Colineri has game-winning hit against East Stroudsburg

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KUTZTOWN, Pa. (March 26, 2011)—The five foot, two inch junior from Scotch Plains, New Jersey is the heart and soul of her team. Although she's the shortest member of the Kutztown University softball team, Nicole Colineri (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) gives it her all every time she steps on the field.

Colineri had the game-winning hit in KU's 4-3 win over East Stroudsburg University, Saturday afternoon at North Campus Field. In the second game of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader, the Golden Bears defeated the Warriors 5-0, recording their 11th shutout of the season.

Kutztown (25-6 overall) improved to 4-2 in the PSAC East. ESU (9-14 overall) fell to 0-4 in the PSAC East.

The Golden Bears had a magical ending to Saturday's first game. KU was down 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out and Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) in scoring position, Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) had a double to right field to tie the game. Colineri approached the batter's box and no sign of anxiety appeared on her face. The outfield began to slowly move in on the small Colineri who had spent most of her previous at-bats bunting. She patiently waited for her pitch and sent the ball sailing over the centerfielder's head. Hetzler scored the winning run and the cheering of the KU softball team rang over North Campus Field.

“When coach gave me the sign, I knew what I had to do,” Colineri said. “It worked out to our advantage. The pitcher was throwing hard and it popped off my bat quickly. Their defense moved in the perfect spot for us to get that hit. Jackie was able to go from second to home off that, it was great.”

This season KU has proved that it can hang with anyone. In Friday's game against Shippensburg, Kutztown went 10 innings and even though it loss 3-1, it never hung its head. The Kutztown softball team is a fun group of young ladies who all share the passion of the game but their determination to win and play together outshines every other characteristic.

“Kutztown is not to be taken lightly,” Colineri said. “We battle hard and even if we lose, like we did yesterday we know that we have to come out the next game ready to get those games back.”

Colineri had an amazing over-the-head catch that had her body twisting several different ways and even took her to her feet. She quickly got up with the ball still in her glove, making sure none of the runners advanced.

“Colineri is definitely the heart and soul of our team,” Kutztown University head coach Judy Lawes said. “She's always cheering and always encouraging to her teammates. She is a very vocal leader and she takes charge when we ask her to. She steps up and gets things done. She's little and feisty but she believes in herself. “

In the first game, Henninger recorded her seventh home run of the season. In the second game, Hetzler, Samantha Derr (Lititz, PA/Warwick), Brianna Knipe (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty), Krista Tedjeske (Summerhill, PA/Forest Hill), and Henninger each had two hits. Tedjeske recorded three RBIs and scored a run.

“There is a lot of athletic potential on the team,” Lawes said. “When the team comes together, we can really attack the ball but it's going to take everyone. We have a couple of days off until our next game, so we are just going to keep working on their swings to try to get it to where it's one through nine giving us hits.”

Kutztown will travel to Rutherford, NJ to play Felician College on Wednesday, March 30 at 2 p.m.

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