Can't
get to the game? Don't worry, we've got ya covered.
Anastos ties a record in Tiger softball loss
4/24/2008
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
The Fort Hays State University softball team had an inconsistent offensive performance in a pair of losses to Pittsburg State University on Wednesday afternoon. However, sophomore catcher Jessika Anastos tied another school record and continued her All-American worthy season.
Playing in a strong wind that limited some fly balls, Anastos rocketed a ball to left-center field in her first at-bat of Game 1.
On some afternoons, the ball likely would have been a homer. Instead, the ball thudded off the left field fence and Anastos had a double.
It marked the 18th double of her season, tying the school record set by senior Emily Herl in 2006.
Anastos, who led the country in batting for several weeks earlier this season, finished 3-for-7 against Pittsburg State. Teams, especially Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University, have either pitched around her or not given her good pitches to hit in the season's second half.
"It is nice to see people throw at her, but they are not going to give her anything solid to hit," Tiger coach Tonja Hadley said. "She has done a really good job of taking maybe not the best pitch to swing at and trying to make something happen with it. Good hitters are going to do that so it is nice to see her compete that way at the plate."
Overall, Anastos' line of 486/548/890 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) leads the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
In the latest NCAA statistics released Monday, Anastos ranks in the top 18 in the country in all three statistics. She has already set school marks in homers, total bases and runs scored. She also has 43 RBIs, three off the school mark, and could set the single season hits record, too.
Mohr plays
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Adrian Mohr, who hurt her hand earlier this season, had missed six weeks of the season. She returned Tuesday against Emporia State University, her first action since March 9.
Mohr played the first four innings of Game 2 against Pittsburg Stat. She flied out and took a called third strike before she was replaced by junior outfielder Terra Fraser.
"She is cleared to do everything," Hadley said of Mohr's health. "But with the talent level that we have on the bench, but we just felt like after she took the called third, it was a good opportunity to get someone else in there."
Eaton back in lineup
Junior Alex Eaton, a starter her freshman and sophomore years, replaced freshman shortstop Mona Booco in the fourth inning of Game 1 after Booco made three errors, including two in the first inning.
Booco, who has 28 errors and an .831 fielding percentage this season, had two errors on throws and one when she bobbled the ball.
Eaton played the remainder of the doubleheader and delivered a two-run double down the left field line in Game 1. The hit marked the second extra-base hit and first double of the season for Eaton.
In Game 2, Eaton went 1-for-4 and nearly had a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning when she drove a deep ball to center. However, no runners tagged up. Eaton also made five flawless plays in the field and has four errors and a .946 fielding percentage this season.
Eaton, the only Tiger to play second and shortstop this year, has only played in 26 games. In her first two seasons, she played in 54 and 57 games and was the starting third baseman last spring.
"I am comfortable with whatever role I need to fill and I am going to fill that role to the best of my abilities," she said.
Seniors honored
Five seniors, Jennifer Parks, Anna Herl, Emily Herl, Alyson Garmatz and Emily Rockefeller, all played in their final home games of their careers on Wednesday.
Both Herls, former Hays High School standouts and returning all-conference players, are hitting over .300 this year and start nearly every game. They dot the Tiger history books in multiple statistics and Emily Herl holds the school record for career homers.
Anna Herl, overshadowed some by the All-American worthy season from Anastos, carries a .395 average, one of the best single season marks in Fort Hays history. She leads the team with a .479 average in conference play, 140 points better than any other player.
She has also hit nine homers, joining her sister, Anastos, Suzanne Kerr and Kristy Roethmeyer as the only players to hit at least nine homers in one season for Fort Hays.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
| SB | 5/01 | Emporia State | L 11-0 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 14-1 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 12-2 |
