May 10, 2008
Miami Gardens, Fla. - The 2008 St. Thomas University softball team finished the season 20-16 (9-11 in FSC play) just short of playing in the regional tournament. News of their inability to participate in post-season play was not discovered until moments before their final game against Northwood University April 26. Showing true championship character the team still played well enough to win 3-2.
The Bobcats began the season with that same championship character winning three of their first four games. The most impressive win was the team's first win of the season. The game resembled a conga line as the Bobcats defeated Salem International 10-0 in game two of their double header.
The Bobcats put the scorekeeper to work in the third and fourth-innings scoring five runs in each inning. Seven different Bobcats crossed home plate. Koely Kempisty and Kelly Diebler crossed home plate to the loudest ovation of the day because Gina Guffanti brought them in with a towering triple to left field.
The following game was the beginning of a long road stretch for the Bobcats which featured six road games. It appeared as though the Bobcats were up for the task when they defeated conference opponent Webber International in both of their scheduled double-header games but the Bobcats followed those wins with four losses.
During the stretch injuries depleted an already small roster, fortunately for the Bobcats the women's basketball season came to an end and Cindy Castrillon and Tina Diaz would join the roster.
The two filled more than positions for the Bobcats, they helped to fill the win column as the team won six of their first seven games. The one loss over those seven games came in the second game of a double-header against Aquinas. Though the team had a slight decline in performance in game two Kempisty was consistent, in the series Kempisty had an .833 batting average. She also batted in 2 pivotal runs in the first game.
Though the Bobcats experienced instant success once Castrillon and Diaz joined the team, the team played their best ball a week later. That week the Bobcats punished Mt. St. Vincent 8-3 and 14-3. The games were highlighted by Guffanti's two-run home-run in game one and Castrillon's three home-runs which scored six runs in game two.
Over the two weeks featuring the Mt. St. Vincent double-header the Bobcats won five of eight. The Florida Sun Conference recognized Castrillon and Guffanti's strong play. Castrillon was named player of the week for the week of March 25 and Guffanti was named pitcher of the week for the week of April 1.
Castrillon received the honor because she led her team hitting .545 on the week, with six hits, five runs, one double, three home runs and seven RBI's. Guffanti was recognized for having a split week against two very tough regional opponents, shutting out Thomas and suffering a 1-2 loss to Northwood. On the week she had 13 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched, allowing only four hits and four walks. She had a 0.58 ERA through both games.
If the Bobcats played their best ball during those two weeks they followed it up with their worst ball losing four straight and none of the game scores reflect a close game. Fortunately for the Bobcats Kat Landress brought the stuff on the mound to help end the four game losing streak against Edward Watters.
Her performance against Edward Watters was so good the conference named her pitcher of the week. Landress tallied two wins on the week, both victories coming over Edward Waters. She led her team with eight innings pitched holding the Tigers to no hits, while striking out four.
With hopes for post-season play in mind the Bobcats won five of their next six games. Unfortunately for the Bobcats as mentioned earlier their effort left them just short of the postseason.
Bobcats Kempisty, Castrillon and Valle were named to the FSC All-Conference team. Kempisty was consistent for the Bobcats throughout the season ranking in the top five in 17 of 18 hitting categories. She tied for the most doubles for the Bobcats with Jenny Sanchez and starts for the Bobcats with Guffanti.
Castrillon led the team in homeruns with four, a .575 slugging percentage, and 25 runs batted in. Valle had an aggressive senior season for the Bobcats as she led the team in stolen base attempts and stolen bases. Valle also had the best batting average this season for the Bobcats with .384 batting average.