Category | Sports

Softball team finishes 2nd in the A-Sun despite setbacks

Published on July 22, 2008 by The Sentinel

    The softball team ended the 2008 season with a record of 36-17
overall and 14-8 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.  They finished in
second place, trailing only Florida Gulf Coast, USC Upstate and
Lipscomb, who all tied for first.

    The team’s success was uncertain at the start of the season as the roster was young, plagued with injuries and without a proven offense.  The team, though, was built around pitching and throughout the season, the Owls’ starters came through.

    Brittany Matthews, the left-handed senior, was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year.  In her first game of the season she registered 18 strikeouts, setting the single-game record for KSU, and earning the Owls a 4-0 victory over Georgetown.

    Matthews lived up to expectations and took home a total of five A-Sun Player of the Week Awards in 2008.  She finished her career at KSU as the school’s career leader in a number of pitching categories including: strikeouts (887), starts (115) and games (145).

    Matthews would break the mark in the KSU record books with 254 strikeouts. Head coach Scott Whitlock, would also earn win number 1,000 and 1,001 after 23 years of coaching. “It made me feel incredibly fortunate. I have been given a great avenue to do those things here at Kennesaw State,” said Whitlock.

    Shortly after the end of the season, Matthews, along with Jessica Cross, were both named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference First Team. Cross also picked up yet another honor after being named to the Southeast All-Region team.

    With 184 plate appearances, Cross was able to dominate in almost every category including home runs (15), hits (53) and RBI (41). As a pitcher, she held an ERA of 1.57, registered 53 strikeouts, and won eight games while atop the mound. “I was not shooting for any specific numbers,” said Cross.

    “She is a superstar waiting to blossom,” said Whitlock regarding Cross. “She has the chance to be one of the best players we’ve ever had here. “
    Looking ahead to the 2009 season, the team’s main focus will be on offensive production. With the loss of Matthews and Lopez and an even younger team than last season, they will need to be equally as good defensively. Their pitching rotation will include one sophomore, Cross, and three incoming freshmen. “We have a lot of players that will help this coming year,” said Cross.

    Last month, the Owls lost a very valued and longtime member of the program: Bill Gray, the team’s former assistant coach. He made the decision to leave the program to take up the head coaching position at Missouri Southern State University. “He was a dear friend, a confidant, a buddy, so I will miss him on several different levels,” expressed Whitlock. Gray’s replacement has yet to be named.

    The 2009 season is scheduled to kickoff on February 6-8 at the Mississippi State Tournament in Starkville, Miss.