Springfield, Mass. - April 27, 2009 - After powering the Springfield College softball team to its second-straight conference title by winning three games in the final day, Michelle Wlosek and Samantha Rhodes have been chosen as the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week.Wlosek once again was a monster at the plate as she helped Springfield win its second-straight NEWMAC title. In the conference tournament, Wlosek caught every game as Springfield went 5-1, including winning three games in the final day. Wlosek's .267 average for the tournament doesn't reflect her imposing presence at the plate as she was walked seven times, including three times intentionally. She also came up huge in the second game of the tournament as she laced a two-RBI single as SC snapped Coast Guard's 29-game winning streak.
For the second straight year, Rhodes pitched 21 innings worth of softball on the final Sunday to clinch the title. Rhodes was sensational as she threw 40.1 of a possible 41 innings, going 5-1 in the six games of the tourney. The lefthander finished with 18 strikeouts, compared to just two walks, while owning an ERA of 1.39. On Thursday, she was the winner as SC defeated Babson (5-4) and #1-seeded Coast Guard (3-1). Then on Sunday, with her team in need of three victories, she was the winner as SC defeated #1 Coast Guard again (7-0), then #2-seeded Wellesley twice by 8-1 scores. It was a repeat clutch performance of what she had accomplished exactly one year ago.
Julie Perrelli enters her fourth season at the helm of the Springfield College softball program and as an assistant professor of physical education. In her first three seasons in the dugout for the Pride, Perelli has guided Springfield to two NEWMAC Championship title games. Read more.
