The Kirkwood softball team at Nationals
UPDATE 5/16/13
The Kirkwood softball team notched another win in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Traceway Park in Clinton, Miss. The Eagles (57-3) edged out Illinois Central College in a tight 3-2 contest. With the victory, Kirkwood stays in the winners bracket in the double elimination tournament and improves their winning streak to 50 games.
Next up for the Eagles is a tough matchup with the second-seeded Phoenix College Bears (46-15) out of Phoenix, Ariz. The Bears are the defending national champions and have won the national title a total of nine times. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
For more coverage on the tournament and to listen to the game, check out the NJCAA website here.
UPDATE 5/15/13
The Kirkwood softball team moved into the second round of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament by beating CCBC-Catonsville (Baltimore, MD) 10-1. The Eagles, winners of 49 straight, stay in the winners bracket in the double elimination tournament while CCBC-Cantonsville will be eliminated with one more loss.
Offensively the team was led by infielder Leah Duffe who had a homerun and three RBI’s. In the circle, pitcher Amber Logemann pitched six solid innings allowing one run with 14 strikeouts.
The Eagles (56-3) now move on to face sixth-seeded Illinios Central College (28-13), who hail from East Peoria, Illinois, at 3:30 p.m.
The Eagles are the third seed in their quest for a national title
The Kirkwood softball team is having a season for the ages. The Eagles (55-3) followed their Region XI title by capturing the District F Championship Friday after beating Dawson Community College (Glendive, Mont.) 12-0. The win gave the team its 48th straight victory and a trip to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament as the third seed.
The Eagles have the highest winning percentage (.946) of all national tournament qualifiers and leads the nation in multiple categories including runs scored (524), homeruns (101), walks (218) and opponent batting average (.176). It’s been a record-breaking campaign for the Eagles, with Kayla Tatge (Soph. utility player – Milan, Ill.) besting the team’s career homerun record and Amber Logemann (Soph. pitcher – Earlham, Iowa) setting the team mark for the most strikeouts in a game.
The mix of a potent offense and great pitching have propelled the Eagles all season, but Head Coach Joe Yegge said that at the national tournament you have to be on your toes at all times.
“At this point in the season everyone is ready to win games,” said Yegge. “You’re going to get every team’s best everyday. The competition will be top-notch.”
Yegge said that while the squad is mentally in a good place after becoming regional and divisional champs, they are going into the tournament ready to compete.
“Right now our team is excited to participate in a national tournament,” said Yegge. “I think as a whole we are going down to Mississippi with a relaxed attitude and ready to play good ball.”
The NJCAA Division II Softball National Championship is May 15-18 at Traceway Park in Clinton, Miss.
You can listen to tournament games live on the NJCAA website.