Softball sweeps Hamilton in Panthers' first home series

The Middlebury softball team outscored Hamilton College 21-0 last weekend, en route to a three-game series sweep of the visiting Continentals. The series was the first at home for the Panthers in the 2010 season, as the teams played once on Friday afternoon and twice on Saturday.

Once again, the Panther offense excelled while the starting pitching and defense shut down the visitors, pushing Middlebury’s record to 14-6 overall and 5-1 in the NESCAC West division. The highlight of the series came in game two, when pitcher Geena Constantin ’11 recorded a perfect game for the Panthers.

“I would have to give the credit for the perfect game to the team as a whole,” Constantin said. “Our defense was so flawless, especially in the middle infield––and with the help of some great plays in the outfield and behind the plate, we had the perfect game,” noted the junior.

Ali McAnaney ’11 delivered the first pitch of the series on Friday afternoon in a game that the hosts would go on to win 8-0. Constantin batted in three runs in the game from the designated player position. In softball, the designated player hits for a selected defensive player; Constantin batted for second baseman Kelsey Chisolm ’11. Three other Panthers had multiple-hit games while McAnaney allowed just three hits over six innings from the circle.

Constantin pitched the second game in the series, which Middlebury won 6-0. In the effort, Constantin delivered her perfect game for the Panthers, allowing no hits and surrendering no walks over seven innings. The Panthers complemented Constantin’s feat with six runs on 13 hits. Co-captain Sophie Dorot ’10 called Geena’s performance “incredible.”

In the series finale, Constantin and McAnaney each pitched as Middlebury cruised to a 7-0 victory. Designated player and first baseman Megan Margel ’11 had two runs batted in on three hits. The team once again displayed its balanced offense as several players had multiple hits.

“It was a terrific weekend for us,” said Dorot ’10. “We really played together as a team, our bats were on, our defense was solid, and we stayed focused and energetic throughout all three games,” she added.

Defensively, the Panthers have hit their stride. Shortstop Jessa Hoffman ’13 recorded three putouts and assisted on four additional outs in the final game of the weekend. Many of the outs that Middlebury recorded were at first base, particularly in Constantin’s perfect game. Because McAnaney and Constantin combined for 14 strikeouts on the weekend, the defense needed to be on its toes to record the remaining outs.

The Panther bats did their part during the series. Hoffman and fellow first-years Jessica Poracky ’13 and Emma Katz ’13 each had multiple-base knocks in the series, virtually guaranteeing hitting prominence for the Panthers in future seasons. Right now, however, the young team is enjoying a significant amount of success.

After finishing 2009 with 17 wins, Middlebury’s 2010 squad looks poised to shatter last season’s high-water mark having tallied 14 victories through 20 games so far this year. In NESCAC play, Middlebury has won five of six divisional games, positioning itself well for the post-season.

The Panthers will play a three-game series in Williamstown, Mass., over two days on April 16-17 against Williams College. Middlebury will face its NESCAC West foe for the first time in 2010 after losing two of three to the Ephs a year ago. The team returns home the following week for a two-game series against Union College.