2009 Season Review

A trying 2009 regular season for the Taylor softball team ended with a strong Mid-Central College Conference tournament run. The late-season success was coupled with questions of "what if" scenarios. The Trojans were involved in 15 losses by three runs or less, and were denied the opportunity to continue on in the conference tournament not by a loss, but by the weather. The scenarios combined into an 18-23 season.

It took time to see results, but finding some success was not a surprise to a team who had fought through close games all year. In total, 22 games were decided by three runs or less. Even with the 15 losses in close games, the 2009 Trojan softballers recorded the most wins for the program in over five years.

Taylor finished 4-12 in the MCC during the regular season. The seventh place finish showcased the struggles of a team playing well but not well enough to win. A 2-1 record in the postseason allowed all to see the potential in the Trojans. The culmination of experiencing battles all season long and the heart of a team not willing to give up came together in a strong postseason run. Taylor and Spring Arbor University finished tied for third in the conference tournament after rain cancelled the consolation bracket.

Taylor played four distinct sections of the 2009 schedule; non-conference games, a spring break tournament, and the MCC regular season and tournament play.

Taylor amassed a 4-6 record during the non-conference schedule. TU went 3-5 in road games during the stretch, highlighted by the sweep of Hanover College on the road. The Trojans won five of the six games in which they scored four or more runs.

TU softball next travelled to Tucson, Ariz. for the Tucson Invitational Tournament. Playing ten games in five days, Taylor went 6-4 to raise their record to 11-11. Keeping their record near .500, the Trojans played against primarily NCAA Division III teams. The teams included Luther College who was ranked sixth in the nation coming into the tournament and Gustavus Adolphus College, who received votes to be ranked during the tournament and finished the year in the top 25. The success on the spring break trip allowed Taylor to come into conference play with confidence after scoring 61 runs in 10 games.

MCC conference play saw the Trojans face many challenges, including two teams appearing in the NAIA national poll all year. Bethel College was ranked in the top 10 all season and Marian College consistently received votes to be in the top 25.

Taylor struggled to record wins in conference games. Five conference losses came by only one run or in extra-innings. Eight of the twelve losses were decided by three runs or less. An inability to win the close games led to a stretch of seven consecutive close losses. Hitting in clutch situations was a weakness for the Trojans in the regular season, but the experience in tough games allowed for success later on.

Taylor finished the season with a strong run, winning three of the final four games. A 6-0 win against Indiana Wesleyan at home highlighted the conference season, and a sweep of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College on senior day finished the regular season on a high note.

Seeded seventh in the MCC tournament, Taylor faced off against Marian College in the first round. Seen as the underdog against the number two seed in the conference, the Trojans would not back down. Gaining from the experience of the regular season and relying on the heart of their five senior leaders, Taylor brought Marian to the brink of an upset. Unfortunately, for the fourth time The Trojans fell short against a conference opponent in extra innings. Marian escaped with a 4-3 win after eight innings.

Facing elimination against St. Francis the Trojans fought a spirited battle that finally brought an extra-inning victory to Taylor's resume. The battle TU faced included a two run deficit in the seventh inning from which Taylor battled back to tie the game. Trailing again in the eighth the upperclassmen came through with big hits. With two outs, a two-run walk-off double by Lindsey Arnold lead to a 5-4, allowing Taylor to advance.

A similar story unfolded as Taylor faced off against Indiana Wesleyan in their second elimination game of the MCC Tournament. Only one run crossed the plate in a hard fought contest. Junior pitcher Jess Fankhauser shut down the Wildcat offense allowing only four hits. Taylor pounded out seven hits against the Wildcats. A shot by Lindsey Arnold forced an error, allowing her to get into scoring position on third base. A sacrifice fly by Alyssa Brodbeck allowed the only run of the game to be scored by Arnold. Taylor sent IWU home for the season with the 1-0 victory.

The MCC postseason was doused with rain throughout the duration of the tournament. After significant changes and attempts to preserve the tournament, the conference was forced to abandon the double elimination tournament in favor of a single elimination format. The fields were deemed unplayable except for the final, leaving Taylor left on the outside looking in. The Trojans would have needed to win two more tough games in order to reach the championship.

It is not often a player can end their career with a victory, but five Trojan softballers were allowed that memory. Seniors Lindsey Arnold, Julianne Beadner, Laurie Shumaker, Lindsey Stone and Jill Tomaszewski led the team in the2009 season that saw many ups and downs.

Arnold led the conference in batting average (.424) and hits per game (1.44), a first for a Taylor softball player. Beadner added quality games at first throughout the season. Shumaker played left field and averaged .241 as the Trojans' leadoff hitter. Stone manned second base for Taylor and had an average of .268 and recorded 15 RBI in 39 games played. Tomaszewski led the way for TU's pitching staff, throwing in 20 games, recording over 100 strikeouts and earning seven wins in her final season. She also finished with 21 hits to help her own cause.

Post season accolades were handed out to four Trojans for their efforts. Freshman Alyssa Brodbeck, sophomore Emily Kramer and senior Lindsey Stone all received Honorable Mention All-Conference status, while Lindsey Arnold was voted a member of the All-Conference Team. Arnold and Brodbeck also received All-MCC Tournament Team positions to round out the awards.

Seniors Arnold and Stone both have received post-season accolades in seasons past. Stone was also an Honorable Mention All-MCC player last season as a junior, and Arnold was an Honorable Mention player as a sophomore. In her junior season Arnold received both All-Conference and All-Region honors.

While Taylor softball loses five seniors, the underclassmen's impact on the 2009 season help the 2010 season look bright. Impact players such as junior Liz Lewellen, sophomore Emily Kramer and junior pitcher Jess Fankhauser will help lead underclassmen such as Laura Strode and Alyssa Brodbeck, who both had very successful first years. With added talent coming in the form of multiple recruits, coupled with lessons learned from a season filled with battles, failures and successes, the next step should be an exciting one for Taylor softball.