Joseph Lovallo
Assistant Editor

The University of La Verne softball team concluded its season in second place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference race.

Hoping to top the SCIAC standings and return to the play-offs next year, the Leopards will be helped by a strong core of returning players.

Seven players on this year’s team were named to SCIAC teams for the 2005 season and fortunately for the Leopards, all seven girls will be returning in 2006.

“The all-league selections were a good reflection of the final conference standings,” head coach Robin Haaker said.

First place Redlands earned an amazing ten all-conference selections, while ULV’s seven were the second most awarded.

First Team All-SCIAC selections include Leopard pitcher Mary Olson, second baseman Suzy Riker, shortshop Jessica DeGiacomo and outfielder Morgan Dobis.

Coach Haaker said she is really pleased with the performances she’s had from the trio of sophomores including Dobis, Olson and Riker.

Olson totaled nine wins and had an era of 2.88 during her sophomore season. Dobis hit eight home runs and added a squad-best with 32 RBIs.

Riker led the Leopards with a batting average of .381 and also tallied five home runs and 26 RBIs.

“Suzy had an incredible year,” Dobis said. “Not only did she have the highest batting average on the team but she turned more double plays than I’ve seen a second basemen make in a season.”

Haaker thinks Riker was the most well rounded player on this year’s squad.

DeGiacomo’s offense helped La Verne as she tied Riker for a team high 45 hits.

“Jessica also had a great year for us,” Haaker said. “She’s steadily improved every year that she’s been here.”

Junior third baseman Kelly Silagyi, freshman designated player Jodi Lindsay and senior utility Amanda Jones made the All-SCIAC Second Team.

Silagyi led the team with nine home runs and also led the Leopards with 29 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .619.

On the mound, Jones led the Leopards with ten wins and maintained an ERA of 2.85. At the plate she was second on the squad with a slugging percentage of .613 and scored 39 runs.

“Amanda was a really valuable player, but because of the fact that she played more than one position, it kept her from making first team,” Haaker said.

Lindsay hit five home runs for La Verne and finished with a .333 batting average.

“It felt special to be recogonized as a freshman,” Lindsay said. “Especially in a competitive conference, I was glad I could make a contribution to this team.”

With so much talent returning for next year’s campaign, the Leopards feel like they have a good chance at dethroning Redlands and reclaiming the SCIAC crown.

“Our goal obviously is to win SCIAC,” Dobis said. “We made it to the regionals last year, but before we graduate we want to make it to nationals.”

Either way, taking conference will be no walk in the park. Nine of ten Bulldog all-conference selections are returning for Redlands.

“With the squad we have returning and some hard work, we can make it to Nationals,” Riker said.

The Leopards embrace their competition and plan for a strong squad of new and returning players in 2006.

Joseph Lovallo can be reached at lovalloj@ulv.edu.