BU Tournament Page / PSAC Tournament Page

BLOOMSBURG—Bloomsburg University will be the site of the 2010 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Softball championships on Friday and Saturday, April 30 and May 1 at Jan Hutchinson Field. The three team double elimination tournament will feature Bloomsburg, California (PA) and West Chester.

Game times on Friday are 11 am, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., while on Saturday the start times will be noon and 2 p.m. (If necessary). Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $2 for children and senior citizens. No passes will be accepted.

The opening round of the tournament will feature California against West Chester at 11 .m. followed by Bloomsburg taking on the loser of game one at 1 p.m. The 3 p.m. game will feature Bloomsburg against the winner of game one. On Saturday, if all three teams remain alive after day one, lots will be drawn to see which team advances to the championship game. The remaining two teams will play at noon followed by the 2 p.m. game. If one team is eliminated the first championship game will be at noon, followed by the 2 p.m. if necessary.

Bloomsburg, ranked sixth in Division II and the PSAC Central champions, won its first round bracket a week ago by downing Kutztown and Edinboro. The Huskies, 41-5, are aiming for their first PSAC title since the 2002 season.

Bloomsburg is led offensively by Danielle Lazorka (Williamsport, Jersey Shore) with a .426 average and 29 RBI. Lazorka has 17 multi-hit games, including seven, three-hit contests. Second in hitting is Nikki Shiko (Shamokin, Southern Columbia) with a mark of .384. The Huskies lead-off hitter is riding a 15-game hitting streak and is tied for the top spot nationally in triples with seven. She has also scored a team-high 56 runs to go with three homers and a team-best 39 runs batted in. Shiko is also tied for the team lead in stolen bases with 11 in 12 attempts.

Third in hitting for the Huskies is Lacy Mauro (Jersey Shore, Jersey Shore) at .374. BU's catcher also has a homer and 37 RBI and a team-high 15 doubles. Casey Massimini (Downingtown, Downingtown West), the Huskies 4-11 outfielder, may by small, but has been making a big impact on the field. The senior is batting .346 with seven RBI out of the number nine spot in the lineup. Massimini is tied with Shiko for the team-lead in stolen bases with 11.

In the circle the Huskies leader has been Shavaun Fisher (Coplay, Allentown Central Catholic). The junior is 26-4 with a 1.04 ERA and 237 strikeouts in 201 innings of work. Fisher, who was named the PSAC Central Division Pitcher of the Week five times, is now 10th all-time in school history with 387 career strikeouts. Behind Fisher is freshman Cait Paine (Lebanon, Lebanon)who is 15-1 with a 3.04 ERA.

West Chester, 32-16, won the PSAC East regular season title and its first round tournament against Lock Haven and Mercyhurst. The Golden Rams are seeking their first ever PSAC softball championship. Leading the team offensively is Samantha Ingersoll who is hitting for both power and average. She has a team-high .484 batting average with 14 homers and 67 RBI and .908 slugging percentage. Evelyn Anderson is second in hitting at. 366 with 14 RBI, while Erin MacNamee is third in batting at .361 with eight homers and 39 RBI.

In the circle, the Golden Rams have used six different pitchers this season led by Brooke Muth with a record of 16-9 and a 3.67 ERA. Missy Schwartz is second in pitching at 7-2 with a .346 ERA.

California, 33-10, won the PSAC Western Division regular season title and its first round tournament by beating IUP and East Stroudsburg. The Vulcans are going after their seventh PSAC title and first since the 2000 season.

Cal is led offensively by Amanda Wallace with a batting average of .410 with five homers and 32 RBI, while Danielle Easton is close behind at .408 with seven homers and 42 RBI. Providing the power for the Vulcans is Julie McKenzie with 11 homers and 35 RBI. Just about 50 percent of her hits this season (25-51) have gone for extra base-hits.

In the circle for the Vulcans are Maria Greco and Lauren Shasheen. Greco is 13-5 with a 1.25 ERA, while Shasheen is 18-4 with a 1.26 ERA. Both players have made 27 appearances this season with Greco holding a slight edge in starts, 21-17.