Posted: May 28, 2010

CMS Softball – 2010 In Review

CMS Softball – 2010 In Review

The 2010 CMS Softball season was marked by exciting breakthroughs. After a lengthy drought, the squad earned its first SCIAC Championship since 1999, only the fourth since the program’s inception in 1991. The championship earned the first seed Athenas the right to host the third annual post-season conference tournament.

2010 marked the Athenas’ second consecutive bid to the national championship tournament. At the Indianola, Iowa regional, the 2010 team won their first contest in regional competition beating Central College.

The final record of 34-10 marks the most wins and the first 30 win season in program history. The 2010 Athenas were the only SCIAC softball team not to be swept by any SCIAC team. CMS was the only team in conference to sweep every conference opponent at least once. The squad was the only team in conference to beat five time champions, University of Redlands, handing them their only three losses in conference and winning 3 of 4 against them in regular season play.

Freshman Harmony Palmer was named 2010 SCIAC Player of the Year and was the first First Team All American in program history.

The 2010 CMS Softball Team was First in SCIAC standings in:

Team Batting: .354 Avg.

On Base Percentage: .434

Team Pitching: 1.97 ERA

Team Fielding: .972 Pct.

(particularly noteworthy in lieu of the following):

Most Chances: 708
Most Assists: 218
Ranked 6^th or 7^th in Batters Struck Out

Fewest Runs Allowed: 50

Fewest Earned Runs Allowed: 44

Fewest Doubles Allowed: 11

Fewest Triples Allowed: 0 (playing in the largest field in conference)

Fewest Home Runs Allowed: 7

2010 CMS Players were First in SCIAC standings in:

Hits: Palmer

RBI: Palmer

Triples: Pera

Total Bases: Palmer

ERA: Banducci 1.35 (note Friedenberg and Gularte were 3^rd and 4^th):

Friedenberg: 1. 87
Gularte: 2.31

Fewest Runs Allowed: Banducci and Friedenberg

Fewest Earned Runs Allowed: Banducci

Five players were voted to the NCAA All West Region Team:

Harmony Palmer – First Team

Gizelle Pera – Second Team

Amanda Banducci – Third Team

Michelle Harvey – Third Team

Emily Lopez – Third Team

Six players were voted to the All SCIAC team:

Harmony Palmer – SCIAC Player of the Year

Amanda Banducci – First Team Pitcher

Rebecca Gularte – Second Team Pitcher

Michelle Harvey – Second Team Outfielder

Emily Lopez – Second Team Shortstop

Gizelle Pera – Second Team Outfielder

In addition to these national, regional and conference firsts, several school records were set as well:

Gizelle Pera set new single season school records for:

Triples (7)

Runs scored (47).

Harmony Palmer set new school records for:

Batting Average (.468)

Hits (66)

Doubles (17)

Home Runs (9)

RBIs (58). Note the career RBI record is 76.

The Athenas bid farewell to lone graduating senior Katie Schlein and to rising junior Michelle Brody who will be abroad in the spring of 2011. However, with a core of committed, hard-working veterans looking to return to post season play for the third straight season, a burgeoning tradition of excellence to build on and a very strong incoming class, the future is very bright for CMS Softball.

Indeed, the 2011 season promises more excitement, more success and more memories.