PSAC Championships: Last line of defense is ready for the challenge

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (April 28, 2011)--There is a lot more to the outfield than most people think. It's more than just waiting for a ball to come your way or simply making a routine catch. It requires precise reaction, communication, and judgment. The pitcher has people behind her, the infielders have outfielders to back them up, but the outfielders are on their own. But being the last line of defense, making a diving catch or robbing a hitter of a home run can be very rewarding.

Outfielders Jackie Hetzler (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township), Elizabeth Kangas (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone), Jennifer Stow (Glen Mills, PA/Garnet Valley), Samantha Derr (Lititz, PA/Warwick), Maria Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) and Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) are all freshmen and sophomores but their youthful status have been essential to the success of the Kutztown University softball team.

The Golden Bears (39-12 overall) will host Indiana, Pa (30-6) and West Chester (33-17) in the PSAC softball championship series beginning Friday, April 29 at North Campus Field. West Chester and IUP meet at 11 a.m. Friday. Kutztown plays the loser of the first game at 1 p.m. and then the winner of the second game at 3 p.m. The championship will be decided Saturday, April 30 starting at noon. Tickets are $7 for adults and $2 for students. Gates open an hour prior to the start of the first game each day.

“It's awesome to be hosting the PSAC Championships,” Stow said. “Especially with our outfield being so young and talented it really says a lot. Last year we only had four outfielders but this year we have a lot of depth and skills in the outfield that no matter who's playing we're all going to do well.”

These ladies have a unique bond in which they are accountable for each other. Being responsible for each other has definitely united the group and helped add to their chemistry.

“The chemistry is really good in the outfield,” Kangas said. “Everyone is loud and we are always communicating.”

The Golden Bears have to yell just a little bit harder for Derr when she's in right field because Derr is deaf in her right ear.

“It really broke the ice in the beginning of the year because we had to work extra hard to make sure I could hear when and where to make the play,” Derr said. “We all make jokes about it and they've done a great job helping me out.”

Whether it's going in the gap to make the catch or snatching a blooper that most people think will fall in for a hit, KU loves to get down and dirty.

“My favorite is the little blooper and right before it falls, I slide to catch it,” Hetzler said. “It feels so good to get that out.”

What would really feel good for Kutztown is bringing home its first ever PSAC title. History will be made on North Campus Field because neither West Chester nor IUP has ever won a PSAC Championship.

“Since we are such a young team we have nothing to lose,” Derr said. “We just have to take it one inning at a time, one game at a time.”

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