUCH!
Rogeanna Hottinger (So., Newark, Ohio/Newark) took one for the team Sunday after taking a ball to the mouth at first base. She was starting towards second base when she decided to run back to first. The ball was thrown toward the base and caught her in the mouth. She did not return to the game.
MORE ON ROGEANNA
The status on Hottinger for the weekend is not yet known. While she did not suffer a concussion, she did sustain a hairline fracture to the jaw area. Her teeth were reset on Monday and she was told not to eat solid foods for seven to 10 days. However, Kalafatis said Hottinger has not experienced any headaches and seems fine.
THE NEWCOMERS
Along with the many familiar faces on the Buckeye squad will be a handful of new faces. Six new players have signed to play on the Ohio State team this fall.
Three players come to OSU from California. Wendy Allen (Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley) was a four-year letterwinner and starter for the Moreno Valley softball and soccer teams. Kristi DeVries (Fr., Corona, Calif./Corona) was a four-year letterwinner and starter in softball. She also led her volleyball team to the Moutain View league championships. Another softball four-year letter winner and starter, Breana Pozzi (Fr., Petaluma, Calif./Casa Grande) also participated in volleyball and basketball.
Kari Crandell (Fr., Hendersonville, Tenn./Hendersonville) was a four-year letterwinner and starter for her softball team, which competed in the state championships for two-consecutive years. She also participated in golf and volleyball for two years.
Amy Ellis (So., Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Ball State Univ.) and Beth McAbier (Fr., Carrollton, Ohio/Carrollton) are two new players from Ohio. Ellis is a transfer student that started in 24 games and subbed in another 16 as a shortstop for Ball State. She went 3-4 against Michigan State and 2-4 against Ohio last season. She also hit a game-winning double against Illinois.
McAbier was a four-year letterwinner is softball, basketball and volleyball. She started all four years in softball and volleyball and was a three-year starter in basketball. She also earned All-Ohio honors in basketball and softball.
LOOKING AHEAD
The current Ohio State Buckeye softball team will face off against former alumni in the 2000 Alumni Game. The game will be held Saturday, Oct. 14 at Buckeye Field in Columbus.
