No. 20 Softball Returns to Michigan for NCAA Tourney – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 14, 2002
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 20 Ohio State softball team (53-12, 16-4 Big Ten) travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the third time this year to participate in the 2002 NCAA Region 6 tournament Thursday through Sunday. The No. 3 seeded Buckeyes open with No. 4 Central Michigan at 4:30 p.m. Thursday as they participate in their first NCAA Championship event since 1990.
THE FIELD
To earn a berth in the Women’s College World Series (May 26-29 in Oklahoma City, Okla.), Ohio State will have to win its six-team regional this weekend. Competing in Ann Arbor are No. 1 seed and No. 6 in the nation Washington, No. 2 seed and No. 11 in the nation Michigan, No. 4 seed Central Michigan, No. 5 Canisius and No. 6 Oakland.
PLAYING SOME OF THE BEST
During the regular season, Ohio State played 14 teams that received an NCAA invitation Sunday with the Buckeyes going 12-10. Here are the teams OSU played and their 2002 record against them: California (0-1), Cal State Fullerton (0-1), Chattanooga (0-1), Florida State (1-0), Georgia Tech (1-0), Iowa (2-0), Michigan (0-4), Minnesota (2-0), Oakland (1-0), Oregon State (0-1), Pacific (1-0), Penn State (2-1), Princeton (1-0) and Wisconsin (1-1).
THAT IS SOMETHING NEW
Though this is the first time the Ohio State softball program has been involved in regional NCAA games since 1990, the Buckeyes have been here before. OSU has fielded a team since 1972 with the Buckeyes garnering invitations to the NCAA regional tournament four times prior to this year. OSU’s first appearance came in 1978 under Coach Don Dungree. The Buckeyes, with Dianne Thompson at the helm, made a return trip the next year (1979) and again in 1982. Gail Davenport guided OSU to the event in 1990. The 1982 team advanced to the Women’s College World Series where the Buckeyes went 0-2 with their first loss coming at the hands of their opening round opponent Thursday, Central Michigan. BIG TEN HONORS
Last year, a program-record six Ohio State softball players garnered All-Big Ten accolades for their play on the field. The Buckeyes tied that mark this year with three members earning first team honors and three making the third team. Anna Smith (outfield) was a unanimous selection for the first team and was joined by Wendy Allen (utility) and Stacy Roth (designated player). Katie Chain (pitcher), Jennifer Link (second base) and Kristine Himes (third base) were all selected to the third team.
HIGHER HONORS
The Big Ten honors did not stop with the Buckeyes’ six all-conference selections. Wendy Allen earned Big Ten Player of the Year accolades and Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, took home Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. Allen is the first Buckeye to garner player of the year honors after becoming the first to secure freshman of the year accolades last year. Kalafatis is the second OSU coach to earn her award. Gail Davenport was honored in 1990 by the conference.
JILL OF ALL TRADES
Wendy Allen did it all for the Buckeyes this year. Including games played in the Big Ten tournament last weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich., Allen’s average is .389 (second on the team) on 72-of-185 hitting with a team-high 18 doubles. Her doubles total is tied for second on the single-season record list at OSU and her nine home runs is the fourth most in a single season.
With solid batting numbers, the southpaw from Moreno Valley, Calif., solidified her spot as the top player in the Big Ten with impressive numbers from the circle. She leads the conference with an ERA of 0.88 and has limited opposing batters to a .184 average. Allen has struck out 139 batters so far this year while recording an 18-5 record.
HITTING 101 WITH ANNA SMITH
Heading into the 2002 campaign, the single-season record for hits was the 71 Amy Haug recorded in 1996. Wendy Allen has surpassed that total with 72 with Jennifer Link also making the grade with 73. But Anna Smith has shattered the record to become the first Buckeye to record a triple-digit hit total in a year with 101. Smith’s hits have helped her compile the second-best average in the nation at .513 as she collected two hits in 23 games this year and three hits 10 times.
KALAFATIS MILESTONES
Linda Kalafatis has guided her Buckeyes to a stellar 53-12 record this year and, in the process, attained several milestone wins. Most recently, with a 4-3 victory over Penn State at the Big Ten tournament, the Ohio State coach tallied the 200th win of her tenure in Columbus.
Since the start of the season, Kalafatis has won her 150th, 175th and 200th games at OSU as well as 425th and 450th career games. She is two wins shy of attaining career win No. 475.
QUEENS OF (THE) DIAMOND
In previous years, 28 home runs by the 2000 team was the most in a season until the 53 put up this year. Not only is the new standard the highest mark for Ohio State, it is the most homers collected by any team in a single-season among the 11 members of the Big Ten Conference. The previous mark was established in 1999 when the Minnesota Golden Gophers launched 43.
MORE LAUNCHES THAN NASA
To make team and conference history, the Buckeye individuals have had to send a few softballs over the fences. Kristine Himes has led the way with her 16 dingers on the year to move to 32 for her career after crushing two out of play at the Big Ten tournament. Both of her totals are records.
Stacy Roth is just behind Himes with 14 for the year and 28 for her career following a blast last weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich. In a single season, Wendy Allen (nine) and Sarah West (eight) have hit the third and fourth-most homers this year to help the Buckeyes to 53 wins.
In all, nine separate Buckeyes have gone deep with Himes, Roth, Allen, West and Chrissy Fowler the only players to hit more than one home run. Fowler has connected on two long balls.
Here is the up-to-date score board for career home run supremacy: 1. Kristine Himes 2000-02 32 2. Stacy Roth 1999-02 28 3. Sarah West 1999-02 20 Here is the up-to-date score board for season home run supremacy: 1. Kristine Himes 2002 16 2. Stacy Roth 2002 14 3. Wendy Allen 2002 9 4. Sarah West 2002 8
HIGHEST RANKING EVER
In the May 1 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/USA Today national rankings, the Buckeyes moved up one spot to No. 19 and attained their highest ranking in the history of the program. They are No. 20 this week.
SPINNING RECORDS
To say Ohio State has set several records this year would be an understatement. In all, 16 team records have fallen while 11 individual marks have been reestablished.
As a team, the 2002 Buckeyes set the new standard in season wins (53), games played (65), fewest conference losses (four), longest winning streak (19), and best 10-game start (9-1). Statistically, OSU also raised the bar in at bats (1,724), runs (359), hits (584), doubles (88), home runs (53), runs batted in (311), stolen bases (115), pitching appearances (90), shutouts (23), saves (7), and strikeouts (448).
Anna Smith has set five records to lead the individuals. She set the mark in season (101) and career hits (239), season (66) and career runs (164), and season stolen bases (39). Stacy Roth established the record in RBI in a season (63) and a career (163) while Kristine Himes set the home run mark at 16 in a season.
In the circle, Katie Chain established three records including career wins (54), career shutouts (19) and season strikeouts (197). She also broke the 500 strikeout plateau.
NOT JUST A POWER SHOW
Though the Buckeyes have displayed their power with 53 home runs this year, they also have been able to hit for average. As a team, the Buckeyes are hitting a .339 clip which is good enough for third-best in the nation according to the statistics released at ncaa.org May 5. Alabama A&M and UCLA are tied atop the rankings at .350.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
The latest national statistics were released by the NCAA May 5 and Ohio State remained in the rankings with four team and five individual categories. As a team, the Buckeyes hold the No. 2 batting average in the nation at .345 and is just behind leader UCLA’s .348. The offense is scoring at the fifth-best rate of 5.72 runs per game (349 in 61 games) and OSU’s winning percentage of .836 (51-10) is No. 5 nationally. The Buckeye pitching staff is ranked No. 27 with an ERA of 1.43.
Individually, Anna Smith is named in three categories with Wendy Allen and Stacy Roth making one list each. Smith’s batting average of .519 is No. 2 in the nation and she is No. 9 in stolen bases per game with 39 recorded in 61 contests. Smith also is tied for 18th in triples per game at 0.11 after hitting seven this year.
Allen, who leads the Big Ten in ERA at 0.88, is No. 15 in the national statistics and Roth, the Buckeyes’ all-time career and single-season RBI leader is tied for eighth in runs batted in per game with 1.00 (59 in 59 games played).
HOT START
One reason for the success of the Buckeyes this year is attributed to how quickly they come out of the gates. In the first inning, Ohio State has outscored its opponents 66-22 and 67-4 in the second inning for a 133-26 margin. For the year, the Buckeyes’ opponents have only scored 123 total runs compared to OSU’s 359. The Buckeyes have scored more runs in the first two innings than its foes have for the year, 133-123.
THIEVES
Anna Smith is the all-time stolen base leader at Ohio State with 98 and is 39-for-44 this year. Jennifer Link is climbing the records ladder in the same category with a 28-for-32 performance in 2002. Her career total is up to 54 which is No. 3 on the all-time ledger. Cheryl Palaroan (1996-99) is second on the list with 56.
As a team, the Buckeyes have swiped a record 115 bases to rewrite the record of 98 set last year.
ON PACE
Anna Smith is closing in on yet another Buckeye single season record. She has recorded 101 hits in her 197 at bats in 2002 and is hitting at a .513 clip. Smith is currently ahead of all-time leader Greta Slagle’s .449 average in the 1979 season with the NCAA regional tournament and a possible trip to the world series remaining.
SMITH GARNERS INVITATION
Anna Smith was extended an invitation by USA Softball, the national governing body, to participate in a team camp at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., May 30-June 3 for a chance to make one of two USA teams. Smith is one of 60 selected collegiate players that will compete for roster spots on the teams that will participate in the US Cup, the Canada Cup and the World Championships this summer.
CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP
Though they finished second in the conference, the Buckeyes led the way in several statistical categories (as of the end of the regular season) this year both individually and as a team.
Individually, Anna Smith led the Big Ten with a .519 batting average, 96 hits, seven triples, 39 stolen bases and 65 runs scored. Kristine Himes led the conference with 14 home runs while Stacy Roth collected the Big Ten’s most runs batted in with 59. Wendy Allen rounds out the individual leaders with her 0.88 earned run average.
As a team, the Buckeyes ran away with several categories. In all games, OSU held the highest statistics in ten categories including batting average, on base percentage, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, runs scored, runs batted in, stolen bases and total bases. In conference games only, the Buckeyes led the way in batting average, hits, triples, runs, RBI, stolen bases and total bases.
OSU’s pitching staff also was well represented in the conference statistics. Overall, the Buckeyes recorded the most wins, strikeouts and innings pitched while leading the way in conference games with wins and innings pitched.
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO …
With another trip to Ann Arbor this week, Ohio State’s total travel milage is up to 16,525.16. Its road trips, including 189.84 miles each way to Michigan, have included such far away destinations as Los Angeles, twice, Houston, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Tenn., East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Mich. (three times), Iowa City, Iowa, Evanston, Ill., Bloomington, Ind. and Dayton, Ohio, twice.
KALAFATIS IN HER SIXTH YEAR
Linda Kalafatis is in her sixth season with OSU and has complied a 200-140 (.586) record in six seasons leading the Buckeyes. In her 13 years in the collegiate coaching ranks, Kalafatis has posted a 473-256-2 (.640) mark including stints with her Alma Mater California (Pa.) and Akron. At California, Kalafatis led her teams to five Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference titles and a 175-53-1 (.764) record. With the Zips, her teams went 98-62-1 (.608) in three years. Kalafatis earned her degree in business administration and marketing from CU in 1988 and added a master’s degree in geography and regional planning in 1991.
SCOUTING REPORT: NO. 4 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas lead the series with Ohio State, 2-0, after a 6-0 win March 19, 1998 at the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif., as well as 1-0 win in 15 innings at the AIWA World Series in 1982. Central Michigan is 38-14 on the year and have won nine in a row on its way to winning its fourth Mid-American Conference tournament title. Amber Puchalski leads the pitching staff with a 1.44 ERA, a 20-5 record and 302 strikeouts. Becky Manson and Jennifer Skuta are the offensive leaders. Manson is hitting .373 with 15 doubles and 17 stolen bases while Skuta is batting .340 with a club-best seven home runs.
SCOUTING REPORT: NO. 1 WASHINGTON
Washington is the top seed in the region and No. 6 nationally with a 43-16 record. Jaime Clark leads the team in offense with a .423 average, 77 hits, 14 doubles, 17 home runs and 23 stolen bases. Tia Bollinger is 19-9 on the year with a team-best 1.20 ERA and 157 strikeouts.
SCOUTING REPORT: NO. 2 MICHIGAN
The Wolverines finished the year 46-9 and won the regular season and tournament championships in the Big Ten. Stefanie Volpe leads the team with a .424 average, 11 home runs and 44 RBI. Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Marisa Young is 25-7 with a 0.91 ERA and 237 strikeouts while freshman of the year Nicole Motyka is 20-2.
SCOUTING REPORT: NO. 5 CANISIUS
The Golden Griffins and Buckeyes have met once with Ohio State winning the contest, 3-0, in Lexington, Ky., in 1999. Canisius is 33-14 and winners of the MAAC conference. Jill Iacono is hitting .345 with 49 hits and has collected nine of CU’s 13 home runs. Veronica Maher is 15-5 with 102 strikeouts and a 1.06 ERA to lead the team.
SCOUTING REPORT: NO. 6 OAKLAND
Oakland fell to Ohio State, 10-0 in five innings, in Columbus this year and the Buckeyes hold a 4-1 advantage in the series. The Golden Grizzlies went 25-36-1 in 2002 and won the Mid-Continent Conference title to earn their NCAA berth. Erica Burns is hitting .361 with a team-high 69 hits and eight home runs to pace the offense. In the circle, Nicole Marzano leads the staff with a 9-11 record, 1.71 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 38 appearances.
LAST TIME OUT
Ohio State went 2-2 at the Big Ten tournament with wins over Illinois and Penn State and losses to Michigan. The Buckeyes opened the event with a 5-0 defeat of the Illini for their first win the conference tournament under its new format. OSU went 3-2 in a tournament held in 1982.
With their first win under their belt after an 0-2 finish last year, the Buckeyes took on UM for a spot in the finals but dropped a 5-0 decision. OSU bounced back the next day to win, 4-3, over PSU and earn the 200th win in Coach Linda Kalafatis’ OSU tenure.
In the championship game, the Wolverines scored twice in the top of the first with the Buckeyes plating one run in the bottom half of the stanza before both teams’ defenses took over. Neither team would score again as UM held on to win its sixth conference tournament title since it began in 1995.
ONE OF SIX
Following the Big Ten tournament, the NCAA made its selections for the national tournament and invited six conference teams. Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota, a team that did not qualify for the Big Ten tournament, will host regionals with Ohio State playing at Ann Arbor, Mich., Penn State playing at Minneapolis, Minn. and Wisconsin traveling to Iowa City, Iowa.
ON DECK
If the Buckeyes win the Region 6 tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich., they will advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., May 26-29.
