Four years, 36 different players, 208 wins, 23 losses, 269 homeruns, 1650 strike outs, 77 consecutive wins at home, 4 PSAC championships, 4 Regional Championships leading to 4 trips to the NCAA DII National Tournament, 1 National Championship runner-up, 1 3^rd place, and 2 National Championship Titles.  The numbers are remarkable, the talent is through the roof, the coaching staff amazing, and the memories are truly priceless. 

I am at a loss for words beginning to work on my last blog.  I really cannot believe it is all over; my college career, my softball career, and spending everyday with the same group of girls.  It is extremely bittersweet because I am ready and excited to start this new chapter of my life but it's amazingly different.  Just like how our sport is a game of adjustments that is just want I have to do with my life now.  After being correlated with the game of softball for most of my life and with Lock Haven softball for the past four years, a small bit of identity loss is occurring now within myself and I would assume my other 7 graduated seniors.  Even though our college careers have ended... we were victorious in our very last college softball game... not many athletes are able to say that.

The NCAA Championship Tournament was incredible.  I believe the one thing that helped us in the end was how much fun we had.  We let ourselves have such a good time and we enjoy goofing off together.  From the freshmen to senior class we are so silly and we stay so loose and relaxed... on and off the field.  

We began the Championship week on Tuesday when we arrived in beautiful Salem, Virginia and ended on Monday, May 25, 2009 at the Championship game.  Our first game was on Thursday, the day after our first practice, the BBQ for all 8 teams, and the All-American Banquet.  We faced Le Moyne and were able to beat them 5-0.  The next day we were matched up against Alabama-Huntsville.  Our bats weren't as alive as usual and we fell 3-1.  Losing this game made our fight for the title a little more difficult but it did not faze the 19 players and 3 coaches of Lock Haven University.  We held our heads high because feeling sorry and down does no good when you still have elimination games to play... and play we did.  The day after our loss we beat Indianapolis 2-0 and Sunday we beat North Georgia who were previously ranked #1 twice, 8-0 and 8-1.  Beating them twice sent N. Georgia home and sent us to the championship game on Monday where it was winner takes all.  And take it all we did.

We tied an NCAA record by scoring 32 runs in our run for the title, and we're the only ever NCAA championship game to make use of the mercy rule by scoring 8 runs before the 6^th inning.  Coming in first place was our goal for the season.  We set the bar high because we knew it was in our reach.  Looking back on the beginning of our season I was laughing with our center fielder Nancy O'Connor earlier today because we started our season 1-3 in Hawaii.  It's hard to believe how far we came but like I have said before, as a team we learn from every game and every pitch and we adjust accordingly. 

Saying good-bye to the Lock Haven softball program and the athletic program in general is very difficult.  I was so blessed to be able to work with such qualified and intelligent coaches and a wonderfully supportive athletic department staff.  I'll never forget my first few months of school as a freshman.  I was extremely homesick and wasn't sure how long I would be able to last in the city of Lock Haven and its University.  Looking back now, I couldn't imagine my college career going any other way. 

I am so incredibly happy that the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen were able to experience this national championship.  Every girl on our team contributed to this successful season including those who weren't necessarily on the field.  Everyone helps to better the team and pushes those who are part of the line-up.  I also hope those younger girls who now know what being a championship tastes like it will push them for more bites in the future.  I wish the girls behind me all the luck in the world and I hope they have as much fun and success and my class did.  As I have said before, you don't know how fast it all goes until it is all gone. 

It's almost like a fairy-tale ending for Lock Haven softball this year.  We have truly been blessed with the players on the team, our coaches, and the support from staff, faculty, the city of Lock Haven, and our extremely dedicated fans.  I thank all of those who have spent time reading my blogs here on the NCAA site and I am grateful I was able to participate in this fun and interactive way of expressing myself during the most important time of my life. 

I am so proud to call myself a Lock Haven University alumna and a Lady Eagle Softball graduate.  The amount of pride is indescribable and I know my other seniors feel the same.  I wish my remaining teammates the best of luck with everything they do and I can't wait until the fact that I am a two-time National Champion actually hits me... I'm not sure if I will be smiling or crying (happy tears of course). 

Well I guess now the real world is calling my name... I don't think I'm going to answer quite yet.

Oh and don't forget... GO HAVEN!

Norris #22

This week has been absolutely remarkable.  I am so proud and honored to be on this team and with these girls.  We came out of the elimination bracket and are now heading to the National Championship game tomorrow afternoon at 3:00.  We lost our second game here in Salem Virginia but are now ready for the big game tomorrow.  I havn't written a blog in a week or two but I blame my lack of updates on a busy schedule and just having too much fun.  As you now know we have made it to the National Championship.  We beat Kutztown in Super Regionals the first and second game.  It was a tough two game series but we came out on top.  We went extra innings in both games and we scored our "one-up" run on a Brittany Muthard bomb to put us ahead of the Golden Bears.  We held them in the end and received our ticket for Salem. 

            So far this week has been very exhilarating.  We arrived in Salem on Tuesday night and spent the evening getting unpacked and adjusted.  On Wednesday we attended the bbq that all the teams were invited to.  It included karaoke, corn hole, basketball, and some delicious food.  After spending some time in the sun, we traveled to a local elementary school to read to the kids there.  We were able to do this in 2006 when we were at the National Tournament so it was fun to be able to do it again.  The kids were so cute and surprisingly curious about our reason for being in Salem Virginia.  Some of us were assigned to first graders while some of my other teammates and I went to fifth graders. The fifth graders were great and asked some really intelligent questions.  They wondered what conference we played in, where was the furthest we have ever traveled with the team, and if we visited a spa while we were in Hawaii over spring break.  The students in my class also wanted to hear some jokes and I gave them a few of my classics.  My teammate with me however, asked them "What kind of bee gives milk?"... The kids had no idea and Amanda Roosa thoughtfully told them the answer which is "Boo-Bee." Wonderful.  I was so proud of my catcher and fellow senior for telling 10-year olds that tasteful and appropriate joke. 

            After the comedy show by Roosa, and a class full of first graders asking for our autographs, we headed to practice where we had our usual productive yet entertaining practice.  After practice we headed back to the hotel to shower and get ready for the All-American Banquet held at the beautiful Salem Civic Center.  We were all looking gorgeous and had a wonderful time at the banquet.  Great food, good company, creative opening speeches from all 8 teams, and the All-American Awards.  Our pitcher Kristen Erb received her FOURTH 1^st Team All-American Award.  We are all so proud of her and her accomplishments.  She deserves everything she is awarded and I am so lucky to have been able to play with her for four years.

            We won our first game on Thursday against Le Moyne and on Friday we lost a game to Alabama-Huntsville.  This put us in the elimination bracket and we had to play one game on Saturday vs. University of Indianapolis.  We were able to win that game where after we would have to play a double header on Sunday and beat the same team twice.  This team was North Georgia and we won both games at 12:00 and 4:00.  We played so well together as a team and our bats came alive.  We had 5 homeruns over the two games and 16 hits combined over both matches.  We had so much fun playing today and this fun included dancing to songs in between innings.  For example; the YMCA, the Macarena, and Twist and Shout.  Knocking out North Georgia put us into the national championship game which is tomorrow at 3:00pm.  We are so ready and pumped to play Alabama-Huntsville again.  I'll be sure to be quicker with my updates after tomorrow's games.  At this time I would really like to thank everyone who has supported us so far this season and for the four years my fellow seniors and I have been playing.  Our fans are so dedicated and loving, we are the luckiest girls in the world.  We have so many fans down here in Salem, Virginia let alone all the supporters we have listening on the radio and watching on the computer.  The support is overwhelming and helps more than you know.  So thank you for everything you have done for us, even if you don't think it means a lot, it is so very important to us. 

Stay tuned...

Norris #22

As of right now all the Lock Haven Lady Eagles have to do is sleep, eat, and play softball.  School is out and me and 4 of my teammates graduated last weekend.  We won the first round of regionals and are preparing for super regionals which are this upcoming weekend.

            Being a graduated college student is pretty weird.  Jess, Nancy, Erica, Ilia, and I wore our caps and gowns last weekend and walked across the stage in our Fieldhouse to collect our degrees.  My graduation ceremony was on Friday while the other four graduated on Saturday because of different majors.  We were able to go to each others ceremonies and some of our friends who weren't graduating came to celebrate as well.  It was such a great weekend and so special to share with my family and best friends.  I still can't believe that I am a college graduate.  It seems like just yesterday I was a whiny little freshman crying over being homesick. 

            Being in Lock Haven and not having anything to do besides softball is pretty strange.  Me and my roommates wake up, make breakfast which is usually pancakes and bacon.  We watch a lot of T.V., and snack all day.  Then we'll have practice where we work hard and focus on improving our game.  After that we'll come back to the house, eat snacks, watch more T.V. and make dinner.  Our days aren't extremely eventful but we enjoy the time to relax and the time we get to spend together. 

            The first round of regionals ended yesterday which was Sunday.  We won the PSAC tournament the weekend before by defeating Shippensburg University which advanced us to this past weekend where we played three games.  We were able to host the first round of regionals as we did the PSAC Tournament.  It is wonderful to be able to host these games and play on our home field.  We have a deep connection with our field and it means a lot to play and protect it. 

            Friday we defeated Bowie State University and then Saturday we played California University of Pennsylvania.  They are always tough competition for us and were we able to come out on top and win the game.  Every game we win gets us closer to our ultimate goal of competing for a national championship.  Sunday we were faced with Cal again and they had to defeat us twice to advance to the next weekend.  Our entire line-up contributed to the win over Cal which was 3-0, and our defense really stepped up to get the job done.  After winning this weekend we will again host Super-Regionals which is on Friday and Saturday.  We found out we are playing Kutztown University and it's a best of three series.  The anticipation and excitement is growing as the weekend gets closer and we as a team can't wait to continue our season together as it begins to come to an end.  Hopefully it's a happy ending!!  Go Haven!!

And now begins POST SEASON!  Yesterday, Friday April 24, 2009 Lock Haven softball had their first game of the post season versus Shippensburg University.  This weekend of games consists of a three team tournament and the winner of this tournament moves onto the PSAC Championship which will be held next Sunday at a location to be determined.          

            Yesterday's game went great!  We hit the ball hard and often, our defense made some great plays, and Erb had yet another exceptional game while only allowing two hits.

            Besides softball, the lives of the Lock Haven players are pretty hectic right now.  Finals begin on Monday, which are never fun, 5 of us girls are preparing for our graduation ceremonies next weekend, due to different majors, my ceremony is on Friday while the other four girls have theirs on Saturday.  The word graduation still scares me to death, when Friday comes I'm not exactly sure how my emotions will be.  I can be a kind of "emotional roller coaster" at times, so I guess we'll see on Friday.

            Coach Green had to sit us down as a team today to describe so us the process and brackets of this post season because it is a bit different then years past.  We have two weekends for PSAC's and Super Regionals and most of us girls didn't really understand the procedure.  As we were looking at the brackets, we realized that we only had to win 12 games to come out on top of this 2009 season.  12 games.  Now we won the first game yesterday, so 11 is now the number.  We know it is NOT going to be easy, and these next 5 weeks and 11 games will be the absolute toughest of our lives, but we are ready.  We know what it takes, and unfortunately, we know all too well how it feels to come in second and third.  Most teams would love the opportunity to come in second or third, but for our team of girls, and the talent and dedication we have, it's not enough.  One thing this team is extremely good at is taking one game at a time.  We don't look down the road at Regionals and definitely not NCAA Championships.  Right now we are focusing on our game today against Shippensburg and we will take that game one inning and one pitch at a time. 

            I'm off now to Dunkin Donuts with some of the girls; it has become our pre-game ritual.  I'll write again soon to fill you in with the results of today's play.  Go Haven!

Sarah #22

This softball season has been flying by like the blink of an eye so.  I cannot believe that it is April 16 and we are coming up upon a weekend where we have our LAST regular season games.  As a senior, the previous sentence hits home pretty hard.  I have always been the person to laugh while my previous and fellow seniors get emotional about the end of the season, but it is coming back to bite me as I wipe away tears during huddles after games.  These past four years have been the best of my life, and I'm hoping that somehow, someway these next few weeks go as slow as molasses. 

This past week has been somewhat uneventful, and that is a good thing!  Ever since the day we left for spring break in Hawaii the Lady Bald Eagles have been traveling all the time!  We only have 5 home games to begin with, so most of our games are away including our trips to Hawaii, West Virginia, and Salem, VA.  We have only been able to practice about once or twice in the whole month of April because we either had games, we were traveling, or the weather prohibited us from practicing on the field.  It seems like whenever I look around I'm either on an opposing players field or on our bus... a small bus might I add.  The kind of bus that is impossible to get comfortable in.  Anyway, our games have been going very well, we play hard and receive the benefits of working so hard. 

On Monday, April 13 a few of my close friends and I had to make an emotional trip to Newtown, PA to attend the funeral of our close friend.  It was so unfortunate that Mark passed away and we all miss him very much.  Not a day goes by that we don't think about him, and our pitcher Kristin Erb writes his initials, MJR, in the dirt on the mound in the beginning of every inning.  He was a very strong supporter of our team and we dedicate every game from here on out to him.  We know his is watching, and yelling at the umpires when they make a bad call.

This weekend coming up is going to be a very eventful weekend.  We have our annual "Knock MS out Of the Park" game vs. Clarion on Friday at 2:30.  We as a team have tried to raise as much money from the LHU faculty, staff, students, and the Lock Haven community to benefit the National MS Society.  Our team has become very competitive; if you can believe it... to raise the most money for the cause.  We are very excited to see the end result, especially because we are trying to get some major organizations and companies to match what we raise.  It feels great to give back to those who are in need and we are working very hard to do so.

Our senior day is Saturday the 18^th and we play Bloomsburg so the fun and anticipation will be high that day.  Senior day has always been something that someone else goes through, but now that it is me and my 7 fellow seniors turn, it feels a little bizarre.  The tears will be flowing in-between games on Saturday when the seniors and their families are announced and walk to the center of the field, and the tears will mostly be coming from our parents I believe. J  They have been such strong supporters since day one and I'm not sure what they are going to do when they don't have a softball season to look forward to, or a weekend of games that they get to "call off work" for! 

Playoffs are the following week and we have set high standards for our performance in that tournament.  Post season is more like the regular season to our team.  We work for post season and the month of May and this is where we set many of our goals.  I'm hoping that you keep following these articles and come along with us on this exciting, scary, emotional journey of ours. 

Sarah #22

We are now 10 games into our conference play and have 10 wins under our belts.  Lock Haven softball is trucking along and I am just trying to put my foot down to slow the ride down just a bit.

Yesterday, April 2, our pitcher Kristen Erb made NCAA Division II history.  She now has the most wins in all of DII softball!!!  Absolutely incredible.  I couldn't be more proud of that girl and more honored to have been able to share the softball diamond with her for the past 4 years.  In the huddle after defeating Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Erb making history, I have to admit I had some tears rolling down my cheeks.  I was overly excited for Erb, thrilled that we had just beaten a team who has always given us a good fight, and I was very sad because for the first time this year, I realized that my softball and college careers are almost over.  It hit me like a ton of bricks, and it was very unexpected.  I look at the girls around me who have become my family and to think about not seeing them everyday like I have for the past 1,2,3, or 4 years makes me sick to my stomach.  I am doing my best to live up this last season and spend as much time with these girls who have become my sisters.

LHU softball is now 25-4 and it feels extraordinary.  We are having so much fun playing together, we stay relaxed, laugh ALL of the time, and we play for each other... which I think is the key to our success.

We played Clarion on March 31^st and I'm just going to come right out and say it, our righty-turned-lefty slapper Julia Popovich was turned back around to hit from the right side for the FIRST TIME in 4 years, and her FIRST PITCH went sailing over the left field fence!  We are all so proud of her because she always said she was the only player in the line-up who didn't have a homerun, and she hit TWO that day!  Go Julia!

Tonight we are traveling to West Chester to stay over and play them tomorrow afternoon.  West Chester is actually the hometown to me and our center fielder Nancy O'Connor.  So tonight we are going to my house for dinner and we get the opportunity to spend time with some parents and friends who can make the trip.  I am very excited to play in my hometown, and I'm hoping that many of the people that Nancy and I know can make it to our game to support our team. 

On Wednesday, March 25, Lock Haven University held a talent show called "Haven's Got Talent".  This event was for all sports teams so show that they have other talents off the court, field, track, and pool.  All proceeds were donated to Make-A-Wish foundation and the night was a complete success.  Not only was it a success because of how much fun it was... LHU softball won MOST ENTERTAINING!!  The act that won most talented sang a song and they actually deserved most talented, but we'll take most entertaining!  Ilia, Roosa, Julia, Kirsten, Gut, and I performed a dance to a mix of songs, and might I say that we were AWESOME!  The other acts were very good, there were other dances, skits, and singers, but the Dugout Divas, (our stage name) took home the trophy and the title of most entertaining!

For the answer to the Trivia Question from last blog... Nancy O'Connor, Krystin Montoro, and I have been playing on the same softball team since we were 11.  All three of us played for the Chester County Lady Fireballs for our entire travel ball careers, and now we are spending our college years playing softball together as well! 

This past week has been jam packed with games and we still have two on Saturday and two on Sunday.  Our game schedule makes the time fly so we are holding on tight and enjoying the ride, not many people can say they get to play the game they love, with all the people they love, for the coaches they love.  It's a great recipe for success and we love every minute of it!

Sarah #22

          Out of our 45 regular season games, 12 of them are home games.  Like the weeks past, we are 6 and a half hours from Lawrence Field, our home field.  This weekend we are in Salem Virginia.  Salem has a special little place in Lock Haven's heart because of what has been experienced here.  In May of 2006 our 8 seniors and 2 coaches were on these same fields when we won the National Championship.  We get some pretty vivid memories when our bumping bus pulls up to Moyer Sports Complex while we belt out our song "Thunderstruck" and bang on the windows with all our might.  The butterflies start to flutter in our stomachs and we remember how it felt to win it all, and all 10 of us who were there would give anything for the rest of our teammates to feel what we do.

            Last weekend we were in West Virginia.  We went 4-0 that weekend so we felt like we were getting back into our normal rhythm.  There was a different feeling on the field when we played in West Virginia, we were relaxed.  Our team plays so much better when we are calm and just having a good time.  For example, in one of our games, as Erb was throwing in one of her pitches, Ilia our shortstop says out loud that she is hungry.  It made everyone around her laugh and the atmosphere was just positive and uplifting during the whole game.  We did have a small bit of adversity during our weekend in West Virginia.  It wasn't how we played, team chemistry, or bad attitudes... it was the fact that our radio in the bus didn't work.  The radio plays a big part in our pre-game because that is where we get excited and fired up to play.  Without a proper radio, it seemed as though all was lost.  My teammates and I had to invest a little improv into our pre-game and we all began to sing.  All of our favorite songs came floating out of our mouths sounding better than the radio version... NOT!  "My Life Would Suck Without You", "Oh Happy Day", "Shoop", and "It Makes Me Ill" are all some of our favorites.  It was a lot of fun to try and hit the high notes and low notes of those songs, especially because we sound absolutely terrible! 

            Luckily with all of our traveling we have been able to watch Grey's Anatomy every Thursday at 9.  Most of our team has a very good relationship with this amazingly awesome series.  Even coaches stress about not being able to see it and having to watch it online if we have to miss an episode.  If you aren't a fan yourself, I strongly suggest you buy the seasons and begin a Grey's marathon.  J

            We won our first game tonight (Friday) in Salem.  We are continuing to have fun and play relaxed.  A major part of our success as a team is that anyone on our roster can come through and win the game.  If one or two people are having a bad game, someone else will come through in the clutch and get the job done.  That helps us stay relaxed and win!

            For this weekend and the past, Lock Haven hasn't quite felt right because we are missing two of our sisters.  Dianna and Becca are still in Lock Haven because they are injured and not able to travel with the team.  We miss them very, very much and can't wait until they are back with us filling the void in our hearts!!  

            Lock Haven Softball is beginning to get back into the groove of things and really play like we know we can.  It feels good to keep learning and improving from our past.  Being in Salem and on those fields brings a rush of emotions back to many of us that is hard to control.  Our season is starting to look brighter and it is up to us to keep going.  

            I have a little trivia question for anyone who may be reading these blogs.  Can you name 3 girls on the current Lock Haven roster who have been playing softball together since they were 11 years old?  The answer will be in the next blog. 

Talk to you soon!

Sarah #22

March 4, 2009

The spring break trip of Lock Haven University's softball team this year is a bit different then years past.  Instead of the Rebel Games in Orlando, Florida, our team has had the unbelievable opportunity to travel to Hawaii and play 10 games over a span of 10 days.  This is extremely new territory to us Lady Eagles and we love every second of it.  There are many of the girls on the team including myself that have never been this far west in the United States. (Sadly, some of the girls didn't know that Hawaii was a part of the U.S., and one girl thought we needed our passports... but I won't mention any names... Amanda Roosa. 

Today is the eighth day of our trip and it has been very exciting so far.  There has been 5 different flights, 2 different islands, 3 different hotels, 5 different airports, $25 meals in those airports, plenty of uncomfortable airplane seats, and 24 tired women adjusting to the 5 hour time difference.  There has also been Volcano Parks, snorkeling, swimming in the clear blue waters, some of the biggest waves any of us had ever seen, a tour of the Pearl Harbor Memorial and much more to come. 

On Monday we all went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.  This was an amazing experience.  Some of us were a little nervous as to what we may see out there.  There were some scary looking eels and fish we were warned about but there were no dangerous encounters.  Our shortstop Ilia Lopez swears she saw a Barracuda or something hidden in a corner of the reef... hmm...  Our two coaches Coach Green and Coach Shannon stayed out in that water most of the day, exploring and looking for the hidden sea turtles that are hard to spot.  It is always such a pleasure to spend time with our team and coaches outside of our softball lives, it is such a very important part of how we work and perform as a team on the field.

Speaking of on the field, we haven't had quite the beginning we were expecting.  As of right now we are 5-3.  This is a very different start to the season for us but we are learning from every pitch and every inning of each game and putting what we have learned into our next competitions.  Everyone is enjoying the process of doing the little things and we aren't expecting to peak yet at this point in our season. 

Our Pearl Harbor experience on Tuesday was definitely one of my favorite things we have done so far.  Hearing a talk from one of the Rangers about the entire history of the build-up to December 7^th was one of my favorite parts of the tour.  The silence that was demanded on the memorial was heart shattering, it was hard to not put yourself in the shoes of those men and women who sacrificed and died out in those very waters.  To see the oil still leaking up to the surface of the waters from the USS Arizona was just astonishing.  9 liters of oil find their way up to the top every day.  We had the amazing oppurtunity to raise a flag in honor of those whose lives were lost in the name of Lock Haven University.  My teammates and I were very touched by this moment on the memorial.

We still have two games to play tomorrow and even though this spring break may seem like something written out of a story-book, my teammates and I and our coaches still know that we have a lot to learn and work on.  If we don't learn from our past then we won't be the team we expect ourselves to be, moving on and growing from past mistakes makes us the team that we are.  I am so excited to get into the heart of our season and make it our most memorable yet.  I am surrounded by the most amazing and talented group of people and I wouldn't want to share my senior year or senior season with any other clan of girls.  I am so proud to be apart of this school and this particular team, and we have some high hopes set for these coming months.  I'm also excited to continue to blog and keep others updated with what is going on in our season and also what is going on off the softball field, because with this crazy team, some of the most memorable experiences and funniest moments are the things that happen behind the scenes.

Sarah #22