Golden Hurricane Softball: Conference USA Champions
By DANIEL C. CAMERON
Assistant Publisher
POWERHOUSE: The Golden Hurricane softball team is returning to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. Front row, from left are Ashlee Lubniewski, Skylar Swanson, Vanessa Vice, Brooke Smart, Stephanie Chomicki, Jackie Lawrence and Assistant Coach Kirin Kumar. The back row, from left are Lauren Menke, Dan Schinnerer (trainer), Kelly Chapman, Jessica Stoelke, Jordan Kinard, Kailey Yarmer, Lauren Lindsay, Christian Timmons, Head Coach John Bargfeldt and Assistant Coach Crissy Strimple.
DANIEL C. CAMERON for GTR Newspapers
For the second straight season and third time in four years, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane softball team made it to the Tournament. The honor came after earning Conference regular season and tournament championships. The team’s record on the season was 16-4 in the conference and 38-15 overall.
John Bargfeldt is in his fourth year as head coach at Tulsa. Since his arrival, the team has finished the season placed within the top three of the conference every year. In his four years, Bargfeldt has won at least 30 games per season and has posted 136 wins at print time.
Bargfeldt comments, “what is special about this team is their determination to win is outstanding, especially over the last month.” The Hurricane found themselves in a position where they had to put together a miracle to save the season. And they did. Bargfeldt adds, “it’s like we’ve been playing a single elimination tournament for the last month.” At press time, the team is on a 10 game winning streak, winning 17 of their last 19 games with 13 straight against C- foes.
Eight players received All-Conference honors with four on the first team and four players made the All-Tournament team. Junior Lauren Lindsay was named the C- Championship .
Lindsay leads the team in hitting with a stout .414 batting average. However, three girls have eight home runs for the year, Lindsay, Kailey Yarmer and Brooke Smart.
Jacki Lawrence leads the pitching staff with a 20-4 record. Over 168 innings pitched, Lawrence 175 strikeouts and an amazing 1.58 earned run average. Jordan Kinard is the second leading pitcher with a 12-6 record. Kinard has pitched 114 innings with 129 strikeouts.
Updated 05-18-2009
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