May 12, 2007
2007 Patriot League Softball Championship Page
Bethlehem, Pa. - Colgate won its third Patriot League Tournament title on Saturday with a 1-0 win over top-seeded Lehigh and tournament host at Kaufman Field. The Raiders captured the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and their first Patriot League title since 2003.
Perhaps a pre-game call from Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch to Colgate junior Jessi Bentovoja, whose fathers are friends, wishing the Raiders luck in the finals of the Patriot League Tournament inspired the team to be the first to knock off the top seed of the tourney since 2003.
All three of Colgate's Patriot League Tournament titles have come under the direction of the 2007 Patriot League Co-Coach of the Year Vickie Sax, who has 251 career wins to her credit.
Colgate, the second seed, started off the tournament with a five-inning 9-1 win over Lafayette, then notched a 2-0 victory over Lehigh on Friday, earning a right to play in the finals.
The Raider defense, anchored by Tournament Most Valuable Player senior Kelsey Nordstrom, was the story of this year's tournament, giving up just one run and six hits over three contests. Nordstrom won all three games, going the entire way in each, to improve to 17-7 on the year. The senior hurler notched her seventh shutout of the season against Lehigh on Saturday, limiting the Mountain Hawks to two hits.
Colgate (25-22) posted the only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. LaPorscha Albert led off the frame with a double to leftfield and was moved over to third on a sac bunt by Kimberley Spinks. Vicky Ortengren then reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Albert. Albert's hit was the only one for the Raiders over the entire seven innings.
For Lehigh (35-18-1), Kate Marvel and Alisha Gonzales each recorded a hit. Pitcher Lisa Sweeney was saddled with the loss. With 21 strikeouts in the tournament, including a career-high 14 versus Army, Sweeney's career total is now 383, which is seventh all-time on the Patriot League career list.
Complimenting Nordstrom's MVP trophy was the naming of four Raiders to the All-Tournament team, including Albert, Meg Mylan, Ortengren and Tiana Tyeskey. The remaining seven members of the all-tournament team were Army's Lindsey Gerheim and Erin McClain, Lafayette's Kasey Karr and Kristen Ruckno and Lehigh's Tiffany Curtis, Kate Marvel and Lisa Sweeney.
Colgate will learn of its NCAA tournament opponent and location when the 2007 NCAA Softball Tournament field is announced on Sunday, May 13 between 3-4 p.m. on ESPNews. NCAA First Round play will take place Friday, May 18-Sunday, May 20 on campus sites.
Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player
Kelsey Nordstrom, Colgate
Patriot League All-Tournament Team
Lindsey Gerheim, Army
Erin McClain, Army
LaPorscha Albert, Colgate
Meg Mylan, Colgate
Vicky Ortengren, Colgate
Tiana Tyeskey, Colgate
Kasey Karr, Lafayette
Kristen Ruckno, Lafayette
Tiffany Curtis, Lehigh
Kate Marvel, Lehigh
Lisa Sweeney, Lehigh
Results and box scores for this weekend's competition can be found on the Patriot League web site on the main page as well as on the Softball Championship Page which can be accessed by clicking here.
2007 Patriot League Softball Tournament Results
Thursday, May 10
Game 1: No. 1 Lehigh 4, vs. No. 4 Army 0
Game 2: No. 2 Colgate 9, vs. No. 3 Lafayette 1 (5)
Friday, May 11
Game 3: Colgate 2, Lehigh 0
Game 4: Lafayette 4, Army 3
Game 5: Lehigh 13, Lafayette 0 (5)
Saturday, May 12
Game 6: Colgate 1, vs. Lehigh 0
