ULV softball travels to Div. III Regional playoffs

by Nate Silva
Staff Writer

Another year of dominating its conference competition has brought the University of La Verne's softball team another impressive postseason bid. The Leopards, who are the proud owners of a 17-1 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record, earned a No. 2 ranking in this weekend's NCAA West Regional playoff in Tacoma, Wash.

With this, ULV will take on No. 3 East Texas Baptist University (36-6) today at noon.

The Leopards are no strangers to national competition though, finishing 10-2 at this year's Sun West Invitational Tournament at Chapman, where they defeated such ranked opponents as Colorado College and University of Puget Sound.

The Leopard's finished their season with an overall record of 35-4-1.

The No. 1 seed in the double-elimination tournament is host Pacific Lutheran, who will receive a bye as the Nos. 4 and 5 teams compete for the chance to play the host Lutes.

Should the Leopards advance they will play tomorrow at noon against the winner of the Pacific Lutheran vs. Trinity/Wisconsin-Superior game.

A loss would not eliminate the Leopards from the tournament, but it would cause the team to play again at 4:30 p.m. today.

This year's title marks the third consecutive SCIAC crown for La Verne as their only loss came at the hands of the Cal Lutheran Regals on April 12. Despite the 3-2 loss, the Leopards have outscored their conference opponents by a total of 165-17.

A win of the West Regional Tournament will place the La Verne in the national championship picture, where it last appeared in the NCAA Division III World Series in 1993.

Leading the Leopards offensively and in the field this weekend was recently named SCIAC Player of the Year Sue Whitcher, following the footsteps of teammate Gina Meza who received the honor in 2001.

Whitcher finsihed regular season play hitting a team high of .553 with 57 RBI's with eight homeruns.

She also went a perfect 10-0 this season on the mound with 42 strikeouts through 63.2 innings pitched.

Whitcher was one of eight of the Leopards who were named on the first team all-conference list along with Kim Schrepfer, Jackie Russo, Auggie Torres, Elizabeth Ramos, Andee Tarazon, Meza, and Mandy Tillema.

In the circle, La Verne will look for more great performances from Tillema who has been the pitching powerhouse for the Leopards this year.