St. Peter's Fires Head Coach

MAAC perennial cellar-dweller Saint Peter's has fired head coach Ken Passante, according to sources. The school has not confirmed the ouster.

Passante, in his third season at the helm of the Peacocks, was winless in 2016. He did not coach Saturday's games against Canisius and ended his career at St. Peter's with a 12-111 career record.

St. Peter's was Passante's first Division One coaching job of any kind. He previously served as an assistant at Adelphi University in 2006, an eight-year interim between collegiate positions before he was hired at St. Peter's.

In that interim, Passante owned his own training business, the Hit Gym, a facility that instructed individuals as well as high school programs on strategies and other facets of the game.

Passante previously served as a junior college head coach for nine years, including eight trips to the NJCAA D1 world series eight times. He also served as that school's athletic director for six years.

St. Peter's play a doubleheader against Niagara later today and have fourteen games remaining after that, ending their season on May 8th at Monmouth.

Did You Know: Sara Moulton

Pitcher Sara Moulton on the left; 

Sara Moulton is one of the Minnesota Golden Gophers' all-time program greats; an all-American who ended her college career with more than a half-dozen program records, including 112 career wins; 1,184 strikeouts, and five no-hitters. In her senior season, 2014, Moulton went 27-8 with a 1.97 ERA. Following the season, she was drafted by the Chicago Bandits of the NPF at #5 overall, a pitching staff she is still a member of to this day.

Did you know there is another famous Sara Moulton? A television chef, having hosted three programs on the Food Network as one of the channel's first big-names, Sara the chef currently hosts a cooking program that is distributed by public television, as well as writes a syndicated column for the Associated Press.

Where Are They Now: Lacy Wood

Who is she? Lacy Wood, a former all-star catcher for the Louisville Cardinals.

Photo Courtesy: Louisville Sports Information

What is she known for? Wood was a four-year letterwinner for the Cardinals, as well as a three-time all-conference selection and a 2006 first-team all-American. Notably, she earned all-conference nods in two different conferences, Conference USA and the Big East. 

Here's something interesting... A cousin of Lacy's works for car maker Cadillac/Buick and recently had a concept car revealed at the Detroit car show.

Quotable quote: "Because of sport specialization at such a young age, young people have begun to take the game of softball so seriously. I see more and more young people forgetting how to PLAY. When you see that young girl that truly enjoys the game, it really stands out."


What's she up to now? After her playing career at Louisville ended, Lacy began her coaching career with the Cardinals. She later spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky. She now serves as the top assistant to head coach  Jenny Allard at Harvard.

Keep up: You can find Lacy on Twitter @usawood13

Winthrop Softball Legend Dies in Car Accident

Winthrop softball legend and Hall of Famer Janiva Willis died in a car accident Tuesday night, April 12, in the state of Texas. The vehicle she was traveling in was struck by a tractor-trailer, killing Willis and the driver of the vehicle she occupied.

Willis, a member of the Eagles' class of 2005, was in the midst of a 3,700+ mile journey across the United States, from San Diego to Charlotte, North Carolina. Biking the entire way cross-country, Willis was completing the journey as a fundraiser for the "I Dream in Colors Tour", a nonprofit endeavor raising money for mentoring initiatives in several cities. The journey was supposed to cover eleven states and sixty cities in fifty-seven days; Willis departed San Diego on March 26th, due to arrive in Charlotte in mid-June.

A four-time all-Big South selection, Willis is one of the finest female athletes to grace a Winthrop uniform. She holds four of the program's career records, including the Eagles' all-time home run mark.

In 2005, after her senior season, Willis was named the NCAA's Woman of the Year and was a top-ten finalist for the National Woman of the Year award. She was inducted into the Winthrop Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

Following her collegiate career, she was a member of the Canadian National Team in 2005 and 2007 and won a silver medal at the 2007 Pan Am Games.

Our thoughts, prayers, and best wishes are with her family and loved ones as they go through this tragic and difficult time.

MY TAKE: Mental Errors Are Inexcusable if Greatness is to be Achieved

Yogi Berra once said 'Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical'. One of his best-known quotes, the same can be said for softball. By virtue of the same, a team that aims to be considered within the game's top-tier cannot operate on raw talent alone - said team must succeed on the mental side of the game as well as anything in order to be successful.

As I watched the LSU vs. Mississippi State series from Starkville this weekend, I was surprised to see the number of mental errors made by the Tigers from Baton Rouge - a team that has a very legitimate argument as the most talent-filled in the nation.

Simple things that should be routinely done in their proper manner, yet the Tigers couldn't seem to execute on the finer points.

The catcher not throwing to first base on a third strike in the dirt, an out that would have ended the opponent's rally and left runners in scoring position; instead, the rally continued.

A botched rundown, with constant tosses back and forth, that should have seen two players retired yet all returned safely to their respective bases (in fairness, there was a lapse on the umpire's part, as well, in not calling at least one runner out for two on the same bag).

Even the coaches in the dugout weren't immune to the mental errors, failing to properly reenter a player who was eventually called out due to the mistake, wiping out a would-be RBI base hit.

This weekend's array of mishaps came on the heels of a mental error in last weekend's series against Kentucky that went viral online. An LSU catcher called time and went out to the circle, apparently not realizing her request had not been granted by the umpire. The miscommunication led to a Kentucky runner scoring easily from third base for what would eventually prove to be the only run the Wildcats needed.

If wins and losses were based on sheer, raw talent, Beth Torina's Tigers would undoubtedly be considered one of the best in the nation. But instead of maintaining their top-five ranking from earlier in the season, they've fallen to mid-pick and on the bubble for even hosting a regional, thanks in large part to these same kind of mental errors.

No matter a team's talent level, if simple, mental errors aren't acknowledged and righted, even a team full of superstars can never reach the pinnacle of success.

Weekend Roundup

NEWS:

• Pacific head coach Brian Kolze earned his 700th career win.
• Montana head coach Jamie Pinkerton earned his 300th career win.
• D3: East Texas Baptist's Lacey Lindsey set the career home run record for the American Southwest Conference.
• Towson sophomore catcher Shelby Stracher set the program's single-season record for home runs.
• Marist head coach Joe Ausanio earned his 200th career win.
• North Carolina State head coach Shawn Rychcik earned his 400th career win.
• D2: Lee University senior Lexie Dean set the program's career hits record.
• UT-Arlington head coach Kristie Fox earned her 100th career win.
• Wichita State senior Brittany Fortner set the program's all-time doubles record.
• Syracause senior Corinne Ozanne set the program's career home run record.
• Weber State head coach Mary Kay Amicone earned her 600th career win.
• Memphis' Hannah Harrell set the program's single-season stolen base record.
• Marshall's Kaelynn Greene set the program's all-time stolen base record.
• McNeese State standout sophomore Erika Piancastelli set the school's single-season home run record.
• Nevada senior Megan Sweet set the new program home run record.
• Congratulations to this week's member of the No-No Express - 
• Whitney Gillespie, Jacksonville State (7.0 IP, 5 SO, vs. Morehead State)
• Jane Sallen, Stony Brook (7.0 IP, 6 SO, vs. UMass Lowell)
• Maddy Stensby, Montana (5.0 IP, 2 SO, vs. Portland State)
• Jayne Oberdorf, Marist (5.0 IP, 5 SO, vs. Quinnipiac)

KELSEY STEWART HIT TRACKER

The Florida Gators' second baseman comes into this season 113 hits away from the career NCAA record. We will track her progress weekly.

UPSET ALERT - Ranked teams that suffered losses this week.

- #3 Washington - Lost to NR Cal 5-3

- #4 Louisiana-Lafayette - SWEPT by #1 Florida 5-1, 14-1 (5), 3-0

- #8 Alabama - Lost to #16 Texas A&M 14-1 (5)

- #11 Missouri - Lost to #13 Kentucky 7-6; Lost to #13 Kentucky 3-2

- #12 Baylor - Lost to NR Houston 8-5; Lost to NR Oklahoma State 3-1

- #13 Kentucky - Lost to #11 Missouri 9-2

- #14 LSU - Lost to #13 Kentucky 2-0; Lost to NR Mississippi State 7-2

- #15 UCLA - Lost to NR Oregon State 8-2

- #16 Texas A&M - Lost to #8 Alabama 8-3; Lost to #8 Alabama 8-7

- #18 Georgia - Lost to #17 Tennessee 5-2; Lost to #17 Tennessee 4-1

- #19 Minnesota - SWEPT by NR Wisconsin 6-3, 7-1

- #23 South Carolina - Lost to NR Ole Miss 5-2; Lost to NR Ole Miss 2-0

- #24 UCF - Lost to NR Houston 7-0

- #25 Arizona State - Lost to NR Utah 10-2 (6); Lost to NR Utah 3-1

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Monday, April 18 - 

     Tennessee vs. Georgia @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network

Tuesday, April 19 - 

     Memphis vs. Ole Miss @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network+

     Southern Miss vs. Mississippi State @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network+

Wednesday, April 20 - 

     Florida State vs. Auburn @ 5:00 & 7:30 pm ET - SEC Network+

     South Florida vs. Florida @ 6:00 pm ET - SEC Network+

     Georgia State vs. Georgia @ 6:00 pm ET - SEC Network+

     Oklahoma vs. Arkansas @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network

     South Alabama vs. Alabama @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network+

     Long Beach State vs. Cal State Fullerton @ 8:30 pm ET - ESPN3.com

Friday, April 22 - 

     Mississippi State vs. Florida @ 6:00 pm ET - SEC Network+

     Georgia vs. Auburn @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network+ 

     Oklahoma State vs. Texas @ 7:00 pm ET - Longhorn Network 

     Arkansas vs. Ole Miss @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network+ 

     Kentucky vs. Alabama @ 7:30 pm ET - SEC Network+

Saturday, April 23 - 

     Syracuse vs. Louisville @ 12:00 pm ET - ESPN3.com

     Kennesaw State vs. USC-Upstate @ 1:00 & 3:30 pm ET - ESPN3.com

     Mississippi State vs. Florida @ 1:00 pm ET - SEC Network+ 

     Oklahoma State vs. Texas @ 2:00 pm ET - Longhorn Network 

     Georgia vs. Auburn @ 2:00 pm ET - ESPNU 

     Oklahoma vs. Tennessee @ 2:00 pm ET - ESPN

     Alppalachian State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette @ 3:00 & 5:30 pm ET - ESPN3.com 

     UCLA vs. Arizona @ 5:00 pm ET - ESPN2 

     Kentucky vs. Alabama @ 6:00 pm ET - SEC Network 

     South Carolina vs. LSU @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network+ 

     Arkansas vs. Ole Miss @ 8:00 pm ET - SEC Network

Sunday, April 24 - 

     Syracuse vs. Louisville @ 12:00 pm ET - ESPN3.com 

     Oklahoma State vs. Texas @ 1:00 pm ET - Longhorn Network 

     South Carolina vs. LSU @ 2:00 pm ET - SEC Network+ 

     Georgia vs. Auburn @ 2:00 pm ET - SEC Network+ 

     Kentucky vs. Alabama @ 2:30 pm ET - SEC Network+ 

     Notre Dame vs. North Carolina @ 3:30 pm ET - ESPNU 

     Mississippi State vs. Florida @ 5:00 pm ET - SEC Network 

     UCLA vs. Arizona @ 5:00 pm ET - ESPN2 

     Texas A&M vs. Missouri @ 7:00 pm ET - SEC Network

PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK

Tori Vidales; Erica Nunn; Celina Matthias; Claire McWilliams

• Tori Vidales, Texas A&M - The Aggies' star sophomore had herself quite a day on Saturday, despite her team's defeat in game one of a doubleheader. The slugging second baseman added a trio of moonshots to her season's home run total, already a team-leading mark, and batted 1.000 during the game's twinbill, reaching base safely in every plate appearance, including three walks.
• South Florida's Pitching Staff - In the midst of their current eight-game winning streak (and they've won 31/32 since the first week of March), the Bulls' staff has been absolutely stellar in the circle. Led by pitching coach Jessica Moore and staff ace Erica Nunn, USF extended their streak of scoreless innings to thirty-seven, the last run they gave up coming on April 8th. Nunn, Susan Wysocki, and Cheyenne Eggens combined for nineteen innings of shutout ball in the weekend series against Memphis, allowing only eight hits across the trio of games and collecting twenty-one strikeouts.
• Celina Matthias, Sacramento State - The California sophomore put together her own shutout show on the opposite coast, throwing three in a span of twenty-six hours over the weekend and a fourth shutout the previous Tuesday. Matthias collected seventeen strikeouts, limiting her opponents to no more than four hits per game and issuing just two free bases on balls over the entire weekend. 
• Colleen McWilliams, Marist - Lots of Red Fox mentions in today's article, and for good reason: It's been a good week for the squad. Perhaps none had a better performance than outfielder McWilliams against Hartford on Wednesday. The senior stepped up to the plate three times, and each time parked a home run over the outfield wall. She was responsible for 1/2 of her team's runs, contributing a quintet of runs as part of her team's ten-spot on the scoreboard.

2016 NPF Draft Recap

The 2016 NPF Draft took place last night in Nashville and, as always, interesting tidbits abound.

For those of you who may have missed the festivities, here’s the full draft order:

1. Rebellion – Lexie Elkins, C, Louisiana-Lafayette
2. Pride – Sierra Romero, IF, Michigan
3. Racers – Jailyn Ford, P, James Madison
4. Racers – Sami Fagan, IF, Missouri
5. Pride – Kelsey Nunley, P, Kentucky
6. Dawgs – Kiki Stokes, OF, Nebraska
   
7. Dawgs – Emily Crane, OF, Missouri
8. Rebellion – Allexis Bennett, OF, UCLA
9. Charge – Caitlin Attfield, IF, UAB
10. Racers – Alex Hugo, 2B, Georgia
11. Bandits – Shelby Turnier, P, UCF
12. Pride – Kelsey Stewart, 2B, Florida
    
13. Pride – Haylie McCleney, OF, Alabama
14. Rebellion – Chelsea Wilkinson, P, Georgia
15. Charge – Taylor Gadbois, OF, Missouri
16. Rebellion – Chaley Brickey, IF, Kansas
17. Bandits – Kellsi Kloss, C, LSU
18. Pride – Erica Field, C, James Madison
19. Dawgs – Lexi Overstreet, C/UT, Tennessee
    
20. Racers – Geri Ann Glasco, P/OF, Oregon
21. Rebellion – Lindsey Stephens, OF, Texas
22. Bandits – Emily Carosone, 2B, Auburn
23. Racers – Sandra Simmons, 1B, LSU
24. Bandits – Kristen Brown, SS, North Carolina
25. Pride – Kirsti Merritt, OF, Florida
26. Dawgs – Christian Stokes, IF, Kentucky
    
27. Dawgs – Sara Driesenga, P, Michigan
28. Rebellion – Brittany Gomez, OF, Iowa State
29. Charge – Cheridan Hawkins, P, Oregon
30. Racers – Hannah Day, UT, Troy
31. Racers – Emily Messer, 3B, South Alabama
32. Pride – Heather Stearns, P, Baylor
33. Dawgs – Lee Ann Spivey, C, South Florida
    
34. Dawgs – Taylore Fuller, 1B, Florida
35. Rebellion – Kayla Winkfield, IF, Mississippi State
36. Rebellion – Bianka Bell, SS, LSU
37. Racers – Hannah Perryman, P, Missouri-St. Louis
38. Charge – Alyssa Gillespie, OF, Oregon
39. Pride – Aubree Munro, C, Florida
40. Dawgs – Mikela Manewa, IF, Oregon State

BREAKING IT DOWN

The SEC led the way with eighteen players selected, 45% of the evening's picks. The PAC-12 ran a distant second with five players selected, while the Big 12 had four. The Sun Belt and Big 10 had three each. The Colonial Athletic Association and American Athletic had two a piece, while Conference USA, ACC, and Division II's Great Lakes Valley Conference were represented by a single player's selection.

The state of Florida, buoyed by a quartet of Gators being selected, led the way with six players from in-state schools being drafted. The state of Alabama close behind with five, all five of whom each came from a different school - Alabama; Auburn; South Alabama; UAB; and Troy all saw players chosen throughout the night.

Five teams saw their first-ever player drafted to the NPF last night, including Mickey Dean's James Madison squad that saw both members of their starting battery head to the pros in Jailyn Ford and Erica Field.

Six players with Team USA ties were chosen, including three by the Pride and one each by Dallas, Chicago, and Pennsylvania.

MAKING HISTORY

With the selection of Hannah Perryman at #37 overall, the Akron Racers quietly made history. Perryman is the first-ever Division II player to be drafted to the NPF.

ANALYSIS:

Many of the teams stuck to their traditional draft strategies; the Pride filled a few holes, then whoever was best available on the board. The Racers elected to pass on some players from big-name schools in favor of players from smaller schools who have their own stellar statistics. Chicago made the most of their draft picks and figure to again take advantage of the freedom of open tryouts. The Charge did well in grabbing speed and talent early, picking up a couple of West Coast players late who will likely have a marginal impact, due in part to the PAC schedule.

TEAM GRADES:
Akron: A
Chicago: B+
Dallas: B-
Houston/SYD: D-
Pennsylvania: C-
USSSA: B-

POST-DRAFT “AWARDS”

Team That Best Filled Their Needs: Racers

Best Sleeper Pick: Hannah Day, Racers

Biggest Steal: Kirsti Merritt, Pride

Biggest Freefall: Aubree Munro, Pride

Biggest Surprise: Kiki Stokes, SYD/Erica Field, USSSA

Player Drafted Way Too High: Kiki Stokes, Houston/Scrap Yard

Player Drafted Way Too Low: Kirsti Merritt, Pride

Best Player(s) Not Drafted: Missy Taukeiaho, Cal State Fullerton; Shellie Landry, Louisiana-Lafayette; Kate Poppe, Villanova; Erin Miller, Oklahoma