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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Softball team wins national title


The Monroe Community College softball team had its back against the wall as it tried to win the first softball national title in the college’s history.  After a loss put the Tribunes in the loser’s bracket heading into Saturday, Monroe had to win three consecutive games to claim the NJCAA Division III championship.

The Tribunes, it turns out, were up to the task.

MCC (38-9) won each game of the tripleheader in Rochester, Minn., culminating with a 10-0 victory over Brookdale to win the national title, the third this year for the MCC athletic program.

After sweating out the first two games of Sunday’s action, the Tribunes turned the championship game into a rout. Led by the pitching of Missy Flint (Barker, NY/Barker) and another banner day from the potent offense, the Tribunes cruised to the shutout victory.

Flint threw a complete game, striking out 10 and scattering four hits. Tara Rogowski (Buffalo, NY/Mt. Mercy Academy) paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a solo home run. Hilary Dank (Fairport, NY/Fairport) had two hits and two runs batted in and Whitney Wright (Lima, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) added a pair of hits.

MCC used another solid pitching performance in the middle game of the tripleheader, as Erin Green (Fairport, NY/Fairport) tossed a six-hitter with two strikeouts against Brookdale. Green, who also earned the save in the day’s opener against top-ranked Anne Arundel, was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.

Brookdale actually led 2-0 after four innings of the middle game before MCC rallied with seven runs in the fifth to break it open. The Tribunes put together eight straight hits, including four doubles, and sent 12 batters to the plate. Sylina Santell (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) had an RBI double and RBI single in the fateful inning.

MCC opened the tournament on Thursday, sweeping a pair of games to advance to the winner’s bracket final.  The Tribunes beat Clark State Community College (Ohio) 6-0 before topping Ridgewater (Minn.) 3-2 in a thriller.

Flint pitched a four-hitter with seven strikeouts against Clark.  Rogowski once again provided pop at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer.

MCC trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh against Ridgewater before putting together a dramatic comeback.  Green led off with a double and scored on another two-bagger off the bat of Sarah Clingersmith (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Falls) to tie the game at 2.  Kate Blundell (Liverpool, NY/ Liverpool) then singled in Clingersmith with the game-winner.

The Tribunes had a chance to advance to the title game on Friday against Brookdale but came up short in a 5-0 defeat.  MCC managed just four hits on the day.  Blundell finished 2-for-3 and Green added a double.  The loss set the table for Saturday’s championship run.

Head coach Robb DiGiacomo was named the national coach of the year. Clingersmith, Blundell, and Flint were named to the all-tournament team.

Tom Garigen
Athletics
05/23/2006