Raiders make early exit from national tourney

The Central Lakes College Raiders softball team dropped two games in the opening round of the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament in Arnold, Maryland Thursday. As a result, the Raiders are out of the championship competition but will continue to play in the consolations bracket.

In the opening contest, the Raiders faced tournament host and home-town favorite Anne Arundel and lost 7-6. That loss dropped Central Lakes into the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

In the nightcap, the Raiders lost a slugfest to Delta College of University Center, Mich., by a 13-8 score.

Raiders first baseman and All-Regional player Amy Martinson had two hits including a three run home run in a five-run Raiders' seventh inning rally.

Central Lakes trailed behind Delta 13-1 coming into their last at bat. The Raiders' seven-run rally was not enough to get them back in the contest but, for CLC head coach Dennis Eastman, was an indication of the Raider's never-say-die spirit they've displayed all season.

"The hole was too deep to dig our way out of," said Eastman. "But our girls played hard. It was a long game, that didn't finish until 10:45 p.m. and we were playing under the lights."

Freshman hurler Stacie Rousselange took the loss in the game against Delta. Sophomore pitcher Jenny Sovich pitched the opening game for the Raiders.

Martinson was the only Raider to collect more than one hit in the loss to Delta. The Raiders were efficient with their bats, scoring eight runs on just seven hits. The other hits came from the bats of Heather Olson, Becky Wagner, Becky Poster, Heidi Rogge and Katie Foss.

Although the Raiders will not be competing for the national championship, they still have a shot to grab seventh place honors and will continue to play through Saturday.

Central Lakes College was scheduled to face Nassau Community College of Garden City, New York this morning with the first pitch being delivered at 10 a.m.