Nighthawks Softball 2008 Season Review
The Newbury College softball team has come quite a ways
in just two seasons under Head Coach Christine Grenache.
After finishing the season prior to Coach Grenache's arrival
with zero wins, 2007 brought a much improved 11-10 record.
The Nighthawks continued their success in 2008 with a second
place finish at the Association of Division III Independents
Tournament and an overall record of 13-24.
The Nighthawks began the season the week of March 9th -15th
by traveling to Orlando, Florida, in the first annual spring
training trip to the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex.
The Nighthawks lost two on their opening day but came back
in the next day to beat Calumet College, 6-3, and then shut
out Penn State Hazelton, 8-0, the following day.
On their return to New England, the Nighthawks continued
to make noise as they brought home wins from Johnson &
Wales, UMass Boston, Wheelock College, Anna Maria College,
Mass Maritime, and Southern Vermont before heading to the
Association of DIII Independents tournament as the third
seed, on April 26th and 27th.
During the tournament, the Nighthawks lost in game two
against #2 Green Mountain College in a close game, finishing
4-6. Newbury battled back in the double elimination tournament
and took on St. Joseph's College (NY) in game four and won
by a significant margin, 10-3. Following that win the Nighthawks
faced #1 Mitchell, beating them 7-3; and finally knocked
UMaine Presque Isle out of the tournament in a thrilling
9-8 victory to secure their spot in the finals. There, they
again faced a tough Green Mountain College squad and lost
by a score of 0-9 finishing as runners-up in the tournament.
Newbury's Catherine Cullen (Beverly, MA) and Jessica
Lightfoot (Sewell, NJ) were selected to the 2008 DIII
Independent All-Tournament team.
Also receiving recognition this season was junior pitcher
Adrienne Miller (Prospect, CT) who was honored by
the ADIII Independents as a second team selection for the
All-Independent team for the 2008 season. Miller finished
the season with a 4.95 ERA and a 9-12 record. Miller also
boasted the third highest batting average on the team with
a .280, contributing 17 runs and 4 RBIs this season. Senior
shortstop Alise Jacquet (Holliston, MA) led the team
with 25 RBIs, and finished the season with a .305 batting
average, second only to Cullen who finished the season batting
.327. Cullen also led the Nighthawks in fielding percentage
with .968 this season.
The Nighthawks also saw plenty of time on the mound from
senior pitcher Michaela Lynch (Attleboro, MA) who
had 4 wins this season. Katelyn Mark (Quincy, MA),
Anastasia Tridenti (Glocester, RI), Kaila Nicolia
(Monroe, CT), and Leanne Merritt (Bethel, CT) completed
the Nighthawks infield, combining for 48 runs and 19 RBIs.
Lightfoot, Jessica Jordan (Stoneham, MA), and Lindsay
Shiboski (Beacon Falls, CT) made up the Nighthawks outfield
and had 35 runs and 15 RBIs collectively.
The Nighthawks graduate three seniors this season and will
look to their core of returners and incoming players to
continue this season's success when the Nighthawks become
part of the New England Collegiate Conference in the 2009
season.
For more information on the softball team, call Coach
Grenache at (617) 738-2478 or email cgrenache@newbury.edu.
